Unexpected Loss

[Renegade II]

My mother went to North Carolina for my Niece's birthday and graduation ceremony. While there she very unexpectidly passed away on my nieces birthday, a week before her graduation. She was the last of my immediate family that still lived here, and my sounding board for all I did in life.

http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq28/jeepguru/DSC_0056.jpg

I don’t want to have to remember what we’ve done together; I want you here to experience the things we do together. There was so much you still wanted to see and do for this to happen now. With your other two grandchildren being 800 miles away from you all their lives, all you really wanted was to watch and help our daughter grow up strong. In the two and a half years our daughter has been here, you’ve been the best friend and teacher she will ever know. As she does every time you are out of sight, she misses you and asks where you are. She does not know yet and will not be able to understand that her best friend will never be coming home. Every time she does or says something she learned from you we cry in both joy and sorrow. You never used the hard times in life as an excuse to stop, but rather a reason for going ahead. I’m trying that now, but it’s not working so well for me, or any of us.

[shaker]

Sorry for your loss.

[WhiteRhino]

Gosh Mike,
There's not much I can say besides I'm sorry. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you right now. I still have both my parents and I dread the day I lose one. Like you, my parents have been a great inspiration for my children. I'm fully aware the kids have called grandma and grandpa when the didn't want to talk to mom and dad.

Stay strong my friend and remember the good times as there is way more to that than the sad times.

Our prayers are with your mom.

Jim & Dianne.

[Wrangling Steel]

I am so sorry to hear this. My folks are up there in age, and I dread the day I have to say goodbye to either of them. I am not sure of your beliefs; but I firmly believe their absence from me will only be for a while, and I can find some comfort in that fact.

God Bless you and your family during this difficult time, hang in there and be strong; it sounds like your Mom would want it that way.

[DDS4X4]

Our thoughts and prayers for your loss.

[oz97tj]

Wow, I'm sorry.

[Roadhouse]

Wow, sorry to hear this. Your in our prayers Mike.

[Tippy]

Nothing I can say would matter, will keep you in thoughts and prayers for you and your family. So sad to hear.

[phittie1100]

So sorry to hear of your loss Mike

[Trail_Fanatic]

My most heart-felt condolences.
Our prayer will also be with you.

[Jarhead]

Our Prayers are with you Mike.

[MrsRedRuby]

Sorry for you loss. Thank you for sharing such a nice photo and inspiration.

[OldSailor]

I'm sorry for your loss. I lost my mom about 10 years ago, about 8 years after my father died. The pain diminishes, but the memories stay.

[Renegade II]

Shortly after my daughter was born we found out by almost loosing her that she was deathly allergic to wheat, flour, milk, gluten, nuts, cats, dogs, cow/horse dander, eggs and all kinds of other things. It was a devastating blow being we had two cats, two dogs and a 100 year old farm house that was all horse hair plaster. On top of that, there was no day care that we could trust or ever afford that would be able to care for our daughters special needs. Without hesitation my mother, who was on a small fixed income retirement, offered up half of her duplex rent free for us and volunteered to care for our daughter so we could both return to work to pay for gutting and re doing our house. With some of the farm house's big projects finally nearing completion all she could talk about is getting away from the in town headaches and spending her time out there in the countryside with my daughter.

We were always close, but living next door to her and watching her care for our daughter brought back memories of her patience and understanding she had with me. A level of patience I can only aspire to reach. As well as being mine all my life, she had in the last few years also become my wife and daughters best friend. There was never a time that we would go get a slur-pee, burger or something else without asking her to come along. We just weren’t a complete set if she wasn’t there. This year she started geo caching with us and we never had more fun than when she was along. Just after she flew out we hid our first cache and we couldn’t wait for her to come back and find it. We also had figured out a couple of other caches that she had previously helped us look for and couldn’t wait to show her where they were found when she got back. Yesterday while returning from a 100 mile trip to drop our daughter off at my in-laws, we tried a couple caches to remember the fun we had with mom and probably more so to subconsciously delay the inevitable pain of coming back to an empty house. It just made us miss her even more.

My wife and I appreciate your kind thoughts, prayers and shared experiences during these very difficult times.

[rentalrider]

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like she was a remarkeable mother and person.

[T-way]

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like your mother was an amazing person who had a huge impact on many lives. She may be gone, but her memories and legacy live on. Sharing your stories and love for her keeps her alive in the minds of everyone, and continues her legacy even after she is no longer with us.

God bless your family, and may you all find the strength that you need to get through this difficult time.