I noticed that Mom\u2019s letters arrived not in her usual but now-shaky script, but in Dad\u2019s neat handwriting. There was no denying that my mother\u2019s situation was deteriorating.<\/p>\n Early one Friday afternoon in late April, I received an emergency page at Towers and ran to the front desk. I was informed that Mom, now paralyzed on her left side, was in the hospital and wanted me home as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Trying to swallow back the panic, I said I\u2019d see what I could do.\u00a0I told John about the call, and he immediately said to pack my things, that he was going to blow off his afternoon classes and bring me right home.<\/p>\n We were in his AMC coupe within the hour.\u00a0John drove the entire 8-hour stretch to St. Peter\u2019s Medical Center in New Brunswick.\u00a0Once we got to Mom\u2019s hospital room, it was well after dark, the family was there and as soon as we appeared in the doorway, Mom and I began to cry.<\/p>\n At that point, her seeing John with me was proof that this boyfriend of mine would do anything for me, anytime \u2026 no matter what.\u00a0We crowded around her bed and she tearfully gave John and me her blessing to get married some day.\u00a0John took her hand and kissed it, thanking her. The rift was healed, leaving in its wake abiding trust and love.<\/p>\n The situation was dire. My father spoke with Dr. Wu and Mom\u2019s attending physician at length regarding arrangements that must be made, as her prognosis at this point was grim.<\/p>\n They strongly suggested placing her in a care facility nearby. Dad adamantly refused. He wanted her home with him, where she wanted to be. The medical staff cautioned him as to the demands of 24\/7 care of a terminally-ill patient.\u00a0Dad could not be swayed. He arranged for a hospital bed rental and visiting nurse, acquired a battery of medications and their administration schedule, and made sure hospice care was in place.<\/p>\n \u201cVin, I hope you know what you\u2019re doing,\u201d Dr. Wu cautioned. Dr. Simeone expressed similar concerns.<\/p>\n I had to return to school the following Monday, to prepare for final exams. My mind was muddled with studies and the worsening crisis at home.\u00a0Meanwhile, Dad daily drove an eighteen-wheeler with a terrible emotional burden.<\/p>\n One day he was so distracted by thoughts of my mother that it was only raw skill and instinct with which he narrowly avoided a serious traffic infraction. Dad knew then that he would not be able to continue to work for the time being under those circumstances.\u00a0His boss, Steve Ferro, urged him to \u201ctake as much time as you need; we\u2019ll cover you.\u201d Dad\u2019s years of faithful service were of real benefit now.<\/p>\n In May, when I returned home from sophomore year at WVU, Mom was confined to a hospital bed in the living room. While her body was no longer able, her mind remained razor sharp.\u00a0If I were to close my eyes while listening to her speaking, I could imagine her as she always was, perhaps doing a crossword puzzle and sitting in her favorite leather recliner watching Hill Street Blues<\/em>.<\/p>\n I sat by her bed and tried to be helpful by bringing her food and drink and keeping her company. My brother, steadily exposed to this situation for several months, had by that time dropped out of high school to stay home with her. (Years later, he would receive his GED, and earn his Class A commercial driver’s license.)<\/p>\n![\"Psalm](\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Psalm23-388x600.jpg\" "\\"Psalm")
![\"Angel](\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/mother-angel-card1.jpg\" "\\"Angel")
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![\"musicnotes-tiny\"](\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\")
<\/a><\/strong>“Rumors”\u00a0by Timex Social Club<\/strong>\u00a0always takes me back to this very somber summer.<\/p>\n