My mother passed away

My mother passed away on January 5th, 2016. I was with her while she passed. My sister had gotten to spend time with her two days prior and dad had gotten to say goodbye the night before. She was truly a fighter and was determined to beat the cancer even up to two days prior to her passing. 

She was told at Thanksgiving she had a year to live if she participated in trials after the new year. Then the day after Christmas we were told she was never supposed to last until Christmas according to her file and instead that she had only 2 weeks to live. My mom was still walking at this point but as we left the hospital with heavy hearts and in tears, she fell because the cancer had eaten through her femur bone. At first the doctors were optimist about repairing it but after x-rays and MRIs they determined her spine was too far gone for a spinal tap and her leg was pretty much too eaten to replace. I pushed for the hospital to release her and arranged for hospice to come to the house and set up everything she needed. Within 4 hours, she had a special hospital bed with a handle that hung down so she was able to lift herself to go to the bathroom, a few bed pans, some bed pads as she would be bedridden and a special suction machine. She also was given a nebulizer to help with her breathing. She spent the next day with my sister and her children. Since she had missed the new years, she tried to drink eggnog with us, enjoyed the kids playing in the room with her, both kids (2 and 4 year old) crawled up with her in the bed and snuggled up close while playing with their tablet and coloring. She had a good day. The next day she spent the time with me. We talked and she even drank a full bottle of ensure. She was talking about getting a special lift chair to sit in since even though her leg was broken, she thought with help she could sit in a recliner and watch movies with us still. She was also talking about getting back on ensure. She was upset the hospital had told her she couldn't drink them there and wanted to get herself back on them to enjoy her life the next few weeks. She was also determined to beat her 2 weeks and try for the months she was told she had. That night hospice came to check on her and decided she needed morphine. Even though her pain was managed, they said the nebulizer wasn't going to help her bit of raspy breathing. Mom insisted she could breathe but they insisted it would make her breathe better not end her life. That night and the next day she didn't really wake up only to moan loudly. I wasn't sure if it was because she was unable to fully wake up due to the morphine or if the morphine wasnt working as well as oxyfast. We will never know I guess. The night (Sunday night) dad ended up in the room because I had to go help my grandma to the bathroom. She had called out to dad after hearing his voice requesting me to help grandma in the bathroom. Dad went into the room after I basically shoved him in and he sat with her and he talked with her until she slept. That was the last time she woke up. In the wee hours of the morning her breathing turned shallow and raspy. She was no longer with us but her body was still breathing. I called hospice and they said she would last another day or so. Dad went to work, grandma's helper came for her. I wouldn't leave mom's side. I had stayed by her side not sleeping the last few days and there was no way I'd miss the last few hours. Within hours, at 11:02, she took her last breath. 

She was brave and determined even to the end. She will be missed.

You guys were amazing to be as helpful as you were. She had learned so much from you guys including the salt water mixes, the magic mouthwash, and the suction machine. She learned about ensures through the site as well as what to expect during her 37 radiation and 8 chemo treatments. You guys were a great blessing to us both and I hope you continue to be for those who come in the future here seeking help.