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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNearing death, two people offer a journalist and caregiver life lessons
Evelyn pulled her wheelchair close to the bathroom sink and went through her morning ritual. Combing her black hair. Brushing her false teeth. Putting on her makeup.
"Sit down, I want to talk with you," she said.
I sat on the closed toilet seat, two cameras on my lap, ready to photograph her, as I had so many times before.
"How's your dad?" she asked.
"He is not well," I said. "He is struggling."
She stopped applying her makeup and turned to me. "Look. He is likely not going to make it, and you're going to have to be OK with that."
It was classic Evelyn, blunt and to the point. Her lipstick done, she rolled her wheelchair slowly backward, then reached over and flicked off the light. "Didi, come get me," she called to her caregiver, who was cooking breakfast.
She left me sitting there, alone. She had just said what the doctors would not. My father was dying.
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Love. Forgive. Be present. And then let go.
This is a good read, sad but good. http://www.latimes.com/local/great-reads/la-me-c1-caregiver-20141218-story.html#page=1
enlightenment
(8,830 posts)Thank you for posting the link.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
sheshe2
(83,710 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)sheshe2
(83,710 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)However many times it happens.
sheshe2
(83,710 posts)I so love this one.
It was a good read, so thoughtful. Poignant.
Thank you
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)sheshe2
(83,710 posts)Back at you~
Hekate
(90,624 posts)...as are you.
sheshe2
(83,710 posts)For responding Hekate, it means the world to me that you did.