I haven’t been posting much lately. Last Friday my sister Maria died suddenly at age 48. She left behind a 23 year old daughter, a 16 year old son and a 9 year old son. I watched as my family members shuffled in and out of the curtained ER bay and clustered around the gurney she was on. We clutched her cold hand, kissed her forehead and cried. I watched my mother wrestle with her grief from the death of her eldest daughter. Parents should never have to greive the loss of a child. I watched the raw outpouring from my niece as she tried and failed to come to grips with the loss of her mother. It was and is still heartwrenching.
The breathing tube used to try to resuscitate Maria was still in place and filled with her dried blood. They really should remove those and the IV lines before letting the family in. It seemed unnecessarily cruel to have all the accoutrements of medical failure still surrounding her after death. It’s been difficult weekend as arrangements have been negotiated, made and paid for. After the ordeal at the funeral home all I can say is make your wishes know and get a pre-need plan. It’s an added burden for those who remain to try guess what a realtive might have wanted.
The funeral is this Wednesday ay 12:30 PM at Stower’s Funeral Home in Brandon, FL. We will have a family gathering, as is our custom, afterwards. We try to remember the good times and share our tears and gather what comfort family and friends can bring at times like theses.
Hold close those that you love, while you can…
