My Aunt Blanche (my mom's older and only sister) passed away last night. :'o( She was 92 years old and had been in the hospital for a while. She had cancer in her leg, and then recently broke her hip due to the cancer so had to have surgery. She was in and out of a coma for over a week, but finally came completely out of the coma last Friday. Her grandson stopped in to see her after work and when he saw that she was awake and alert told her he was going to call his mom... she whispered "okay". When my cousin went in to see her she told her that she loved her and my aunt responded "I love you too!" - slurred. Linda (my cousin) told me when they went to see her on Mother's Day, Aunt Blanche slurring very badly and didn't recognize anyone... she figures that her mom had a second stroke that made her like this.
My cousin and I spoke for a while on the phone last night and she's handling it okay (for now... she hasn't allowed herself to break yet). She said that she thinks it was a blessing that her mom passed away even though she loves her and will miss her very much (she was an only child, and she only has the one child as well so they were all very close), because Aunt Blanche would have hated to be in that state where she couldn't speak at all or recognize her loved ones. Linda is taking comfort in the knowledge that Aunt Blanche is now with her husband who passed away years ago, with my Mom who Aunt Blanche adored, and with my Dad who Aunt Blanche thought the world of.
Linda's son (22) is really taking it hard and was locked up in his room while we were on the phone last night. I know when my Dad passed away, Matthew was only 12 and he was devastated... he reacted in anger (throwing a couple of his things in his room) and he cried too. When my Mom passed away, Matthew was 20 and held it all inside for days being a total rock for me... then suddenly one day he just broke down completely and didn't seem like he could stop crying at all. I told Linda this and to expect the same thing from Liam in a few days.
In any case... I had been puttering away, from time to time, at the afghan that I had on the go for Aunt Blanche, and am only about three rounds away from finishing it. I think I'll finish it and get it to Linda and Liam as a comfortghan for them in her memory. Wish I could crochet faster right now, but I will do a round this afternoon and then rest my arms and hands before doing another round tonight. If my hands and arms hold up I may be able to have it finished by Friday at the latest.
Please say a prayer (or pass along good vibes) for my Aunt Blanche on her journey, and for my cousin Linda and her son Liam in their loss.
Peace! Gemini