(no subject)
I took this from my sister's LJ, because I couldn't say it much better than this. I found this all out through a phone call to mum.
My great-aunt Mildred has had macular degeneration for years, she had a partial stroke (they think) last summer and became totally blind. She's 87. My great-uncle is 89, and has his right arm amputated at the elbow from cancer. Millie had a massive heart attack last night and is hospitalised. They put her on a respirator against her wishes because though they went through the questioning several times, she said she was not prepared to die, or whatever it is. (Mom said it like this: "Do you want to be put on a respirator?" "No" "Are you prepared to die, then?" "No" so they couldn't.) But nonetheless, they did not expect her to make the night. JJ (grandma) hasn't heard anything since; we don't know if that's good or bad news. Dad's cousins are unreachable. It seems I only see the full family at funerals.
JJ's neighbour Sally Zimmer, a wonderful woman who had polio in her youth and who I've stayed with several times in the (senior) apartment complex, took a fall a few days ago and needed help to get to bed. She had to call her kids and doctor the next day and go to the ER, where she was admitted and due to congestive heart failure had over a quart of fluid removed from around her heart. She's not doing too well either.
My grandmother told my dad that at times like this when you are old (she's... 81? 82?) you just lie in bed thinking, "What'll it be for me?" She will be even more aged and depressed this year come Christmas, I expect. The last two people near to her besides Dad are going, now (my grandfather died 6 years ago and my uncle 5).
*sigh*
Time for a happy movie. Madagascar, anyone? (Mary and I are watching it together, finally somebody will know my quotes...excellent...)
still haven't heard from andrew. ho hum.
My great-aunt Mildred has had macular degeneration for years, she had a partial stroke (they think) last summer and became totally blind. She's 87. My great-uncle is 89, and has his right arm amputated at the elbow from cancer. Millie had a massive heart attack last night and is hospitalised. They put her on a respirator against her wishes because though they went through the questioning several times, she said she was not prepared to die, or whatever it is. (Mom said it like this: "Do you want to be put on a respirator?" "No" "Are you prepared to die, then?" "No" so they couldn't.) But nonetheless, they did not expect her to make the night. JJ (grandma) hasn't heard anything since; we don't know if that's good or bad news. Dad's cousins are unreachable. It seems I only see the full family at funerals.
JJ's neighbour Sally Zimmer, a wonderful woman who had polio in her youth and who I've stayed with several times in the (senior) apartment complex, took a fall a few days ago and needed help to get to bed. She had to call her kids and doctor the next day and go to the ER, where she was admitted and due to congestive heart failure had over a quart of fluid removed from around her heart. She's not doing too well either.
My grandmother told my dad that at times like this when you are old (she's... 81? 82?) you just lie in bed thinking, "What'll it be for me?" She will be even more aged and depressed this year come Christmas, I expect. The last two people near to her besides Dad are going, now (my grandfather died 6 years ago and my uncle 5).
*sigh*
Time for a happy movie. Madagascar, anyone? (Mary and I are watching it together, finally somebody will know my quotes...excellent...)
still haven't heard from andrew. ho hum.