I lost my dearest mother, at a ripe old age of 90, last year right after New Year's Day. I received the dreaded phone call in Australia at 3:00 a.m. Mom had been in a home in Canada for just over 3 years. The decision for a home was heart wrenching but her carers often said that she needed care and watching over 24/7, plus eyes at the back of the head. Mom was a handful indeed. All the English she had learned while in the new country as a migrant, slipped away as the dementia took over. Thus, care in an Anglo-Saxon facility was most difficult with nobody speaking mom's native tongue. My brother visited daily, so Alleluia! there were moments of communication.
Mom's death hurt and still hurts as I no longer have a mother. The fact that the mother who brought my siblings and me into this world is now gone was and is quite overwhelming. An end of a generation.
Mom was steadfast in all areas of her life. Her loyalty and honesty, although brutal at times, were her strengths. Mom was a firm disciplinarian, a wonderful cook, a tireless housekeeper, a creative seamstress, an adept gardener, a devout Catholic. I knew all these facets of Mom and give credit to her for all that I am. I miss mom. I spare a thought and a prayer for all those who have lost their mothers at an early age...
May 1st during the early hours of the morning, our Maltese Lachy of 15 years 7 months of age died in his sleep. He had been ailing with the commencement of his seizures for about six months. Yet, he was still a happy dog bounding around and enjoying his "walkies!" During one of his last seizures, Lachy strained a muscle in his hind leg and started hobbling. The vet gave him some painkillers but after 2 weeks on these, Lachy refused to eat. A visit to the vet yielded bad news. We needed to have our dear Lachy put down the next day.
We gathered our daughters that evening so we could all spend our last precious moments with Lachy, cuddling and holding him in turn. It was time for Lachy to go. We could see how laboured his breathing was throughout the day. I believe that Lachy knew that he was surrounded by his loved ones and so chose, instead of a clinical death, to pass away gently during the night in the comfort of his own bed.
It has now been one year and three and a half months since Lachy has been out of our lives and he still brings a tear to my eyes. My first dog ever as a pet and prior to Lachy, if anybody would have ever told me how much a part of my life he would become, I would never have believed it. I do now know the impact a pet's pure loyalty can have on my life. The life of the rest of my family. The life of our cat, 18 years, who wandered the place looking for her pal until we moved this year...
Mom's death hurt and still hurts as I no longer have a mother. The fact that the mother who brought my siblings and me into this world is now gone was and is quite overwhelming. An end of a generation.
Mom was steadfast in all areas of her life. Her loyalty and honesty, although brutal at times, were her strengths. Mom was a firm disciplinarian, a wonderful cook, a tireless housekeeper, a creative seamstress, an adept gardener, a devout Catholic. I knew all these facets of Mom and give credit to her for all that I am. I miss mom. I spare a thought and a prayer for all those who have lost their mothers at an early age...
May 1st during the early hours of the morning, our Maltese Lachy of 15 years 7 months of age died in his sleep. He had been ailing with the commencement of his seizures for about six months. Yet, he was still a happy dog bounding around and enjoying his "walkies!" During one of his last seizures, Lachy strained a muscle in his hind leg and started hobbling. The vet gave him some painkillers but after 2 weeks on these, Lachy refused to eat. A visit to the vet yielded bad news. We needed to have our dear Lachy put down the next day.
We gathered our daughters that evening so we could all spend our last precious moments with Lachy, cuddling and holding him in turn. It was time for Lachy to go. We could see how laboured his breathing was throughout the day. I believe that Lachy knew that he was surrounded by his loved ones and so chose, instead of a clinical death, to pass away gently during the night in the comfort of his own bed.
It has now been one year and three and a half months since Lachy has been out of our lives and he still brings a tear to my eyes. My first dog ever as a pet and prior to Lachy, if anybody would have ever told me how much a part of my life he would become, I would never have believed it. I do now know the impact a pet's pure loyalty can have on my life. The life of the rest of my family. The life of our cat, 18 years, who wandered the place looking for her pal until we moved this year...
Two weeks following Lachy's death, my father-in-law died suddenly, unexpectedly. At the age of 80, John was the happiest, funniest and fittest man I have known.
He had what he thought was the flu. When the aches did not go in two weeks, he was admitted to emergency. Here a battery of tests revealed an aggressive cancer in the liver. He was given 3-5 weeks to live. Within 5 days he was gone. John too went peacefully but his passing has left us all reeling.
John always knew the right thing to say, the right thing to do, the right energy to pass along to everyone. John didn't just save this side for his family. Shop keepers, neighbours and his employees of earlier years, all had the joy of knowing this John. A man whose sole purpose was to make others happy. He crossed the barrier of age. He would have young and old alike laughing. Young and old alike were always welcome in his house. Young and old alike were equally important. He was an example of such positivity that my spirits were always lifted being around him or just talking to him. He touched me. He touched my family. He touched so many. One sympathy card's author somehow envisaged that John would live forever. Such was the man John.
There has been a void in my life since John's passing. Yes, thankfully, my husband, cut from the same cloth, has these same superb qualities whose glass half-full mentality is a pleasure to see and be inspired by. Although missing John very much, I can say that I am lucky to be with his son.
Rest in Peace.
Published By: Valdone's Leaf
He had what he thought was the flu. When the aches did not go in two weeks, he was admitted to emergency. Here a battery of tests revealed an aggressive cancer in the liver. He was given 3-5 weeks to live. Within 5 days he was gone. John too went peacefully but his passing has left us all reeling.
John always knew the right thing to say, the right thing to do, the right energy to pass along to everyone. John didn't just save this side for his family. Shop keepers, neighbours and his employees of earlier years, all had the joy of knowing this John. A man whose sole purpose was to make others happy. He crossed the barrier of age. He would have young and old alike laughing. Young and old alike were always welcome in his house. Young and old alike were equally important. He was an example of such positivity that my spirits were always lifted being around him or just talking to him. He touched me. He touched my family. He touched so many. One sympathy card's author somehow envisaged that John would live forever. Such was the man John.
There has been a void in my life since John's passing. Yes, thankfully, my husband, cut from the same cloth, has these same superb qualities whose glass half-full mentality is a pleasure to see and be inspired by. Although missing John very much, I can say that I am lucky to be with his son.
Rest in Peace.
Published By: Valdone's Leaf
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