Don Benedict
Shirley and I always thought of a new plan to deal with her ongoing disabilities. I even got her a new truck with a heated seat just this month to help her keep warm. She shivered in restaurants, so I took along a sweater for her to wear. We always had a Glucagon needle and sugar tabs on hand for her low blood sugar. I put lots of lights outside so she wouldn't trip including neat little motion night lights in our bedroom so she wouldn't stub her toes. I renovated the bedroom upstairs into a laundry room to make it possible for her to help out with laundry and keep her busy. A friend gave us a shower chair because the doctor said she can't have anymore tub baths and she used to have one every night.
Yes, the list goes on of how we all were trying out things to make it easier for Shirley. But in this past month, it got exhausting physically and mentally for her trying to figure out another game plan. The game plans were no more because the doctors couldn't even figure out the best plan without literally killing her. Like if she went up for an angiogram which the doctor said she desperately needed, I think we all knew she would not make it through - even Shirley.
So Shirley, I knew, was at peace with her dilemma. What she was concerned about was her family and friends so they would be at peace. She even joked with the doctors and nurses and other care givers in her rough moments. She still never complained at all. Jeff and I were right at her side looking after her every need. But then God took her suddenly and her heart stopped, but her spirit was still with us in that room while she was being worked on.
Yes I cried as did Jeff, but we felt that angel presence with us then and now. I think our spirits rub off on each other as we live our lives and make us stronger each day. With an angel like Shirley who cared and helped out so many; God did not want to see her suffer anymore. God now has her in his hands, but that spirit of hers will always be in us.
Her ashes will blend into the earth, and her spirt has blended into us and will always stay there.
Friday August 18, 2017 at 12:35 am