This afternoon...
...at about noon, my stepmother passed away after she stopped breathing yesterday. Before Alzheimer's Disease robbed her of her brain, she was a bright, witty and funny lady. She was one of the best bridge players in the world, literally. She married my father in 1990 and even though they divorced, they remained together for almost the entire time since they married. My father cared for her for two years while she battled Alzheimer's, kidney failure and COPD.
She will be missed.
Meg
...at about noon, my stepmother passed away after she stopped breathing yesterday. Before Alzheimer's Disease robbed her of her brain, she was a bright, witty and funny lady. She was one of the best bridge players in the world, literally. She married my father in 1990 and even though they divorced, they remained together for almost the entire time since they married. My father cared for her for two years while she battled Alzheimer's, kidney failure and COPD.
She will be missed.
Meg
posted by Meg Kelso | 12:53 PM
15 Comments:
It's better to go with dignity.....my condolences to you and your father.
Thank you and yes, this was actually a "good" thing. Jean wouldn't have wanted to just waste away from Alzheimer's. She left at just the right time.
:)
Meg, I'm so sorry to hear about your stepmother's death. It was good of you to go to Florida and help your dad with her, and I'm sure even Jean appreciated it in her own way, and I know your father did. May God be with you and your Dad.
I'm so sorry Meg.
You made her last days pleasant ones (or as pleasant as they could have been). Even her own children had left her to die alone. You and your father should be content in knowing you saved her from a life in a nursing home where no one cared as much as you could.
And no matter how many times I retype this it keeps coming out corny. I just hope you know I am sorry for you and your dad and think you guys were great for doing what you did.
:)
It doesn't sound corny at all. I appreciate the kind words and if Jean were here, she would say thank you for taking the time to think of her today. I'll be going back to Florida next week to help my dad with the services. I DO feel good that we were able to keep her out of a nursing home. My biggest fear was the thought of Jean sitting in a locked unit wondering where I was and why I wouldn't come to help her. That, I would have had a tough time living with.
Thanks again, I needed to hear from you guys today.
I'm sorry for your (and your father's) loss.
My condolences as well. You made her last days a little bit better at great sacrifice to yourself. As we get a bit older I think we all fear spending our last days in a nursing home without our family close by. That was an enormous gift you gave to both your stepmother and your dad.
You know, as nice as it was for Jean to be able to stay home, I was honored to be able to care for her. I helped her stay out of a nursing home and she helped me to feel needed and that's something I haven't felt in years.
Thanks for your kind wishes and for taking the time to write.
Meg
I think its nice Jean was able to spend her last few weeks with you Meg, I am sure she would thank you too.
You know, I hadn't thought of it that way until you said that but I'm glad as well. She spent most of her days sitting alone in the living room watching TV and while I was there, we couldn't watch anything much because she was always talking. I would be frustrated at times...but I always carried on converstaions...even if they made no sense. I would just try to lead her back to what we were talking about. I AM glad that I was tere. I think that as the shock wears off and after the service is over...I'll start thinking about more things Jean related. That's what I did when my own mother died.
I wonder how her daughter is taking this? If my father couldn't get in touch with her yesterday, he would have had to tell her by email. It may be the only way to get in touch with her. This is just awful!
Meg
I am so sorry for your loss. After I read what happend, I wondered if your dad's foul mood was caused by a feeling this was about to happen. In either case, I know this must be tough for him so I will keep all you guys (including her daughter because she will be feeling the consequesnces of her actions) in my prayers.
Thanks sweetie,
I'll never know what made him act like that unless he decides to tell me. I don't dwell on that stuff so I probably won't ask. I just act like it never happened. I don't know if that's a good thing or not...but I learned it from him!
Hey girl...when is that Shuttle blasting off?
Meg,
I am so sorry to hear about your step-mother. I am glad that you did get to spend some time with her this past month before she passed and I think that she knew you were there with her. Bless your family. I wil be thinking of all of you in the days to come.
Karin
Meg,
My sympathy...You should feel good about helping make her last time on earth so comfortable..
John
Thanks guys...I am glad that I was able to do it. I think that as the years go by, I'll be even more glad that I did it.
You know, the more I think about it, I think she knew she didn't have much longer. She was always afraid but she couldn't really say why. She stopped talking about getting better and she just sort of became more confused and stopped eating...even if I did hide her cigarettes. She is one stubborn lady which is why they got divorced, she wanted to prove a point. I guess she did because they stayed together. Whatever floats your boat!
:)
Post a Comment
<< Home