Resting

It's hard to know where to start with this post. I guess the important bits. Isabel slipped away peacefully in her sleep last night. I was with her holding her right hand, and her parents were on the other side of the bed with her left. She was so calm and relaxed and her breathing just slowed and slowed until finally it stopped. This was at about 12:30am this morning. She had the dignified end that she deserved surrounded by people who loved her very, very much.

After so much battling and fighting, the end came very quickly. The nurses put her into bed at 6pm and gave her something to help her sleep. By 9pm, when I came in from putting Arthur through bath and bed, she was sleeping and we all sat with her for the next few hours. I am so glad that her parents and I were able to be there.

That afternoon, she had been sitting up, chatting to her brother and sister-in-law, even giving Arthur his banana at 3pm or so. She fought so bravely until the the end and then left us in the manner she wanted.

I think back to how she was when she arrived at Prospect Hospice, all those 6 weeks ago or so. It didn't seem likely that she would last a couple of weeks, let alone the time that she did. She had a good quality of life - being able to first of all have the mummy express, (carrying Arthur around in her wheelchair), then watching and listening to him play, and then, finally, giving him his banana. I think of all the events that she enjoyed in the Hospice - our second Anniversary, Mothers' Day, Arthur's birthday, Easter...

The world has lost someone very precious today. Isabel is now resting in peace.