Tomorrow is Aunt Evelyn's birthday.She …
Tomorrow is Aunt Evelyn's birthday.She will be 95 and should have been written about here sooner.I've done Mom …
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I felt all the love,prayers,support,and energy you all sent me Wednesday.We talked about DS all the way to Greenwood.My step dad drove and only made me close my eyes a few times.We talked about Aunt Evelyn too and my dad.My mom told me about how she had been able to just will herself through a bad day when she was younger.I was willing pretty hard all the way there.I felt all of you with me though.I KNEW you were helping me.
We went by my dad's first and picked up my brother.My dad was so sweet with my mom.Mom playfully punched at him when she walked in, and he hugged her as step dad watched.To his credit he's said he understands that when you have children with and were married to someone so long,there is always still going to be love.I guess the 3 of them have had 26 years to work on being civil to each other too.I heard a lot from all of them about how things change so as you get older.We're pretty sure Dad's diagnosis Monday is going to be alzheimer's.Dad is so sweet now and that touched even my step dad.I'd told them on the way there we needed to spend a little time with Dad and not just hurry out.Mom thanked him for taking such good care of her sister.She talked about a time when she was pregnant with me and they were on vacation in Florida.Dad and Aunt Evelyn went fishing and left my mom at the lodge with my brother.They fished until dark and didn't bring her anything to eat and left her with no way to go.Dad said they caught a boat load of fish though.
We went to the nursing home next.People were sitting out in the rocking chairs in front of the building.As soon as we opened the door there was that distinct smell I'd remembered from childhood.Mom had always gone to the homes to play the piano and sing to the residents when we were growing up.She and a friend also did that in Maine.There were several ladies sitting in wheelchairs near the desk.We stopped to talk with them.One of them wanted to stroke my hair.Will always remember the hallway and reading the names as we went by each room.The nurse stopped us just outside her room to tell us they had increased her lasix.We walked into the room and both Mom and I looked to the second bed not knowing the frail person in the first bed.It was of course Aunt Evelyn.
My mom called her name and asked if she knew her.She replied that of course she knew us,named each of us and asked where my dad was.We all held her hands and stroked her arms while we talked.She's very confused about most things concerning her health.She told my mom she was railroaded into there and had yet to see a doctor,despite the tag over her head giving her doctor's name and number.Mom started singing "Amazing Grace" and to our suprise Aunt Evelyn joined us in a very clear soprano voice.Mom and Aunt Evelyn had grown up singing with their family around the piano.Aunt Evelyn knew every word and all the nurses and many of the patients gathered around her door.
Aunt Evelyn talked about seeing Uncle Henry soon and her mom and dad.Then she started talking about having to leave the nursing home to go back to her home.She was leaving if it hairlipped the President.We all laughed and Mom started singing "Farther Along".I could not believe she was so clear and remembered all the words.Her eyes were so cloudy and sometimes rolled back in her head as she sang.We talked about old times,cooking,eating,and she wanted to know about Quazar.She thanked me for getting her sister down to see her again.Mom asked her about the food and she made a face and stuck out her tongue.She asked Mom to sing "Suppertime" I'm going to post a link to the song.Everybody standing in the doorway was crying.We said a prayer before saying goodbye,knowing it would be the last time.I kissed her forehead and she told me "She'd be seeing me".
Outside the room Mom broke down.I'll never know how she held it together like that with her sister.She was all smiles and so loving to her and I know it was killing her.We're praying she'll go soon.There is nothing here for her anymore and going home would be such a blessing.I think she hears her mother calling her from afar...It's suppertime.Today she did not know my dad.I'm so glad she was so sharp Wednesday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlHOisU0RUI
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you are a wounderful neice, you should be very proud of yourself. i love you and your mom dad and you are in my prayers
grama3
Prayers and love, heaps and heaps of both mm from ym
Hathani
Many, many hugs and much Mojo.
Weebs
KweebsLS
How wonderful that God has given you this time. The time to give and receive love in the only way that really matters. You fed her senses with the sight of you, with your voices in talk and in song and indeed with your loving touches. She recipricated with the same, magnified by her mental clarity of the day. The love you shared that day was so bountiful that it was unable to be held with in the boundaries of a room. It was shared by anyone who was able to see or hear or even stroke your hair during your farewell journey at the home.
Having worked at a nursing home for 11 yrs, I cried just knowing the greatness of the gift you brought that day. Gob Bless you Lesa and your Mom and Step-dad. Thank you for sharing this special moment with us. You are a gift to us all. HUGS Wendy
Wendylee
what a beautiful story.You made a woman very happy.
saige
lesa i`m glad you could feel us all there with you ,because we were ,all the way ,from the tightly knotted stomach during the journey ,right to the time you spent with aunt evelyn ,singing reliving old songs and memories we were there.
Im glad too ,that you were able to spend some time with your dad.I can perfectly understand the bond between your mum and dad even after all these years ,as it was the same for matthew and i right until the end ,and to stewarts credit ,like your step dad ,he understood and knew nothing would break the bond we shared having spent so many times together and sharing children,i`m sure it made you feel better to see them jest with one another and note the love and concern your mum obviously has for dad.
and aunt evelyn ,what a wonderful way to spend your last visit ,laughing ,singing and leaving behind one very happy lady ,and taking with you more memories to relive later.my wish for auntie evelyn is to make a peaceful transition to her next life where she will be reunited with uncle henry and most of all my friend ,she will dance.
I know it was a hard trip ,both physically and emotionaly ,but one you will always be glad you made.you get some rest now and get those batteries recharged ,ready for treatments tomorrow.
take care of you ,and know i love you very much ,sending you a big warm comforting hug ,yb sharon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rocky7
That gives me cold chills Lesa.I think many people were touched that day.Get some rest!We love you.
EMM61
What a beautiful moment that must of been for you guys there in the hospital singing that song. I'd never heard it before, but wow. I can only begin to imagine what that meant to all of you that day. Thank you sharing that story and song with us, Lesa. You are such a gifted storyteller. You put us all there in the moment with you. I only wish I could really have been there to lend a shoulder and even more, to bear witness to that miracle that must have happened in there that day. I love you and I'm sending out prayers of strength to you and your family.
Your extremely moved kpss
socalmom61
Thank you that was so touching. It sounds that although there were troubles you have a loving family and that they supported each other in this trial. I pray for you and all of yours, that they will find peace in the outcome of this time together.
I know all three of those songs and suppertime is one of Russ favorites he has it on his mp3 player. I can just picture the two sisters there one in the bed frail and sweet the other standing there comforting the other...
Get some rest now dearest.
bigouie
what a pleasure and honor to read what you have shared with us...what a lovely family..thank you..I love you..Serenity55
serenity55
thanks for sharing this special visit with us. Now let me dry my tears, and give you a hug love ya sandy
sandym