Final Journey at Sunset

My partner's mother Donna loved life and had more energy than most teenagers.   She was very active, did a lot of volunteering, loved her mother, sons and significant others, cherished her four pugs, and loved the beach and the ocean (especially at sunset).  

Several years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to give up her dogs so that she could focus on her health.  She went through various treatments to try and keep the cancer at bay  and although the treatments set her back, she always fought hard and was able to have good stretches of quality life.  

In October, the treatments stopped working and the cancer came back with a vengeance.  Her weight and strength began to drop quickly as did her will to live.  When we saw her in December,  she was weak and tired but was able to talk, joke around a bit, and walk with a little assistance.  

Then about a week ago, her body started to shutdown.  We came down to Florida on Wednesday and the difference in how she looked from the month before was just heartbreaking.  Hospice came in on Thursday and she was given the things she needed to make her comfortable.  We were able to talk to her for just a little bit that day and she was able to respond with one or two words.  By Friday, she stopped talking and was pretty much unresponsive. By 4 PM, her breathing slowed down and we knew the end was near.

My partner didn't want to see her take her last breath, so we left at 4:45 PM and went to the Venice Rookery just a couple of miles away and watched all the magnificent birds flying in for the night.  At 5:55 PM just as the sun was setting, and minutes after this photo was taken, we got the call saying that she finally let go. 

We went back to the house for a bedside prayer service, and then said our final goodbyes as she was taken away to the funeral home. 

Donna will be missed but we all have comfort in knowing that she is in a more peaceful place now.   

Thank you to all of the kind people at Hospice and Salvation Army for helping her through her last days and for sending her off in comfort and with dignity....