Mom went to Heaven about 12:30am this morning, and as strange as this may sound the last 24 hours has been one of the most beautiful days of life we've ever experienced.
The whole immediate family made it to Mom's bedside in time. We spent 12 hours loving on her, massaging her, hugging her, holding her, telling her how much we love her... how much she means to us... thanking her for all the love & self-sacrifice she poured into us. We relived special moments that made her grin and special moments that caused a few tears to flow. We listened to worship music, read scripture verses, prayed with her and over her. We kissed her. We held her hand. We rubbed her legs & arms. We poured out copious amounts of love. Although her body was shutting down and she couldn't speak, she was listening to us and tracking with her eyes. We were very intentional. Hospice was amazing. Seasons was amazing. Friends & family were amazing. We cried a thousand beautiful tears & laughed a lot. There were so many "God moments". We could all tell that SOMEONE was orchestrating this entire day. If Dad's surgery wasn't cancelled he wouldn't have been there to say goodbye. If a Hospice Social Worker didn't notice something off about Mom and take the initiative to say something to the nurse... if the nurse didn't have the experience she had to notice end-of-life symptoms and contact us immediately and tell us to "come now"... if we didn't drop everything and rush to Mom's bedside... we would have missed every beautiful minute that happened yesterday and woke up today to crushing news that Mom passed away during the night all alone. But just the opposite happened. We celebrated Mom's life with her almost like a going away present. As it got late Dad needed to go home. Not knowing if Mom would make it through the night everyone was compelled to say their final goodbyes. This was possibly the most special moment. Everyone lined up to say one last heartfelt goodbye. Carson made us all weep. Dad forced himself out of his wheelchair to hobble over and embrace his wife of 57 years for one last kiss and outflow of loving words mixed with sobs. Traci, Laurie, & myself all did the same. If Dad didn't have to leave it would have never forced the saying of the final goodbyes because we would have continued to just be with her until her final breath without knowing when that would happen. I planned to stay all night with Mom, and everyone was going to return in the morning. I recieved a call from Mom's niece (our cousin) Ellie. It was the only time I looked at my phone while I was with Mom. As Ellie & I talked I continued to rub Mom's arms & legs and count her breathing rate. All day long her breathing became shallower and faster. Ellie & I talked about Mom and at one point started talking about the great family reunion she will be having in Heaven. At this time a Christian caregiver I never met before came into Mom's room like an angel to pray for her. Mom must have been excited about the heavenly family reunion because this was when she peacefully and painlessly took her last breath. No pain. No suffering. Just a peaceful transition into the presence of Jesus. As I checked for Mom's pulse while saying one final goodbye. I let Ellie know what was going on and called my Sister to inform her. At this moment the caregiver stood up, grabbed my hand lifted up her arm in adoration to God and began singing "Hallelujah". I joined in. So did Traci over the phone. It was such a special moment. We simply worshipped God as Mom left behind all suffering, pain, and disease and crossed over into the eternal presence of the God she loves. The entire day (along with so many other acts of love) was the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced. We all said our goodbyes and an hour later Mom said hers. Laurie put it best, "The whole day was like a great movie with a perfect ending." Mom, next to Jesus, you are the BEST THING that ever happened to my life! I will miss you greatly Birddog! I LOVE YOU!!!
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