My sister and I are on day 10 with our Mum. Been with her all the time for first 9 days of her end of life journey, but have had to return to our jobs in other countries for a few days to keep our own lives ticking over. It is so hard. Our comfort is that the 9 days we spent with Mum were quality time. She is mainly non responsive but we talked to her, laughed together (hoping she could hear), sang all her favorite songs, prayed, listened to her favorite hymns, held hands, stroked her legs etc.
But we finally came to a time when we had to get back to our lives for a bit. Hope we can forgive ourselves, and get back to Mum before the final moment, but who knows.
This is so difficult, and we feel guilty for wishing she had gone when we were there, because we feel like we are wishing for her to die to suit our schedules.
There is no easy way to handle this, we can only do our best, and be guided by the knowledge that Mum was always supportive of our jobs, and so proud that we had built the careers that she had always dreamed of. And she never once complained that we had both built lives in other countries. Such a brave lady.
We love you Mum.
But we finally came to a time when we had to get back to our lives for a bit. Hope we can forgive ourselves, and get back to Mum before the final moment, but who knows.
This is so difficult, and we feel guilty for wishing she had gone when we were there, because we feel like we are wishing for her to die to suit our schedules.
There is no easy way to handle this, we can only do our best, and be guided by the knowledge that Mum was always supportive of our jobs, and so proud that we had built the careers that she had always dreamed of. And she never once complained that we had both built lives in other countries. Such a brave lady.
We love you Mum.