Home for Christmas
Hello survivors,
I am back. My mother passed into the grace of our Lord December 28, 2007. She was 74.
December 2007, my mother was in the ICU of a hospital suffering from many complications. It was touch and go then. My father had called all of us, their children to come home, if we still wanted to see her alive because at that time, she also had suffered a heart attack and was on a respirator. My father was hoping we could bring her home for christmas. Home for christmas, we picked on this theme and whispered to her everytime we came to sit by her bed in the ICU. All her grandchildren were at home waiting for her. They were not allowed to see her. If she wanted to see them, we have to get out of the ICU, at least, and be in a private room.
God is ever so good that He gave in to our prayers. At 7pm of December 24th, we brought her home. Sirens wailing, the children ran out of the house to meet the ambulance transporting her. They have made a welcome home poster, and greeted her all sorts of greetings; from happy birthday to merry christmas and sang carols. The doctor and attendants accompanying us home were so touched. Children lined up to kiss and hug her under their watchful eyes. When everything settled down, they left and it was up to us.
Her room resembled that of a hospital. Oxygen tanks,inhalator and suction machine in use. We worked a schedule who would stay up with her, monitoring vital signs, tube feeding, medicines, changing diapers, etc.
That was our christmas gift. We have forgotten about the children's christmas gifts, but they did not seem to mind. Their LOLA (grandmother) is home.
On the eve of the 28th, we have finished eating and the private nurse we have arranged arrived to check on the NGT because the tube somehow moved. He was checking on her when he asked for her blood pressure. It was dropping, and he told us she was expiring; to bring out the car to take her to the ER.
Mother had closed her eyes. We, her children kissed and said our goodbyes right there and the grandchildren lined up to kiss and bid her goodbye, too. We let her go.
A priest, who is a friend of the family told my father when my mother was in the ICU, that having done all that we can for her, we are not bound to keep her alive by extra ordinary means. To let God have his will and to surrender.
God has brought us this far, and He let us come through.
In His goodness, He sent the nurse to us that night, because without him, we would all be in a state of panic. Nurse Alvin was there all the way to assist us and make arrangements. Her doctor, was also on the phone during her last moments, giving directions in his comforting way.
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. That she was.
praying for all of you keeping watch.
only girl