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sheshe2

(83,710 posts)
Mon Apr 20, 2015, 07:50 PM Apr 2015

Nearing 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

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Nearing death, two people offer a journalist and caregiver life lessons (Original Post) sheshe2 Apr 2015 OP
Beautiful piece. enlightenment Apr 2015 #1
Wise Advice - Thank You For Sharing cantbeserious Apr 2015 #2
Kicking sheshe2 Apr 2015 #3
me too Liberal_in_LA Apr 2015 #4
Thank you so very much, L_i_L. sheshe2 Apr 2015 #5
Love. Forgive. Be present. And then let go. freshwest Apr 2015 #6
I know fresh, I know. sheshe2 Apr 2015 #8
Yes Fumesucker Apr 2015 #7
Yes sheshe2 Apr 2015 #9
K&R Quayblue Apr 2015 #10
Hey Quayblue. sheshe2 Apr 2015 #11
Oh, sheshe, that is beautiful.... Hekate Apr 2015 #12
Thank you Thank you sheshe2 Apr 2015 #13
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