Compassion That Leads to Solace

5 years ago, as my wife lay dying in her bed from cancer, we made the hard choice of allowing hospice to inject her with the final dose of morphine that would leave her unconscious until she passed. Knowing that she had no control over her ability to be a mother to her only son, she fought diligently to stay alive. She tried to communicate to her son of 12 years young, to try to bond with him on this, the presipice of her life, and show him how to fight the hard fight that she did and how he should continue on being strong through this last good fight. Just a little background, at this time, they enjoyed watching the ABC television program "Lost" together. He UNDERSTOOD THAT AND HE SPENT THAT LAST NIGHT LAYING NEXT TO HER AND WATCHING LOST AND HE TOLD HER WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THIS EPISODE. After the show was over he spent the hour telling her what the storyline was about and after hearing her gasping desperately for her deep breaths, he came to the realization that this was most difficult for her, NOT FOR HIM, and told her that it was alright for her to go and not to worry about him and his future life. After he said that to her, her breathing returned to a calm and easy situation. He came out of the room and unselfishly let the rest of us spend some time with her in a relaxed mode. In less than one hour's time, she moved on. My family has gone through more deaths in our family, save for a family in a third world country in war, yet this young man was able to show us and convince his mother that he would be OK. She died in the solace that her only child would survive this as the strong man that she had raised. He took this as a mission of mercy, not for him, but to aid her in a time that allowed her to end the suffering that she had endured for over 5 years. I can never forget his strength during a time that most people would be crushed. He knew he had a mother that would give her life up knowing he would be OK, as OK as a child could be in this situation.

This is something that should be a lesson in selflessness that we could all do well to head and learn from as well as be inspired by.

If anyone in this situation can appreciate,learn from the children, as they understand more that we adults, for the most part, could ever learn about priorities of suffering rather than selfishness or anger over the loss of a person that can never be replaced.

Submitted by Anonymous

Courtesy