It was just a week ago that I lost my mom, and I think I'm still in shock. I haven't fully accepted it. She passed away on 9/24/01, which also happens to be my birthday. She had just celebrated hers four days earlier. She was 78 when she passed. My mother was my best friend, my rock, my strength. She was an inspiration to me and my reason for living. I still can't believe she's gone. She passed away around 4 in the afternoon in the surroundings of her home and her loving husband, children and a few grandchildren. It was rather unexpected. She had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure a couple months prior and then also diagonosed with lung cancer that had spread to her bones and bone marrow. Her prognosis was not good, but she was determined to at least get a few more years to her life. She opted for chemo. She had just completed round number one and I had gone down to visit. We all thought she was doing so much better, but then each day got worse until we had to take her back to the hospital where we found out she wouldn't make it much longer. She survived 5 more days from that night. We (my family and I) did not want her to go, but we did not want her to suffer either. We told her it was okay to go, we each said our last goodbyes and kissed her and shortly after she was gone.
I am lost without her. She gave me the greatest gift, my life. My mother was the living meaning and advertisement of unconditional love. There was not a person that did not meet her that was not touched by her and that she did not leave an impression on. She was loved by many and loved like no other person I've ever known. My life will never be the same, but I know she's watching over me and will guide me through the rest of my life. But I will truly miss the physical being of her, the hug, the kiss, the sound of her voice, but I try to hold fast to those memories I have of her and I hope to hear her again.
I love you with all my heart Mom and I treasure what you've given to me.
Lisa H.
