Flo

[low_delta]

She fell out of bed one morning, in the nursing home. The nurse happened to walk in and found her washing blood from her hands. She had no idea what happened. She had had a stroke.

She seemed to recover from the stroke, but she didn't want to live any more. She asked not to be given food. That was over a week ago.

My mother said she has been saying for a couple of years now, that she's had her time here, and it's time to go. She just seemed anxious about living, like she couldn't understand why she was still around.

Flo's daughter made arrangements for her memorial service, and expected it to be last weekend. Now they're expecting it to be this weekend.

Comments

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about Flo. But I admire her ability to decide for herself and die with dignity.

My dad's mom was a tough, hardy woman who thrived after a couple of organ transplants. By the time she was in her 80's, though, her body consistently failed her. She was as sharp as ever, but towards the end of her life, in the nursing home, she said "Why can't I just die? I've lived my life, my body doesn't work right any more...." *sigh*

I don't know which is worse, to have your body go and your mind stay strong, or vice versa. My mom's mom was a frailer woman who got Alzheimer's disease. Although her brain steadily decreased its functioning, her body stayed healthy. She became nervous and combative and had to be strapped to her chair. Finally her body wore down - she was also in her 80's.

((((Kevin))))