My mother passed away in August of 1996. She and I were very close and as I was attending nursing classes when she fell ill, I was able to provide some of the health care she needed, brining us even closer.
The very last time she left the house I had taken her to a doctor's appointment. While leaving the office as we approached the elevators I asked her very bluntly if she was going to die. She stated she didn't know yet but as soon as it was decided I would be one of the first to know.
After that doctors visit she became so ill she was not able to leave the house any longer and we called in hospice care to assist.
My sister and I maintained a round the clock vigil with her, at least one of us was there at all times, except on August 21st. Mom had been resting very comfortably that day.
During the afternoon, we were preparing lunch when all of the sudden a huge gust of wind blew through the house sending papers askew, slamming the door closed and plummeting the temperature in the home about 20 degrees. August in Nebraska does not afford any breezezs let alone a gust of wind. After a couple of seconds, the wind subsided and the house gradually returned to warm again.
I looked at my sister and she at me. We ran to mom's bed side to check on her. She was still resting comfortably. The hospice nurse arrived shortly after this episode. After talking with the nurse it was determined that mom was as comfortable as was possible and it would be several weeks yet.
The nurse offered to stay with mom for an hour or so should my sister and I have some errands to do. I decided I would run home throw a load of laundry in and change the linens on my children's beds, take a shower and come back. My sister's plan was pretty similar.
I arrived home and ran upstairs to strip the beds. I was making a mountain of the discarded linens in the hall way between the bed rooms so I could carry them down all at once.
After stripping the last bed, I suddenly became very anxious and nauseated. I went into the hallway to retrieve the linens. As I picked up the pile of laundry, I looked up and my mom was standing in front of me.
She looked at me and smiled. She said: I'm sorry; I didn't get to tell you before it happened. I love you, then she was gone. I stood there blinking for a good 30 seconds. I then dropped the laundry and ran down the stairs.
Just as I grabbed my keys to head back to moms, the phone rang. I was asked to return to mom's house immediately as she had just passed...
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