My mom passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday this week. Funeral is set for Tuesday this coming week. Lots of things to prepare and go through. First, thank you all who have extended comments to me and my family. It is truly appreciated. I will get around to responding to all of them as well. One comment came as a reminder to me…a story I actually have told so many times I have lost count of it. This reminder came from a daughter of a patient I took care of and told the story to as well. I think it is fitting here as well.
I forget how many years ago this occurred, but one I will never forget. I have told many people, patients, and even to my mom before. She loved it too.
I was taking care of elderly couple in the nursing home. They were both 95 at the time. He passed away. She was very upset. She made it clear she wanted to go first. She did not want to have to go through life without him. She spent the next couple of years being very isolated, not smiling, and irritable. She was never like this prior. One day I came to visit her in the nursing home. She was sitting in a recliner in her room, holding a book, eyes closed, and had a big smile on her face. I touched her arm, and she opened her eyes, still wide smile. I asked “how is it going today?” “Fantastic!” she said. “Why?” I asked. She held up the book. It was showing the back cover, so I did not know what it was. “What book is that?” I asked. She turned it over…it was a bible. “You were reading your bible…great!” I said. She said “No…you don’t understand. This is my husband’s bible. Mine is at the front of the room, and I did not want to get up and go over and get it, so I reached down under the end table by the bed and grabbed my husband’s instead. When I opened the book, it fell open to a spot where he had left a letter for me, and I first read it now. I did not know it was there. At the end, he said my time will come when God gets the curtains done for my room. Obviously, my curtains must not be done yet!” She smiled, and from that point on, she was again happy. She participated in activities. She ate with the rest of the residents. She smiled. She was happy again. She passed away 6 months later, but she finished living her life. Her curtains had not been finished…until then. So when patients would ask me “why am I still here?”, I would tell them this story, and that the curtains for their room were not done yet. I told my mom this story. She loved it. We would joke at times when visiting…”do you think my curtains are getting closer to being done?”, she asked me. “I don’t know”, I would say. “God is in charge. He is taking extra time and effort to get yours done right.”
This blanket was given to my mom from my brother Rich, and his wife Jeanne. It was the last photo of all of us together. It has been on her bed like a bed spread ever since…until the day she passed away. I think her curtains now are made of this as well…
I can’t tell anyone else exactly how they should understand a story like this. I can only tell you what it means to me.
I believe Mom’s room was finally ready.
Mom, I’ve told this story so many times.
I even told it to you.
This week, I’m holding onto it myself.
You’ve waited long enough.
God has your curtains done now, Mom.
I hope they are beautiful!!!!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of newest streak: # 928