I sat with my much loved OH this morning as his life came quietly to an end. He had pneumonia again due to his swallowing problems and this time he hadn't the resilience to pull through. He was in the local hospital whose care over the last 5 days has been good, and whose staff handled the end of life issues and choices very sensitively. I am so grateful for that care, as indeed I am for all the support from TP during the last 3 emotionally and physically demanding years.
We had time for the family who wanted to see him to come, and be alongside , to share stories about him and even laugh together as we begin this next bit of life without this big personality who gave us all so much.
The blessing for me tonight, amidst the tears, that as befits an old actor he timed his exit well. I realised at the beginning of this week that I had reached my limit of being able to care for him at home with the help of carers. We both had dreaded the separation and lack of choice that even the best care home would have meant, thankfully we were spared that decision.
We had time for the family who wanted to see him to come, and be alongside , to share stories about him and even laugh together as we begin this next bit of life without this big personality who gave us all so much.
The blessing for me tonight, amidst the tears, that as befits an old actor he timed his exit well. I realised at the beginning of this week that I had reached my limit of being able to care for him at home with the help of carers. We both had dreaded the separation and lack of choice that even the best care home would have meant, thankfully we were spared that decision.