The purpose of this blog is to provide timely updates about this portion of Dot's (Mom's) life journey for her many friends around the country and world and for her beloved son, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The out-pouring of comments, calls, email, and cards has been so overwhelming, that I (Terry) can't possibly respond to each of you, so my hope is that this blog will allow you to be more closely connected to Mom's last days. My intention is to leave no one out, so if you know someone who wants to know how Mom is, please forward this blog to him/her.
As a brief overview and to bring everyone up to date on Mom's current status...She had 1 or 2 strokes on December 17. She was transported 70 miles away to a hospital in Denver where she stayed for a week. On Christmas Day she was transported back to Colorado Springs and is in a nursing facility with her care being overseen by hospice. I'm not disclosing the location out of respect for her and to preserve her dignity. She would want you to remember her as you've known her - witty, vibrant, tenacious, and committed.
It's been 3 weeks since her stroke(s), and Mom is not able to communicate very easily. She often lives in the past, thinking of a variety of life situations that I've long forgotten. One thing that seems to still be with her is her love of barbershop music. She told me just a few days ago that I was a conceited lead! Has she been holding back that thought for all these years? Oh my!
We let her listen to YouTube recordings of Sweet Adeline choruses, and she becomes very intent. At times she'll attempt to sing with them. I've tried to bring her into the present a few times, asking her to counsel me on members for my new quartet. Of course, she has reserved the tenor spot for herself and told me so very directly. I'll be bringing a CD player and CDs to her room today so she can listen to good BBS as she desires. I'll let you know in a follow-up post how this goes over.
Please feel free to comment here. If you have any stories about your lifetime adventures with Mom, please share them. I might even talk to her about some of them.
Bless each of you. You have all touched me deeply with your prayers and concerns for Mom. Long time friendships are being renewed for me too, and I appreciate your concern and love for me.
