When the time grows near

loveskitties

My Dad's situation was so much different than most of your LO's, as he was in his 90's when diagnosed.  He was home with my mother 2 years until he had a heart event.  After hospitalization of 10 days he went directly to MC facility, where he stayed for one month before dying.

While he had the usual issues with loss of memory, abilities to drive, use the phone or computer, etc., his time at home while difficult for my mother to adjust to, was relatively good, all things considered.

During the last 40 days of his life, it became obvious that his time was short.  I decided to write his obituary (minus the date of death) while I could do it over days and getting it just right.  I also wrote something to be read at the funeral...about his life and documenting the wonderful man he was.  My son ended up being  the one to read it.

The day after he died, my daughter, son-in-law and one of my adult granddaughters and I went to the local American Legion to have a drink and toast my Dad's service during WW 2.  While we were there, we shared stories he had told each of us about his war time experiences.  I came home that night, thinking that there were so many others who cared about him who didn't have the opportunity to hear them from him.  I wrote it up documenting it from his entrance into the Army...just 18 and off the farm, until he was finally home 2 1/2 years later.  My granddaughter read it at the funeral.

We made copies of both of these tributes to hand out at the funeral and my mother sent copies to distant friends and relatives who could not attend.

The reason I share this is to remind you to document and share the best parts of your LO's life so that is what they will be remember for, and not this terrible disease.

May flowers

That is a wonderful idea, loveskitties. I am so thankful that my FIL kept everything, it lets us get a glimpse into his past. He loved to tell stories too and I know some of them by heart and tell them back to him now. I wish I had recorded the stories when he was still able to communicate.

SusanB-dil

Agree - that's a beautiful way to remember. Remembering the good things and the stories our LO have told from their past. Sorry for your loss.

Olly_Bake

Sorry for your loss loveskitties! A beautiful idea indeed. Thanks for the reminder to put the very best presentation of our loved one forward so they can be remembered for good things and not the disease..