Great-Grandma Mary meets Nadalie!

My mom's first great-grand baby was born in Florida a few months ago. It was my parents goal to be able to travel to Florida to meet baby Nadalie, but with my mom's health it just wasn't possible. When it became a reality that she wasn't up for traveling, my Nephew Nick and his wife Erica decided to bring Nadalie to mom! They flew all the way from Florida so my mom could meet her great-grand baby! Oh, and great-grandpa Chuck too!

My mom was in bed when they arrived but got up when she heard them coming in. We had her sit on the couch and Nick handed Nadalie to my mom to hold. All four of us immediately whipped out our cameras and started taking pictures. Poor Nadalie's eyes got huge as we were all standing around her calling her name, trying to get her to smile. It was only a few minutes before fatigue set in and my mom had to go back to bed.

Later that night,  we were all sitting around talking;  Nadalie was happily laying on her blanket on the floor when suddenly, my mom woke up and came out into the room. She didn't say anything to anyone but walked over to where Nadalie was and sat down on the floor beside her. She talked with Nadalie, eventually producing a big wide grin on little Nadalie's face. I think time stood still, we all stopped talking, in fact I think we were all holding our breath watching this interaction between great-grandma and great-grand daughter. I had a million thoughts and emotions going through my mind , I could only imagine what an emotional struggle it was for my mom as well. It only lasted a few minutes before my mom asked Nick to help her up off the floor. She got up and quietly went back to bed. I walked back with her to her bed and covered her up. It had taken all her strength to do what she just did but it was something that was very important to her .


 I pray that Nadalie will remember her great-grandma Mary. I want her to know how much my mom loved her and had prayed for her even before she was born!  I am so thankful that once again I was able to be a part of a very special moment with my mom, a time that we once again could see joy in the midst of such difficulties.

Just 45 minutes can mean so much

Forty Five minutes. I had my mom back for 45 minutes!
 My mom has been experiencing a lot of pain and nausea due to cancer. The battle has been ongoing  for over 6 years but the past year, especially the last few months have been very difficult. This past week  the decision was made to check her into an inpatient hospice center, just for a few days to help to see if they can get the medications better regulated to get her feeling a little better.
 Last night I was with her when she woke up. She got up out of bed , came over to where I was sitting and sat down with me. She asked me what I was eating and ate a little. She sat there with me for awhile chatting, walked around the room , down the hall stopping  to talk with a nurse and even joked around with her. She walked for a few minutes and then back to her room. She smiled at me and asked how the boys were doing, she smiled the first real smile I have seen in so long! She seemed to be totally free of pain for these 45 minutes. I was so happy just watching her, I was in tears thinking THIS is my mom.  She was awake and coherent for about  45 minutes and then needed to go back to bed. She was given another dose of medicine and fell back asleep. I was in tears thinking about what I just saw. I got to SEE my mom for 45 minutes and I am SO thankful! My mom is still there hiding behind the pain, and medicine but she is still there!! Cancer sucks but It does not take away who she is or her spirit ! Thank you God for allowing me to see her, to be able to have a glimpse of her true self to know that SHE is still there. I can't even express how much that meant to me, just 45 minutes!