Noooo....I'm NOT doing THAT EVER EVER AGAIN!!!!   ;)

It was my uncle this time. He had multiple myeloma and bone cancer and opted to not continue treatments. He was doing ok for a bit and then went downhill incredibly fast. We have a small family and so the baby and I needed to go help as much as possible. While my uncle was at home, the area got hit with a strong snowstorm leaving about 2 feet of snow and no power. My uncle's house was heated with electric only. They had no choice but to call an ambulance as the house was getting too cold and he was bed ridden...we had no way to wash him or keep him warm. Three ambulances came and a firetruck (they provided lights) and they took him out on a flexible back board as the stretcher wouldn't go in the snow. The next day I was supposed to drive an hour north to get my nana so she could visit with my uncle but she called saying she was sick and needed to go to the ER. I called an ambulance for her and met her at the hospital. She was there for 2 days. Meanwhile, my uncle was put on a morphine drip and then moved to a wonderful hospice house. They won't give morphine drips there but they did keep him comfortable for the most part. Without all the morphine, he had a few times of being coherent and could talk somewhat but it was still very limited. His eyes were expressive though and then he slept for 2 solid days. The hospice house was wonderful in that we could stay there 24/7 if we wanted and my aunt did. He passed last Saturday at 3:35am. My aunt was there and we were called to come. The hospice house let us stay with him as long as my aunt wanted. She held his hand until he was very cold. One thing that I thought was really something interesting is that in the 24 hours prior to his death, his eyes were closed. His hands did not move....I held his hand but his fingers no longer wrapped around mine. When we arrived at the hospice house that final time, he was gone. His eyes were slightly open and his right hand was out from under the baby blue blanket that was covered with clouds and he was pointing at something. He saw something. I know he did. I hope that with all my heart, he saw something extraordinary or a loved one that he's been missing. I took a photo of that and have it framed sitting on the table next to where I sit most of the time. It's a reminder for me that this life is not the end, that something better awaits us all. There were more extraordinary moments but that's one of the best ones to me. Thanks for thinking about me Dan...you're a good egg my friend. XOXOXO Sorry to have worried you!!

Michelle