Monday, June 9, 2008

First time out



I've recently been through a personal journey ... saying goodbye to my Mother. Mom was diagnosed several years ago with Renal Cell Carcenoma, kidney cancer. She fought the disease for about 4 years and finally passed on May 17th of 2008, on what would have been her 55th wedding anniversary. Dad passed in 1980 and Mom did not remarry.

I was lucky enough to have the free time available in my life to go and live with Mom in her final days. It was myself and my sister that is closest to me in age and in heart. We took care of Mom with guidance from Hospice of Carteret County (North Carolina) and we now have memories of time with Mom that cannot be taken away. This photo of my sister and me was taken after the funeral in front of Mom's house in Morehead City, North Carolina. She's going through a personal tragedy of her own and I pray for her every day. Her oldest son, Mom's second grandson, and my nephew is suffering with stage 4 Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. But more about that later.


I'm going to close with a posted photograph of 14 people, who tragically could not find the ability to gather in one place until the person they most wanted to gather for was gone. If there's a lesson in this, it's that you shouldn't let it happen to you. We love you Mom and will always miss you.

1 comment:

Ken Broadhurst said...

Hi Tom, I'm sorry I couldn't be there for Aunt Ida Mae's funeral. I saw her a few times over the last 5 or 6 years and enjoyed talking to her.

I also wish I could see a larger version of the last picture in your blog post so I could identify the people.

I don't know if you live in NC but I'll let you know the next time I plan to go to Morehead. Ken(ny)