November 29, 2008

Life and ...


Photo from Magic Island

My mom's sister, my Aunt Lynda, has been in the hospital for over two weeks. She has congestive heart failure, her lungs are filled with fluid, she's unable to get the oxygen she needs.

Friday, my uncle and cousins made the difficult, heart-wrenching decision to allow Lynda to die. We are all in limbo...waiting to see what happens.

Lynda loves the ocean and has lived in Seaside, a small beach town in Oregon, for almost 30 years. She is in a hospital in Portland, two hours away from the sound of the sea.

“We have to ask ourselves whether medicine is to remain a humanitarian and respected profession or a new but depersonalized science in the service of prolonging life rather than diminishing human suffering.”

~ Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross


This one is for you Lynda.

Peace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update: Lynda rallied today. We are all breathing a tentative sigh of relief. Thank you all for your well wishes.

32 comments:

moxylyn said...

Beautiful picture. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

My thoughts are with you and your family. Take care, Charmaine.

Grizzly Mountain Arts said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your Aunt's illness. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Hot Fudge said...

Sadly, I know exactly what you are going through. My brother died peacefully in hospital yesterday after his life support system was turned off. It's a terrible wrench and my heart is with you.

Unknown said...

Beautiful photo, beautiful quote. She sounds like a special lady, I'm sending you huge hugs & keeping all of you in my prayers.

Brooke Ahana Bailey said...

this makes me sad for you and your family - I wish the best , peaceful departure for your Aunt Lynda - my thoughts are with you.

Victoria said...

My heart feels for you and your family, Charmaine. I wish all of you much peace, comfort and love as you travel through this difficult time together.

A Cuban In London said...

I cannot even begin to imagine what you and your family are going through now. Pain is so personal. To say that I understand your situation would be an insult. Nevertheless, my thoughts are with you and your family.

Greetings from London.

littlebyrd said...

I hope you are all doing as well as can be expected. Such sad news. I am thinking about you!

Prairie Gothic said...

My hope is for peace and serenity for you and your family.

The Summer Kitchen Girls said...

A glorious shadow - our thoughts and prayers are with your family!

Round Rabbit said...

“Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.” - Oscar Wilde

T.Allen said...

I wish you, and yours strength grace and healing. (Hugs)

Michelle said...

I am so sorry for the decision your family has to make and the loss to follow, my thoughts are with you.

Dianne said...

My thoughts are with you and your family.

Beautiful photo and quote.

Kelly said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The photo that you chose to post with your story is so lovely and peaceful.

littlebird said...

~ my thoughts are with you ~

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

My heart goes out to you and your family in the loss of Lynda. My posting for this weeks SSS does fit in (to some degree) with your posting.
Hugs to you and yours...

Cecile/DreamCreateRepeat said...

Wishing your aunt, you and your whole family moments of peace and grace as her life draws to a close.

Tess Kincaid said...

You, your family, and your dear aunt are in my thoughts and prayers today, Charmaine.

glimmering prize said...

Charmaine- so sorry to hear about your aunt. Sending out hope and well wishes for you and your family.

Shakti said...

I'm so glad to see the update at the end of the entry! I hope she pulls through and is able to return to her beloved Seaside.

Dr. Kubler-Ross has long been an inpsiration to me.

edi gardner said...

I will say prayer

Rosebud Collection said...

So glad all turned out better..My mom/sister died from this ailment..

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry your aunt has been so ill, but I was really glad to read your update that she improved. You and yours are in my thoughts.

Unknown said...

wishing the best for you and your family. :-D

that's a gorgeous photo, and the quote really makes me think.

Rachel Biel said...

I'm sorry about your aunt, Charmaine! It's hard to say good-bye, but it's worse not to have a good death. A good death is one where you know you have been loved and where life has been meaningful and full. Grieve and rejoice, too! My thoughts are with you...

Unknown said...

Glad to hear Aunt Lynda rallied. What a painful decision to have to make. I love the Kubler-Ross quote. SO true!

Hey Harriet said...

Oh I've been off-line so much lately so I'm only discovering this news now. I'm so very sorry, but was glad to read the update. Hope things are still going ok for Lynda.

High Desert Diva said...

Sarah,

Thanks for leaving your first comment...and welcome!

Anonymous said...

Charmaine,
I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt, and that I'm just now reading this...

You and yours are in my thoughts...
*hugs*
Janell

XUE said...

Years ago, we were asked to make the same decision about our father...& we couldn't. It's hard to have to decide. It's also hard to even write this now. He has since, passed away.