Together

From Memory

My mother went into a coma on Monday morning and never woke up. And I didn't realize this had happened. I was flying back from a vacation with Carol and after a flight was cancelled and spending over eight hours in airports, I thought I was the most exhausted that I could be. I walked into the house to hear the news about my mother. And that exhaustion just disappeared. Suddenly, I was in crisis mode, and we made quick plans to leave for Illinois right away.

When we got there, I held her hand and talked with her and she slipped away soon afterward. Kristiana and Nan were there with me, and there was a solemn feeling--we knew there would be no awakening. Peyton went to get my father and we called Tim to come back to the hospital. Tim and my father had been at the hospital most of the day and had gone home to rest.

We all gathered around my mother and remembered funny stories, good memories, and I even got us all to sing some of her favorite songs. I think it was very healing to cry, laugh and be together. Shana was waiting in Los Angeles for her flight and I called her to let her know when our mom slipped away. She was very upset she couldn't be there and I arranged with the nurse to allow her to see my mother's body the next morning. It was another emotional time, but the family was all there together and that was very good.

The wonderful thing that I felt then, and still feel now, a year later, is how we have all come together in our sorrow and celebration of an amazing woman's life. We came as a family, and the impact of our mother passing away, has brought us closer together.