Never pass on a chance to be kind, show love or avoid an argument.

[Whovian]

Tonight, the doctors said my Mother's body is shutting down. She will be gone in either days or weeks. She was my best friend and my shelter in the storm. She can no longer communicate in any meaningful way but I feel she is very much aware of what is happening. I'm thankful for a little more time to say goodbye.

We had many wonderful discussions in the last several years. She was a life long Democrat and cast her last vote for Obama through an absentee ballot filled out bey her husband in the Hospital. I'm lucky in that I can't think of anything I have said to her since I was a kid that I would want to take back. I'm kinda broken tonight so I apologize.

In the past, even in the last few days I have argued with others over opinions that really don't matter in the grand scheme of things. I wish now that I hadn't. Every person I have met is a wonderful thing in one way or another.

Treasure each encounter you have with another. You may not get another.

[hrmjustin]

1. So sorry Whovian! Be strong my friend.

[SmileyRose]

2. ...

[Angry Dragon]

3. ..........

[LadyHawkAZ]

4. Whovian...

[Mnemosyne]

5. I'm so sorry, Whovian.

[elleng]

6. Yes. Thanks. Thinking of Dad,

with whom I didn't spend his last days; 1,000 miles away. Brother and his family were there, tho, and said Dad appeared to know what was happening, was peacefully listening, so I spoke with him.

Best peaceful wishes to you and your family.

[nolabear]

7. Amen. Peace to you, your mother, to us all.

Take care, Whovian.

[BuelahWitch]

8. It's hard when you lose your Mom

Mine has been gone almost 12 years, I still miss her.

[woo me with science]

9. Peace to you, Whovian.

Thank you for this perspective...I am so very sorry.

[Warpy]

10. I was there for both my parents

and did hands on care for both of them. It was worth it although it hurt like hell for a very long time.

I hope your mother has an easy passing. Just know that others have been where you are and that it will get easier down the road.

[liberal_at_heart]

11. I'm so sorry

I hope you two have more precious memories before she passes and that her memory will comfort you when you are missing her. I hope she has a peaceful passing.

[catbyte]

12. Oh, Whovian, I am so sorry

[Gore1FL]

13. I'm sorry.

[David Zephyr]

14. Life is too short. Whovian, your OP is beautiful.

I'm so very sorry you are losing your mom. I lost mine in January '11.

Your message is so spot on: I also got the opportunity to clear all the old stuff up with my mom before she passed. I'm so glad I did for her and my sake.

Love. It's all about love. Thank you for your message.

[NikolaC]

15. I'm So Sorry

Hugs and peace to you and your Mom.

[1620rock]

16. You have wisdom beyond your years. May God bless you and your mother.

[yardwork]

17. I'm so sorry, Whovian. Your mother sounds like a wonderful person, and you a good son.

Thank you for that good reminder.

[abelenkpe]

18. I'm sorry...

[susanna]

19. I will gladly Kick this post.

Blessings to you, Whovian. Your path is so difficult right now. Love and peace to you. I'm so sorry.

[LeftInTX]

20. I'm sorry. Wonderful message.

[orleans]

21. my heart goes out to you.

[Lugnut]

22. I'm so sorry, Whovian.

Losing your mother is a tough pill to swallow. It's almost two years since my mother passed away. I think Mother and I had the same kind of relationship you share with your mother. It's very hard to know that her life is ending and there's nothing you can do about it. My mother was also a lifelong Democrat and she loved President Obama. I always helped her get and fill out her absentee ballot so she never failed to vote. Peace to you and her.

[rhett o rick]

23. Thanks for allowing us to share. I am sorry for your pain. nm

[Tumbulu]

24. Such wonderful advice- thank you

for reminding us....... I am so sorry that your mother is passing. I hope that it is as peaceful as possible and that the waves of grief leave you on solid ground that is carpeted with flowers and soft grasses.

[grantcart]

25. Well said and I hope that ou can share some time with her.

[LiberalLoner]

26. I'm so sorry. Bless you, and your Mom.

I lost my Mom ten years ago and I still miss her.

I was lucky to be visited by her in my dreams after she passed and those dreams were of great comfort to me. I hope you will be comforted too after the passing.

[vietnam_war_vet]

27. Bless you and your Mom.

The loss of our parents is one of the starkest lessons concerning the cycle of life.

Almost 7 years later, I still mourn mine. My Mom succumbed to cancer on Christmas day 2005. Six weeks later on February 14, 2006 -- my Dad reunited with her. And, on October 16, 2006 -- my youngest brother passed from the effects of a lifetime of grand mal seizures. My surviving siblings and I lost 3 members of our immediate family in just 10 months. It was emotionally overwhelming at times.

I still have difficulty getting into the Christmas spirit. And Valentine's Day is no longer one of my favorites. The irony about my Dad's passing on Valentine's Day is that I was born on Valentine's Day.

Whovian....you and your Mom are in my prayers. -- Michael

[renate]

28. I am so so sorry

It is so horribly painful to lose someone who means the world to you. It doesn't really help or make it less awful when you see it coming because you can't stop it... the whole process of loss is just so difficult. You think you can't bear it but you will.

She sounds so wonderful, and I'm happy for you that you had such a beautiful and close relationship with her. I don't know what your beliefs about death are--mine are that your relationship will change but will still be as much a part of your life as before... just very very different.

You're a lovely person, and she must be so incredibly proud of you. What blessings you were to each other.

[calimary]

29. That's a really important thing to remember, Whovian.

"Treasure each encounter you have with another. You may not get another."

Thank you for posting this and sharing a very difficult moment with us. DU will buoy you up. I will never forget, after I posted about my mom's death, the reaction I got from people here. Comfort, support, sympathy, solace, many many shoulders offered for me to cry on if I needed them. People here were wonderful and so kind. It meant a lot. This is a great place. Glad you're here at a time like this.

[Hekate]

30. Be swift to love; make haste to be kind....

A dear man I knew in the anti-Bush war movement was a lifelong peacemaker. He essentially died of old age in his sleep, next to his wife. When I attended his memorial service I found that his motto had been: Be swift to love; make haste to be kind.

I am so glad you have had this time with your mother; I so regret that I did not with my own mother. You will have memories to treasure and love to warm you.

May her final passing be gentle.

Hekate

[intaglio]

31. She has been mother to a good person

She and you have nothing to be frightened of. The loss will be great but the memories wonderful

[ashling]

32. May kindness and love be with you and your mom

My dad died 14 years ago today. I was with him and we were both there when my mom died of cancer in 1973. I wish you peace.

[Jamaal510]

33. "Treasure each encounter you have with another. You may not get another."

I do. In fact, I think I overdo it. Sometimes I keep myself awake at night thinking about how awful it would be to one day come home from school and find out that one of my family members is on the verge of dying. For some people it's fairly easy to get over a loved one dying. But I know I'd be an emotional wreck if either of my parents, siblings, or my grandmother died.

[ReRe]

34. Will be thinking of you in the coming days...

... You will always treasure those moments with her in her last years and days. I lost my mother recently, a situation that sounds very similar to yours. My Mum was a democrat too till the last day. She voted absentee in a local election about 10 before she passed.

And thank you for reminding us to be kind to one another.

[JNelson6563]

35. Hugs & encouragement

[panAmerican]

36. Heartbreaking

Sorry for the impending loss of your Mom. However, there's a lot you're not losing: great memories of her character, having had a good relationship with her, and the opportunity to say goodbye. I pray that you will have some peace and comfort, and send you some hugs?

[lunatica]

37. My mother died at the end of January in 2010

She died at home under the care of Home Hospice which was covered by Medicare. The last few months of her life were quiet and serene. Home Hospice workers do not stick needles in their patients. They do not disrupt or take their patients back and forth to the hospital. They do not force them to eat or take medicine or do anything that may create anxiety or pain. They make their patients' lives as easy and gentle as they can, giving them their last months and days full of dignity and comfort.

Home Hospice is there for the entire family. It was a blessing to have them care for her after years of my son and I caring for her. In the end we were able to say our long goodbyes by being there with her.

[PATXgirl]

38. So sorry, Whovian. My dad passed in Feb 2010. It is a loss that makes you evaluate life.

Thoughts and prayers going out for you and your family.

[progressoid]

39. Well said.