"Go in peace Mother..."

So was right on with her comment this morning and I decided to turn it into a blog entry. She called me on the way home from work and we discussed it further. It's something we are both passionate about and I hope you will get some understanding of what it is like to be in such a tough, emotional situation. Following is her post:

I totally agree w/So's last item on his grateful list. When we (my brothers and I) decided that it was time to have our mother's feeding tube removed after years of not knowing who anyone was or what was going on around her, I can't imagine someone outside of my family telling us that we cannot do such. I still remember the guilt and anguish I felt helping to make the decision to not replace her tube (we did not have it removed, just not replaced when it needed it). But I knew that way of thinking was selfish on my part and that is what I feel the family of Terri Schiavo is doing. If she truly cannot move, communicate or have any quality of life the humane thing to do is have the tube removed.

In my opinion the fact that the president of the United States has signed a bill regarding this issue is disgraceful. I pity the person that would have challenged me or my brother had they tried to stop us. We knew what was best for Mom and that was to let her go Home to her Father in Heaven. She is there now, young and healthy and no longer suffering. We were assured by her Dr that her death was painless and that was evident by staying by her bedside. I was indeed blessed just before she passed when God allowed her to hear me and what I was saying to her. My husband had left the room for a minute and she looked at me square in the eye, something she had not done in over 8 years. I know in my heart she heard me saying "Go in peace Mother, I will see you in Heaven" and with that she passed. I sat there for a few minutes thinking of her soul going to meet her Father and such a feeling of relief passed over me, then of course came the tears. But they were happy tears, tears that she was no longer trapped in that helpless body.

I know that she would have never wanted her picture to be plastered all over national TV in her condition like the family of Terri is doing. I think it is just awful. No one can play God and our president appears to be trying in more ways than one. Needless to say this morning has been an emotional one for me remembering what I don't want to remember about Mother's passing, but also never wanting to forget. I will get past it like everyone does, I just wish that Terri's family would let God handle it.


Mother in Houston, Christmas 1978