Family

Over the last couple of weeks I've been in and out of the palliative care unit visiting with my dying grandmother. As sad as it is to know her life with us is coming to an end, there's something great that has come out of this whole experience.  For whatever reason, I feel a real sense of peace and comfort when I'm at the hospital.  Although my grandmother is weak, in a way she's at her strongest, bearing what I'm sure must be physcially painful with barely a complaint. Her faith in God shines through as she has expressed numerous times that she is ready to leave her life here on earth.

This whole experience has awakened the kind spirit in all of us family members. We are taking time out of our busy personal and work schedules round the clock to ensure my grandmother is never alone. We are taking the time to express our gratefulness for the hard work of others.  Everyone has kindness in their minds and in their hearts and everyone wants to help in their own way.

I come from a fairly large extended family. While this can pose it's own challenges with so many people and so many opinions, it is a great thing. The amount of support your family can provide when someone is in need is tenfold. We have been pooling our resources to gather old photos, letters and memories of family here and gone. For some, this whole experience is pulling us out of our regular routines and bringing us truly closer together as a family. During our many extended visits at the hospital we are given the time to have meaningful conversations with each other, share meals, share sorrow and happiness.

Today I feel so grateful to have an amazing family and despite the circumstances, I am grateful for this whole experience.


“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family” --Anthony Brandt  

Palliative Care

Definition: Palliative care (from Latin palliare, to cloak) is any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of disease symptoms, rather than striving to halt, delay, or reverse progression of the disease itself or provide a cure. The goal is to prevent and relieve suffering and to improve quality of life for people facing serious, complex illness. Non-hospice palliative care is not dependent on prognosis and is offered in conjunction with curative and all other appropriate forms of medical treatment. (wiki)

When a loved one is ill, it kind of prepares you for the inevitable to come. Somehow when the term ‘palliative care’ comes into play it really hits home that the end is near. It becomes more real, sadness sets in and you find yourself remembering back to better times with your loved one, which brings you more pain as you realize that your journey with that person is going to end soon.

You recall all the special moments spent with your loved one, all the kind things they’ve ever done for you and all the special moments ahead in your life that they’ll miss out on. But there’s comfort in knowing that suffering will end, that reunions of the soul will happen and happiness will resume.

So we sadly wait for what’s to come…

Vampire Diaries Interesting Tidbit

Since reluctantly reading and immediately falling in love with all four books in the Twilight saga within one week, wanting more I began watching Vampire Diaries.  It's a TV series loosely based on the books.  It has become a weekly Thursday night ritual to watch this show.  The show is full of gorgeous talented young actors and actresses, one of whom I have become increasingly curious about. 

How old do I feel when I look up the actor who plays Jeremy Gilbert on Vampire Diaries to discover he was born in 1988?!  I discovered his real name is Steven R. McQueen, grandson of 'the' Steve McQueen (actor) and Neile Adams who is a Filipino-born actress. His Stepfather is a retired Canadian NHL Hall of Famer.

You learn something new everyday. 

In Flanders Fields

By:  Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Beady Eye's "Bring the Light" - Free Download TODAY

To all you Oasis fans, there is a free download today for Beady Eye's single "Bring the Light." http://www.beadyeyemusic.co.uk/ 

Beady Eye is an English Rockband formed in 2009 by the Gallagher brothers of Oasis. Since then, big bro Noel has left, but Liam is still the front man.  Optimistic for some great music, but wishing these duelling brothers would hang up the boxing gloves and just get along!

Don't you love free downloads?!

Revival

After a long period of inactive blogging and the eventual removal of my blog site, I'm back! I've been feeling the itch to start up again, so here I am. Stay tuned for random thoughts from yours truly....