To All My PT Friends - RIP Nonna - UPDATE Post #43

[momcat]

Countless prayers are being prayed for you and your dear grandmother. I'm second generation from Poland on my mother's side and your story brought back so many memories... every Easter Babci would make her own keilbasi, it was like nothing you ever tasted! She made her own horseradish, all you had to do was open the jar & if you were in a 5 mile radius it was guaranteed to cure whatever ails you. Like you, there are so many things to remember.

It's never easy to face the loss of such a special person in your life. As I write this, my 87 year old mother is day-to-day. Spend every moment with her that you possibly can, tell her about the good things going on in your life, and be sure to let her know how very much you love her. She will live forever in your heart

[Karen]

You will always have your Nauna in your heart and mind, and through your stories and their own memories, your boys will as well. I hope she is in no pain, and if it is her time, that she is at peace.

You will be in our prayers in this difficult time.

[Taz_Zoee]

You, your family and your Nauna will be in my thoughts. I also hope for a peaceful passing. And I hope that your family can come together for the holidays and just recall the good memories you've all shared.
Those pictures are wonderful memories for you to cherish.

[Freedom]

Tracey, I was tearing up just reading about your Nauna. See, much of what you wrote, I could write of my Nonna and Nonno. (I know we spell it differently, maybe because Dad's family is from Sicily? No idea, not relevant.) The family gathering EVERY Sunday, ALL the holidays at their home, the home made foods, the grandparents who speak little English, we the cousins understanding them even though none of us actually SPEAK Sicilian, lol. The home made pasta, the wind made from the grapes int he arbor out back. Yes, it is all so familiar to me!

Both my Nonna and Nonno lived into their 90's; says something about that wonderful Mediterranean diet, lol.

Yes, this is our culture, our heritage. But it does not die with them; it is up to us to carry on the traditions and to teach the next generation! I bet you know so many wonderful recipes from Nauna. Make those in her honor now and again, and let your boys know of their rich heritage.

I am sending you my love, hugs and prayers.

[Reachoutrescue]

Thank you for all the prayers and very kind words. They really do mean a lot. Even more knowing that you all care very much though I tend to "slip" away from time to time. I really try to be as faithful to PT as possible, but running a family and a rescue does not leave much time for a social life whether it be in person or via computer. I have found myself spending the day (while the boys are in school) replying to numerous rescue emails, screening applications, doing house checks, transporting rescued pups, and taking trips to the vets. Sometimes I think I may forget to breathe! So, I would like to say thank you for not just writing off this thread or me because of my constant down periods.

Well, after the vet with Butch today and dropping my boys off at their gram's, I didn't make it to my Non's about until about 5pm. Dave was awesome. He dropped me off there and went to pick up my Uncle Rocco (my Non's oldest son) and my Aunt Pat, about an hour away from Non's. My Uncle does not drive and My Aunt Pat can't drive in the dark. We felt they should be there too.

My Non was resting comfortably in the hospital bed that my Aunt Vicky and Uncle Len had set up for her. The Hospice nurse came in today and was very shocked to see how fast Non went down since Thursday. The nurse sent over some pain meds and sleeping aids as well as a few other things to keep my Non comfortable. She also suggested my Non be put on Oxygen, so Aunt Vicky set Non up real nice. When I went up to Non she was sleeping. I told her I was there and that I loved her. She woke up a couple of times and Aunt Vicky gave her some water and a couple of spoons of apple sauce. I went up to her and told her again who I was, since she really does not seem to be able to see or recognize anybody very well. She nodded and I told her I loved her, she nodded again. It was pretty much the same all evening, she would moan, wake up, and slip into sleep again. She kept telling my Aunt to "take it out" referring to the oxygen tube. So finally my Uncle Len gave in and took it out. Uncle Len said she really does not need it for breathing, but to help circulate her blood since her hemoglobin is so low. He said normal count is between 10 and 12, but my Non has Thalassemia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassemia) it should be around 9 or 10. It is at 6.3. Once he took off the tube she calmed down and fell back to sleep.

We tried to convince my father to come out tonight, but he refused. He is so stubburn. We think that he may not be able to deal with it and him staying in AZ is his way of coping. He said he will be out on Monday night as planned. I just wish he would change his mind. All of Non's other children came tonight to see her. We stayed till about 9pm and then headed out so Aunt Vic and Uncle Len can get some rest. My Uncle Len, who is Non's youngest of 7, is staying the night there, he is putting a matress on the floor next to Non's hospital bed. We will be going back there in the morning, about 10am.

Many of you stated that my heritage will live on in my boys, and you are right. My sister Gina, who has always been extremely close to Non, has been teaching my oldest son, Austin, Italian. He loves learning it. He was a little upset that I would not let him go there today or go with us tomorrow, but I do not want him to see her this way. It is better he remembers Non the way she was. They are only 10 and 8 and have already seen death several times, his Papa, his Great Grandma and Great Grandpa (all on their biological dad's side of course), and then Dave's mom, Grandma Helen. They are doing okay, but I know it hurts them....they just don't really talk much about it. I will continue to teach the boys about our Italian ways and when older, teach them how to make Pasta Gravy and Pasta e Fagioli (pasta-va-zule), as well as several others. I pray that after my Non passes our family will still get together on holidays as we have for as long as I could remember.

Thank you again so much. I will update again, more than likely, tomorrow night. (((HUGS))) back to all of you.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Aww Tracey, sorry for not noticing your previous thread!

I'm so sorry for you and your family! I know how much it hurts to see someone you love so much, suffering so much.... I hope your dad will be in time to see her alive!! That is VERY important for your Nauna; she will go in peace then.
My Husbands' mom did same thing 30 years ago! We were on our honeymoon when she was getting worse. She had cancer of her backbone, which gave her extremely hard pain. Her family didn't want us to get married because of this. But MIL almost begged us to go ahead! Her wish was that we would come to visit her in the hospital in "full dress"!! So we did!! She was soooooo happy and admired my wedding-ring during at least 10 minutes!! She said that she was happy that her son was finally settled and that she loved her daughter-in-law (me).
Afterwards we departed on our honeymoontrip to Scotland. 4 days later we got a phonecall begging us to rush back home; MIL was dying and wanted to see us once more!
The moment we entered her hospitalroom, she opened her eyes ( she hadn't done this since our marriage) and said "Ahhh, there you two are!!" She gave us a kiss, and then she closed her eyes again. She died short time later, with a big smile on her tortured face...

I will keep you and Nauna in my prayers!!

[Reachoutrescue]

My Husbands' mom did same thing 30 years ago! She died short time later, with a big smile on her tortured face...

I will keep you and Nauna in my prayers!!

I am so sorry for the loss of your dear MIL. I am glad you were able to be there with her. I lost my MIL 6 days after our wedding in September of '08. Thank you for your kind words and prayers.

The hospice nurse came today and took vitals. Non's blood pressure is down to 68/40. The nurse said she should make it through the night, but no longer than 72 hours. I am going there tomorrow afternoon and staying the night. My parents will be in tomorrow night. I think Non is waiting for my dad. The whole family agrees. My poor dad just is so upset that he could not get out sooner. I just wish I could take everybody's pain away, especially my Non's.

I will update tomorrow. I am so tired, I'm going to try to get some sleep. Thank you again for all the nice words and prayers.