A special birthday

It is my mom's birthday today. She is 83 years old. I am in Florida in her room at the Hospice House where she is in a deep sleep, still fighting to stay alive. She always has been headstrong and a fighter......must be the German and Norwegian in her?

My sister and I arrived in Miami on Tuesday within an hour of each other and drove up the coast where we joined our youngest sister and step-dad at her bedside. They have been the special people at her side for the past 9 months, ever since she got the word that she had a small spot in her jaw. Radiation, chemotherapy, and even surgery couldn't stop this dreaded disease. She has lived for the past 5 months without eating by mouth, and there was hardly ever a complaint from her when she had to drain 5 cans of nutients into a stomach feeding tube every day.

Treatments were stopped a few weeks ago after finding more cancer and seeing that nothing was working. I think she knew.....she wanted to start packing a suitcase one day last week and told my step-dad she was going on a trip. I have read that this is common when one knows they are near the end of their life. It was a week ago today that she finally gave in to the inevitable decision of going to the Hospice. But once she saw the welcoming place and caring staff, she said she was glad to be here, as difficult as it was for her to speak.

So, we wait, pray, hold her hand, are grateful for a nod of shake of the head or her opening her eyes for a few seconds. We know she knows we are here. But now, with more pain-reducing medication being administered, we are not seeing those blue eyes opening anymore. Perhaps she is holding on until her oldest grandson, my son, gets here tonight. It is good that we are here, and will be here until God says it is time. His timing is perfect.