by Hope
Many of you who have been following my journey know that my mom has been on hospice care for almost two years now. In fact, two years ago, they told me to come immediately and say goodbye. They didn’t expect her to last much longer. Parkinson’s sucks!
I love seeing my family. But it’s been so hard saying good-bye every time I go back to visit.
The end may be near
This trip was a little different. The signs are there. The end may be nearing. She’s starting to have trouble swallowing or refusing to eat.
But this post isn’t about that. It’s about the awe inspiring care I have gotten to witness every time I have visited. My dad and siblings provide around the clock care. They are relentless in their pursuit of what is best for my mom’s care. They spend HOURS every day getting the most basic nutrition into her. And then adding treats on top of that.
They keep meticulous notes. They bathe her, change her, inspect for any signs of bed sores. Turn her over several times a day. They sit with her. Watch movies with her. Make sure there is moisturizer on her lips and her glasses are cleaned.
The dedication and love my family displays love in action like I have never seen or experienced. So I will make this trip as often as I’m asked. Because the self-sacrifice my family exemplifies every day is inspiring!
But, otherwise, this trip also showed me just how much I am settling into my new phase of life. How much I am enjoying being home. Not chasing the constant adventure travel that I used to crave so much. While I am still pulled to the road on occasion, what I really want to do is stay home and piddle around my house and yard.
Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager helping clients grow their business and work more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, & tech solutions. She’s recently become an empty nester as her 5 foster/adoptive kids have spread their wings. She lives with her 3 dogs in a small town in NE Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She struggles with the travel bug and is doing her best to help each of her kids as their finish schooling and become independent (but it’s hard!) She has run her own consulting company for almost twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally in a place to really focus on making wise financial decisions.
I am glad you could take the trip – and I hope your mom feels all the love as she transitions. It’s wonderful that your family can take care of her.