Posted 5/20/2015 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
David –
I just signed on and learned this sad news, and like all the rest I offer my very sincere condolences. Dealing with the loss of a parent, especially a mother, is always one of life's most difficult challenges
So many wise and thoughtful comments have already been made here that I feel at a loss to add to them. I can only say that the relationship that one has with one's parents is probably the most unique of all human relationships. It fills and affects our lives so much, often more than we realize.
For example, over the past few decades I have seen relationship patterns form with my own two sons in various ways that mirror those I have had with my own mom. Surprising to me at first, but after reflection, perhaps not so surprising after all. It's the cycle of life, passing from one generation to the next.
I have always read with great interest the occasional accounts of life with your own mom that you have posted here in the past, because your situation with your mom mirrored my own: an elderly mother, widowed, living in a condo nearby, frequent visits, becoming her "eyes and ears" in many ways, health issues, but still very much mentally alert, and generally polite and concerned more about family members than herself (although she can still get a bit "rough around the edges" sometimes). (But then, mom always has suffered fools badly). <grin>
My own mom will turn 94 next month. She has outlived almost all of her (and my) relatives of her generation and has had, and I think she would agree with this, a good life. I don't look forward to the day when she must leave, but I believe that when the time comes she will do so with dignity and grace.
David, an enormous benefit of this forum is that we each have the opportunity to offer and share advice on how to deal with life's challenges, both in the case of this PCa thing, but as well in other areas. There are likely a number of us here who have elderly parents, and we may eventually ourselves be facing the issues of loss that you are facing right now. So while it is probably too soon to do so now, as time passes if you gain any insights on how to handle such a loss, if you would, please do post and share them with us. It could well make dealing with such loss easier for someone else in the future.
Finally, as has been rightly pointed out recently, this forum is not the place for us to speculate on our loved ones' existence in heaven. But if I may be allowed just one comment, I'll bet that your mom is looking down right now on you and her other children and loved ones with great pride and affection, so happy in knowing that she had been your mom.
Again, very sincere condolences, David, and be comforted in knowing that you had such a great mom.