Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Vigil

Dad is home...with hospice care.

It's a vigil.

Awful, yet something that has to be done.

We have no idea how long this will last.

Hopefully not long, for his sake.

Thinking of all of you who have gone thru this recently.

Mim

16 comments:

Lynn Cohen said...

Thinking of you too Mim. I did just go through this as you know with MIL Erika. It was a hard week for us. So my heart goes out to you and your family. Please feel my hugs coming your way.
May he go peacefully.

Debra Kay said...

I lost my Uncle John a few months ago. At the moment he died, my first feeling (coming from him) was "this isn't so bad after all....." and whenever the following days and weeks got too bad, I always went back to that feeling he sent me as he left his body. He didn't leave ME, he's still with me and I don't mean that in a creepy way.

Now, like George Carlin famously said, the departed have more to do than watch over the living 24/7, but they do stick around for when we need them. I truly believe that when I do something John approves of, I can feel his approval radiate over me as surely as if he were still here in physical form.

I am sorry if this is too personal or creepy for you-I only wanted to say that in many ways, it's a great gift to be with a loved one at the end.

marianne said...

Oh Mim,
I hope he can go peacefully and that peace will be with ll of youwho love him and accompany hm on this last trip.
You will be in my thoughts!
Sending you love and light!

studio lolo said...

I stopped here as soon as I got home. Been thinking about you and that dad of yours with that glorious head of hair.
How wonderful to be gathered together for him, yes, even in the end. He's probably thinking the same thing...what a lucky guy he is. I wish him a soft, peaceful transition and I wish all of his loved ones a light heart knowing that he wasn't alone.

Goodnight Mr. Stella.
You are loved.
You're loved too Mim.
XX

Teri said...

I think speaks for all of us and she said it so eloquently. I can't believe another friend is going through this.

Prayers and hugs to you Mim and your family.

ElizT said...

yes, all that from me too.

Anonymous said...

Glad he was able to come home and be surrounded by you and loved ones. Let him know that it's OK to go so he doesn't try to hang on for your sake.
Nothing is harder.
I'm thinking of you and sending masses of love.
XXXXOOOOOOHIlary

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

I checked in on you tonight. When I read the note that said "Let him know it's OK to go" it brought back the memory...

of Mike waking me to tell my my favorite cat, who had been diagnosed with a heart defect when he was 6 years old, survived a bout with congestive heart failure and had lived on through 5 years in kidney failure, was in respiratory distress.

I put my face to his and whispered it's okay to go...and within 2 minutes he left us. I just know he waited for me to wake and be there and say that. And I will be forever grateful I was able to be there with him.

Recently, a friend who has one of my cats, told me of a woman in her care (she is an oncology nurse) was failing and she told me of her blog. I visited that night and left this poem, one of my favorites that has to do with pet loss, but instead of the words cat, just think of your Dad.

I learned the next day that this woman had a brief time of clarity the next day and her husband read her some of the comments on her blog, the poem I sent to her being one of them. That comforted me and I hope the words did comfort her, too.

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am....forever and ever and ever.
Anonymous

MuseSwings said...

My prayers are with you and your family. Such a difficult time for you!

Lynn Cohen said...

Just came by to hug you good night.
Be gentle with yourself Mim.

Jude said...

My heart goes out to you and your family.
As you said, I hope it's not too long for your beloved father, you and your family.
Take care

soulbrush said...

hoefully not long for his sake (and for all of you too). my warmest hugs are flying over to envelop you with love today.

Anonymous said...

Oh, my heart goes out to you.

Grace and peace.

Debra Kay said...

I stopped in again to send you a hug and a hand squeeze.

sukipoet said...

I know how hard this is --esp from recent experience too. Sending prayers and hugs. YOur dad is lucky to have you all there to guide him on his way.

Maxine Lu said...

Hi. I just found you again. I am sorry for your loss. I am saying prayers for you and your family.

Sincerely,
Maxine