I took many pictures of my mother and I holding hands two years ago. I wanted them so I could create a song cover for “You Were There.”
I share a link to a slideshow here:
YOU WERE THERE – YouTube tribute to my mom
Email Message sent on Thursday, Oct. 10th:
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Over the past four years I have watched my mother decline.
When it first started, I was frantic. I sent out messages expressing extreme anguish and terror over losing her.
Despite being on a respirator, my mother rebounded. A year later she broke her hip and it was a miracle that she was able to walk again – without having surgery. So many times, I thought that my mother’s life was over. Each time, she proved me wrong. But she continued to decline and although she wasn’t the strong mother I was used to anymore, she was my inspiration.
Now she is on her deathbed. Despite dementia, my mother never lost her ability to love and recognize me. I have been speaking to her and she definitely is aware of my presence.
I guess that shortly I won’t be sending out “update” messages about Shirley anymore. It will all be over soon.
I was blessed to have such a wonderful mom and to have so many people who loved and cared about her, too.
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Email Message sent on Friday, Oct. 11th:
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Only a few hours ago, my mother died surrounded by love.
I was blessed to be with her and help her to the light. It was so amazing and beautiful that I feel inspired, rather than sad. My mother loved me very much and knew that I was with her until the very end. I was singing a song right into her ear and when I sang the last word – she opened her eyes, sighed and let go.
I am relieved that her pain and suffering on this earth is finally over. She did not want to leave, but her time had come.
My brothers and I are planning for the funeral to be sometime next week and I will share that information when I have it.
Thank you again for all those messages of support and love that I’ve been getting to buoy me through an ocean of tears.
Love, Judy
I am reposting this tribute to my mother. Click the blue link below to play my song:
YOU WERE THERE-9/27/13 Copyright 2012 by Judy Unger
YOU WERE THERE
Copyright 2011 by Judy Unger
All my life, every day
you were there, when I’d need you
all the time, I just knew you’d be there
and you’d see me through
I’ve always known, I’m not alone . . .
You were so strong
You’d pick me up when I’d fall down
so I can see all your strength is in me
Although I try, it’s hard to say goodbye
to someone who’s loved me all of my life
And when I’m sad, because you’re not there
I’ll still see your love everywhere
Everything that I did you’d applaud
You were right there watching me
as I grew, sharing joy and my heartache, too
I always knew, that I had you . . .
Now I’m so strong
I picked you up when you fell down
I’ve learned to see just how strong I could be
Although I try, it’s hard to say goodbye
to someone who’s loved me all of my life
And when I’m sad, because you’re not there
I’ll still see your love everywhere
When you are gone
I’ll say a prayer
And I’ll remember
how you were there
Click the blue link below to play audio:
“SHE WAS THERE” – AUDIO BOOK EXCERPT
SHE WAS THERE
I was an adult in my early twenties. Suddenly, I felt like a baby again with the stomach flu. I was home alone and could barely move. “I’d be fine,” I told my mom on the phone.
I opened my eyes.
SHE WAS THERE.
It was the kind of fatigue that was beyond being alleviated by sleep. I was full of an intense, restless anxiety while at the same time my eyelids were as heavy as bricks. The night was giving way to dawn.
I had gone another night without a single moment of sleep. Jason wouldn’t stop crying – he was only a few weeks old. I wondered – would I be able to continue this pace of trying to feed this impossibly, sick child without any sleep?
The doorbell rang. Jason was still crying as I opened the front door.
SHE WAS THERE.
There was no reason to get up. I did not want to get up. I was under the covers. I had no tears left and my body was completely spent from crying for days and days. It had been a few months since Jason died and my husband went to work.
No one was home. Even though I heard the doorbell, I ignored it.
I wanted to die.
She had let herself in with a key. My bedroom door opened, and she pulled down my covers. She lay down next to me, and cried.
SHE WAS THERE.
© Judy Unger and http://www.myjourneysinsight.com 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Judy Unger with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
