Feb 1, Saturday. Talked with my sister Becky and Vickie is still hanging on. Between cancer and drugs she's only lucid for a couple of minutes a couple of times a day.
Hospice nurse is there vitals look good, but she has started skip breathing. Nurse doesn't say anything about it but I know we've hit the hours or days timeline.
I leave tonight for a 12 day trip to Argentina and Brazil.
I call my boss to tell her I'm going on the trip, but know my sister is going to die while I'm gone. When I get the news I'm pulling the plug and heading home.
She understands and is very supportive.
Feb 2nd, Groundhog Day
I flew all night headed to Buenos Aires for the first leg of the trip. Been planning this for months getting the stars aligned and supplier visits coordinated.
I turn on the phone and wait for it to realize where we are to start an international session. It's 9:10 in BA and 7:10 back home.
When the phone boots up I get a ding from Messenger; my nephew Kevin "Hey Tommy, when you have a chance can you call?"
It's the call no one wants to get or make. My Sister, his Mom, died a little after 5am.
Even when you see it coming, even when you know the time is near, you aren't prepared. The emotions start, then my brain kicks into gear. There will be plenty of time for emotions, right now is time for Logistics.
He's in the Navy stationed in Germany and The Red Cross is taking care of him. He's on the first flight tomorrow morning and will be home before sundown.
I call Wifey Dearest, then my Boss, then my co-workers, then the travel agent, then repeat the sequence. I'll fly out of BA tomorrow night and get home Tuesday late morning.
Attachment:
vickie.jpg
This was taken right before her initial diagnosis and how I want to remember her. With the love of her life Henry and their two boys Chad and Kevin.
This is the image I want to sear into my brain and burn away the past few months.
Thank God her suffering is over. Maybe now our healing will begin.
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