When the journey is over, now what? This was the biggest thing on my plate for many years and suddenly I had been fired, let go, made redundant. The team I built spun out into their own lives and we made small efforts to touch base once a year. Mom was the glue, the true
Nature is number one on my list. I have the good fortune to live in the midst of the wilderness and it never failed to refresh and renew me along this journey. Exercise. I ran into my tears, I ran with my tears and I ran thru my tears coming home just a little bit
The question is simple. Would you do this journey if you did not have any family? If this responsibility was solely yours? If the answer is “Yes” than accept and move on. This was ultimately my journey and I am stronger, more compassionate and the winner. No regrets. In time some family members may get
For a week every fall Mom would often come up to visit me in my home. Dad dutifully brought her halfway and we transferred and I brought her to my home. We were in high spirits and looking forward to some mother and daughter time. Unfortunately since my last visit Mom had changed yet again.
This trip to UBC went much better. There was no great news from the good doctor but involving Mom with UBC gave me telephone access later in her disease for some of the decisions I had to make for her. I would speak with her local GP, the local pharmacist, and then call UBC to
I had no understanding of what I was getting into as the journey evolved. The beginning was just spending more time with Mom and taking her to specialist appointments five hours away in the city. As the disease progressed it involved advocating and fighting my father for the best possible care for Mom. Later it
After being deemed palliative Mom did not die for nine months. I learned that time is finite and infinite at the same second. A friend had given me a business book on procrastination called Eat Your Frogs. One chapter exercise was to quickly name the three things you had to do 100% correct right now!
