Friday, August 8, 2008

Sad news

After I got my pieces to the fantasy show, I decided I needed to change things in my life a bit. We have this beautiful oak roll top desk that's been sitting in the corner of the living room for years. I wanted to move it across the room and make it my bead station. That way I can sit in the living room with my husband in the evenings and not feel like a out cast back in my studio. After three days of cleaning and moving furniture and moving it again, the living room is the way I want it of awhile. This happened the week of July 21st.

By Friday I was in a nursing home in Cottage Grove sitting by my mother's bedside. It had been a very quick downhill slide that none of us had expected. She had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the beginning of the month. Treatments had been scheduled and she went to one. While trying to get dressed, she fell against the chest of drawers and broke five ribs. Already weak from radiation and chemo this incident didn't help her health. She was in the hospital on the weekend and from what I was told, she got a slight case of pneumonia on Tuesday. That was cleared up quickly, thankfully. My sister and aunt found a nice nursing home on Thursday and got her transferred over. The trip made her weaker. So I got the call to come quick. I did, even though I had to borrow my MIL's car. I left at 9 and got down there about noon. It's so much fun driving with only about 3 hours sleep.

I spelled my sister and stayed all night with her. I'm glad I was there. We got to talk and laugh and just be together. Most of the time she was drugged up pretty good, but she still was coherent for our time together. The weekend was spent with all the "kids" talking about what to do. She wanted to come home, but I knew she wouldn't. Sunday night, a little after midnight, she passed. Quietly and with no long, lingering illness.

Almost two weeks later, it's weird, I feel like she's still here. I'll be going down again to talk with the bank lady about the estate.

Today I also found out that one of my very best friends has been diagnosed with peritonitis carcinoma. We won't know about treatment until next week. I've known her for almost 40 years. Good thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated.

4 comments:

Suzie Wolfer LCSW said...

Hi Zanne,

I know what you mean about it feeling like your mother is still here. My mother died 6 years ago, and I still feel her and miss her. It wasn't remotely real to me for at least 6 months. And then I realized how life changing it was to live in a world where my mother was no longer. Talking about it helped me a lot. So any time, I'd love to hear about it.

Sending you loving thoughts as you move through this transition.

Fondly,
Suzie

a2susan said...

Z'anne - I'm a member of the bead journal project and was looking at your blog, only to read this very sad news about your mother. Please accept my condolences. It was a blessing that you were there with her to help her pass.
Sending hugs, Susan

Z'anne said...

Thank you, Ladies, I appreciate your thoughts and prayers for me and my family. We are working through it slowly. Organizing my mother's things is helping and also bringing back some very good memories.

Ellen said...

Z'anne, I feel your loss, my own dear Mother passed last Dec 31st - We are never ready to let our loved Mother go even tho we know they have to leave.. My prayers to help you through your loss