My Mom

My mom.  She was diagnosed with dementia just after Dad fell off a train and broke his back.

No, he is not a hobo.

Since then, she has lived at a nursing home in my home town and has settled in quite nicely.

If she isn't painting in one of the many classes offered at the nursing home, 

then she's hustling down the halls gathering people for Bingo, a sing-a-long where she used to play the music for or a church service that her pastor has in one of the community rooms.

She is definitely a mover and shaker at that nursing home!

The other residents get so jealous because she leaves the home the most.  Others rarely get a single visitor in a year, but Mom's checkout sheet has probably 10 pages of her being checked out for the day.

A year ago, April, Mom was found to have cancer of the colon and stomach, so she had surgery.

 We were thrilled that we got to have her longer!!

Well, the cancer returned and Mom has complained of stomach pains again.  She's on heavy meds, so it only hurts her sometimes when it's almost time for another pill.

Yesterday, a nurse at the home, told Dad that they noticed yellow in her eyes and skin.  He got with one of my sisters and got to her go see their family doctor, who has been with them through thick and thin. 

After the exam, the doctor gave her a hug and Dad two hugs.  Didn't say anything like "see you in a couple weeks" like he normally would, and then whispered to my sister, "I'm sorry..."

I know that God had granted us a couple more years with her, but I'm still not ready.

I know she's ready.  She's the most faith-filled person I've ever met.

You know how some people are totally of the world?  My mother has always had her sights set on heaven.  She exudes faith.

And I know I'll see her again in heaven.

But there is no one like this woman.

I'm not ready to start missing her.

When I was a kid, I had a dream that my mom had died.  I woke up with the pillow soaked from tears in my sleep.

 I'm not sleeping, but my eyes have been leaking non-stop since yesterday's news.

I love this woman.