Mother's Day and Mom

We had a good, yet sobering Mother's Day this year. I actually woke up to an empty house that morning. The girls were gone with Andrew to the store getting last minute items to make me breakfast, which turned out to be great. I got to go for a manicure and pedicure, which was wonderful. They really spoiled me.

Grandma reading to Benjamin on Mother's Day

In the evening Andrew's parents came over for dinner and we honored his mom as well as Brandy who recently graduated from culinary school. While it was a wonderful time to be together with family, it was immediately apparent that Mom was not doing well. Her health had declined rather dramatically in the previous couple of weeks. It was difficult to see her that way and we all came away very concerned for where this was leading. Two days later she was admitted to the hospital where doctors did everything they could to improve her health. She was suffering from pulmonary hypertension, a complication of Scleroderma which she suffered from for over 20 years. In less than two weeks it became clear to the doctors that there was nothing they could do to improve her condition and she declined very quickly.

During those two weeks we visited her as much as we could. The girls spent time with her in her hospital bed and brought her their artwork for her room, hoping it would cheer her up. Hannah, especially liked to get up in bed with Grandma to pull the covers up over her shoulders. She knew how cold Grandma could get. Mom was so sweet with the kids even as she was dealing with great discomfort and probably more aware than the rest of us how much time she had left. She took time to talk to them, didn't mind their noisiness in her room and loved their affection. She even played with Benjamin.

At the end, Mom was so at peace with the situation and seemed so ready to go. She passed away on May 25th with Dad by her side. It's hard to comprehend that she's gone. She was so young and it seems unfair. And yet, her faith made her confident. I couldn't see any doubt in her. She even seemed at peace that we would be okay without her. It's truly amazing to me all the things that she endured, especially with this disease and yet she thought so little of herself. Hands down, my mother in law was the most selfless person I have ever known. She was a great mom and the best kind of grandma. Hannah and Ellie both miss her so much. Hannah understand that she can't see her anymore, but Ellie doesn't. She'll still ask if we can call her and I remind her that Grandma is in heaven with Jesus. She simply replies, "Yes, so can we call her?"

In hindsight, I'm so grateful that she lived as long as she did. So many patients with her diagnosis don't live more than a few years. She told us that when first diagnosed she asked God to allow her the opportunity to raise her children. Praise God that she not only raised them, but lived to see her grandchildren and they were able to know her for a short time. It still doesn't make sense that she's gone, but I'm thankful for her example in my life. She gave me one of my life's greatest gifts, her son.