Sad family news
Find a Conversation
| Fri, 12-12-2008 - 11:45am |
My 2nd cousin died this past Sunday. For some reason, the phone # he had for me in his book was incorrect, and the family didn't think to call information. They did have my DSis's #, so contacted her. This was the cousin I found thru genealogy work a few years back. He was actually my late DMs cousin, but was 5 yrs older than me. We've visited a few times and he called regularly. Odd part was last Monday I was thinking of how I hadn't heard from him in a while and meant to send email to his DS. This guy was a real character, a totally Irish storyteller. He knew every bit of family and Chicago history I could ever want. I will miss our conversations.
I called his DW last eve and she told me of the 2 week saga. She is my age, was still working in order to have good health coverage. Medicare was no longer going to cover his nursing home care and they were going to discharge him. At $500/day for home care while she was at work, she was trying to decide whether to quit and stay home. Problem was he weighted 400 lb and she is 130, so had no idea how to handle it. Now I am more determined than ever to keep up our long-term care insurance if at all possible. It was a real lesson is knowing how to deal with making decisions to let a loved one go. In the end he was made comfortable and actually passed away when the priest finished the last rites. Priest said in all his years, that was the first time it had happened. The poor soul was a strict Catholic and held off until the right moment.
So, now in addition to my DF passing in late Nov, DM passing on Dec 5, we have another holiday sadness. Sigh.
Jacquie

((jacquie)) sending you my condolences,sorry you didnt get to talk to your dc before he passed.i would have loved to hear some of those stories he told,you cannot beat the irish for that,he sounds like he was a person that people enjoyed being around. i cannot believe that medicare wouldnt continue to cover his nursing home stay. i thought they were suppose to..well this is news to me and something good to know! my niece that passed away almost 9 years ago,we were at her death bed,waited until they could find a priest to give her,the last rites,she also made it,unfortunatley her priest they couldnt find,but thankfully someone from the hospital actually went to a nearby church and asked the preist there to come. some people just have the will to live until that rite moment. many hugs to you..mindy
Hugs,
Carol
You have my sympathy for the loss of your DC and DF.
lottie77~~~