bruiser
New member
Two weeks ago today we got an early morning call from our neighbor saying that something was seriously wrong. I ran to her house and found that she had had a stroke. Called ambulance. We spent the day in the hospital with her until her sons, who live out of state, could get there. She was awake and aware in the ER. Joking and laughing. The stroke was small, in the occipital area. She couldn't remember numbers or her age but knew her birth date. She was worried about getting to work. They found a major blockage in the carotid artery. She opted for surgery knowing the risks. After the surgery she rapidly declined. We saw her yesterday, for the last time. She passed 3:00 a.m. this morning. She knew her time was close. She even said she was ready and didn't want to be in a nursing home or debilitated by a major stroke. Ruth was 86. Still working at, of all places, Services on Aging. We kept an eye on each other. I kept her little garden weeded. One evening she called asking for help. I went over and found a rather large snake in her carport. She was petrified of snakes. I picked it up and put it in the field behind her house. She called the next night worried that I was sick because the snake bit me. Our neighborhood is going to be a little darker now. But we know, heaven is brighter. We'll miss her.
ray:
