When He calls us to join Him
Last Sunday afternoon, April 30th at 2:20p, God called my Mom to join Him. It is a very solemn moment, and one that happens to so many people every day. When it is you, it just takes time to adjust and understand.
My Mom’s biggest challenge was Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s is a disease for which there is no cure and treatments are only bandaids. There are many procedures and drugs, and some people fight for a few years and some fight for a decade or two. For my Mom, and my Dad, it has been about 8 years. And yes, it affects both people especially near the end.
My Dad fought hard for no one to notice. My Dad fought to ensure her time was enjoyable and that she had immediate access to care - and her children and grandchildren. 
My Dad fought to keep her going, and in the end he fought to keep her as comfortable as possible. My Mom wanted to be at home and so with 24×7 care and Hinds Hospice, she had her wish.
She quietly went to be with Him … we’ll quietly say a prayer and then celebrate her life this coming Monday, May 8th, with a funeral Mass held by Father Tom. The wake, well, it will be simple and something I know Mom would love.
Take care, everyone, and thank you all for your prayers and kind words. It means so much to have friends I have never shaken hands with, never seen person to person, and friends that understand and care.
TAGS: Fix4RSO, Milblog, Military, Mom, Heaven, Gods+Love
May 5th, 2006 at 18:51
Steve,
Damsel and I extend our deepest sympathy and hope that you and your family, especially your Dad, find the strength and comfort to remember and go on. God Bless . . .
May 6th, 2006 at 7:10
My sympathies as well. My dad passed away on May 6, 2004, it was a Thursday, and it was the National Day of Prayer. Since that is a day I have been observing every year, it is kind of a nice way of remembering, a day that I am spending in prayer anyway. In some ways it seems like a long time ago, and in some ways it seems like yesterday. My prayers to you, your dad, and extended family during this time.
May 6th, 2006 at 7:13
I am so sorry for your loss. You will be dealing with this for some time to come. Immediately you will have paperwork, insurance, bills, thank you cards to address and mail, …. trivia and necessity will fill your mind and days. But when all that is finished, the emptiness will set in.
Please talk about how you feel with your family and friends, don’t hold anything in. Your mother would want you to deal with this loss, think of her in heaven, out of pain, happy with the Lord. She would want you, your father and family to go on with your lives… Live for her. Bring respect and joy to her memory.
I know from losing my mother and father within 9 months of each other, this will be a difficult time, but you will heal.
Know that many fellow Christian friends/bloggers are praying for you.
May 6th, 2006 at 8:29
My sympathy and condolences to you, your father, and your family, Steve. It’s the most difficult of times. May God give you strength.
May 6th, 2006 at 8:56
Scarlet and I send our condolences. Please let the rest of the family know you will all be in our prayers.
May 6th, 2006 at 8:57
Steve, my sincerest sympathies, condolences and prayers for you, your dad and your family. May you all find your inner strenght to overcome this difficult time.
May 6th, 2006 at 17:41
To see that Hospice was involved shows that someone has a desire to be truly compassionate. My Mom was served by Hospice, while 8 years before my Dad’s departure was in an Intensive Care Ward with 6 or 8 million watts of lights on him, and one of his hearing aids ringing in his ear when I walked in. Damned nurses said: “He’s in a coma and can’t hear that.” Just as he squeezed my hand in greeting.
This event in life is sure, it cannot be avoided, but with caring people around the transition is much more pleasant.
My Mom chose one of my sisters’ houses to spend her last days in, and the day that she departed, and I had flown in, I was asked if it would bother me to sleep in the bed that she had last slept in. I was proud to do it, and still today, I know that with family and Hospice that she had a much more enjoyable final winter with us.
If any of you have that choice to make- Hospice is the finest, most dignified, way of spending ones final days.
Sir, you have my condolences, and my wishes that all your memories are light and good.
nuf sed
May 7th, 2006 at 9:38
A beautiful post, Fix. Please accept my condolences, and prayers for you and your family. You have a wonderful family, and I wish you many blessings.
May 7th, 2006 at 9:51
So sad… in my prayers…
May 7th, 2006 at 11:51
You and your family are in my prayers. It does take adjusting to and you will. I’m glad you were able to be with her.
May 10th, 2006 at 2:57
Steve, I’m so sorry for your loss. Being Catholic myself and understanding eternal life and its realities, I hope you derive some peace from knowing your mother is still your mother, still alive and well, just harder to reach now. I’ll bet the Mass was lovely.
I lost my father-in-law last year and it was very hard; I cannot imagine what it’d be like to lose my mother or father. I’m not looking forward to it.
Peace and blessings to you and your family.
May 14th, 2006 at 15:25
I’m so so sorry, Steve. I’m a little late here, but know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, especially today.
May 14th, 2006 at 16:18
Steve, I’m so sorry. Please give my condolences to your family, you are all in my prayers.
May 14th, 2006 at 17:47
awww… I’m so sorry to hear this! I’m late, to, found ya via LL…. *hugs* yoiu are in our prayers!
Kat
May 15th, 2006 at 3:38
Steve: No one can really totally understand the grief of another. I can only say that there is no greater suffering than being alone, unwanted and unloved when a person is near death. It’s good to see how very loved your Mother was when she passed away. She was truly blessed. My sympathies are with you and your family today. (Dropping in from LL’s blog).