It looks like we are moving tomorrow.
Not Pete and I, but Mom. Tomorrow we will be moving to hospice.
The palliative care unit has been very kind to us. Mom has had TONS of visitors, and they have been very patient with us. Besides just our family (of 10) we have had over 100 visitors in the past 3 days.
So many people love my mom. It is so obvious how much she has influenced people throughout her life. We have had friends from Mom's childhood, friends from church, friends from the neighborhood, friends from the past 30 years. It has truly been a blessing.
This has been the best, but most difficult thing to go through. Mom is getting a chance to say goodbye to everyone. We are getting a chance to tell her how much we love her.
If you have ever heard the song "Thank You for Giving to the Lord," you know that the end of the song talks about people lining up for miles to tell how much the person means to them. I know that once she gets to heaven, she will have that line. We are being blessed by getting to witness a little bit of that here.
The next step is that they will remove Mom's feeding tube. She has been getting liquid nutrition through a port for the last few days. She is getting to move to a full liquid diet, which means she can eat strawberry sherbet, and she is excited about that! We know, and she knows, that she still won't be absorbing the nutrition, and her body is continuing to shut down. But at least she is comfortable.
The hospice place is at least close to where we currently are. It is at the hospital we normally have been at up to this point. Different area, but the same hospital. It is also run by the oncologist who has been Mom's doctor through all of the illness. So we are pleased with the continuity of care.
I know that this seems random and jumpy. Please bear with me. My head is all over the place. I can't really keep a thought in my head for more than a couple of minutes, or even follow a train of thought. Continue to keep us in your prayers. We will make it, it's just REALLY stressful.
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I wish I was there, I wish we could go back to when we where children, we could go to grandma an dpa Smiths farm, we could all take turns on the swing, and dig in that deep sand, pick mulberrys out of the tree, and peanuts from teh earth, bury my big old dog, Snooper, in teh sand, and eat grandmas fried chichen after church on Sunday. Nicole...please please tell her I love her.
ReplyDeleteThanks for updating us. I keep checking back and back to see what's new and to read and think of you. We love you!
ReplyDeleteNicole - you are a beautiful, spiritual young lady. I know your parents and grandparents must be so proud of you. Your mother is leaving quite a legacy in you alone. All will see the wonderful mother she is through the life you live.
ReplyDeleteI know this is so hard on you. Please know that there are so many people praying for all of you. As her pain ends and her celebration with her Father begins your family will have such a void in your lives.
P.S. If you remember please let your mom and grandmother know that my mom, Texas Hentzen and myself, Jeri Hentzen Geary, are both thinking of you and praying for you.
So glad I had that time with you guys. Beautiful moments remembered forever. Jeri
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