Mimi Said Goodbye

My grandma, who was like another Mom to me passed away in November of 2011. She unexpectedly developed a blood clotting disorder. My one year old son, who loved her dearly and had always been excited to see her, was acting funny at the hospital like he knew something wasn't right. She promised when she was well enough to communicate that she would look out for him when I couldn't.

The next day our family met with Hopice and while we were talking with the nurse my Dad rushed down the hall telling us her heart stopped. He begged her to come back and tell us all good-bye and as I walked in I could see the monitor and she had no heart rate and was flatlined. Then her heart started beating as we all gathered around her bed and told her we loved her then she left us. She was a very family oriented person and loved Christmas. She especially liked to spend time with my son who called her "Mimi".

A few days before Christmas I was at work (I am a ICU nurse) and my husband was at home with my son who was playing in our family room. He was blabbering and laughing for awhile over and over again so my husband checked on him. He kept talking and saying Mimi. My husband took a few pictures.

We do not smoke in the house but one has a mist and my son is clearly looking at someone/something during his conversation. The other pic you can see a reflection towards the bottom of the middle of the fireplace glass that closely resembles my Grandma's face. She loved him so much and I believe she came to tell him good-bye.

Losing her has really helped me connect with patients' families and give them hope to hold onto the belief that she is always looking out for him.