I wrote this little tribute to Mom and to the caregivers that kept her smiling during the 7 weeks she was at my house. The picture with me is from 2 years ago, 2 days before Christmas. The video just a silly little thing, not even sure what we were doing, from the hospital on Oct 24, while on a call with my sister. The picture with my brother was in my house on Nov 24 - she was confused about what was behind her bed (a monster) and behind the wall (the kitchen).
Once upon a time, there was a lady.
She had a horrible thing happen to her, medically,
That robbed her of her independence and mobility,
And another layer of her cognition.
She was frustrated, and in pain, and sad.
Mostly just sad.
But the strangers that met her,
Caregivers 'round the clock,
Met a dignified lady, full of grace,
And quickly became dear friends.
They reveled in her smile,
Were entertained by her silliness,
And astonished by her quick wit,
As was I,
At this time when her brain didn't seem so sharp.
And the laughter!
Until the final days,
There was unexpected laughter coming from her room,
With the new friends who adored her.
Each caregiver who came in the last few days
Said they wanted to see her smile just one more time.
I felt the same way.
Every smile was a wonderful gift.
The last time I asked she said she just couldn't.
As eight pm approached on Wednesday,
Caregiver hand-off time,
We watched her breathing slow,
And at 7:59, on 12-22-21,
With Tanya and Virgil on Zoom,
Tim and Dad and I and a caregiver in her room,
She took her last breath.
Once upon a time, there was a Beautiful Silly Lady.
