Whew!

First of all, let me say thanks to all of you who sent your well wishes. It was great to pop in here and see all those kind comments!

My mother was 85 years old, very ill and bedridden. Even though it is a loss for my family, it was a relief to see her out of pain and discomfort. But she will live on in our memories, and we will remember her as a woman who always cared for us, loved us, and did her best to make sure we had everything we needed. Her legacy is the way her children, grandchildren, great, and great-great grandchildren live their lives.

Even though they will never read this, I can't help but appreciate the hospital staff who not only took excellent care of her during her final days, but also took care of the roomfull of family members. They snuck whatever food and drink they could into the room to tide us over until the cafeteria opened.
I especially thank "Lindsey", who is what every nurse should aspire to. She would come in every 20 minutes to see if there was anything she could get for us, and make sure mother was comfortable. You keep up the good work Lindsey. You are an example to the medical community.
I can't remember her name, but a big thanks also goes to the respiratory therapist. When we couldn't think with clear heads, she led us down the path that needed to be taken, giving us all the information in a clear and factual manner.
Most of all, I want to thank my wonderful wife. She had the courage to face reality and help us make important decisions when all we could do was worry. Even though she was as scared - as much and maybe even more than we were, we looked to her for guidance and support. She has been a nurse for years, and knew what needed to be done.

So it's all over now. Mother is buried in her old hometown in Wyoming, we are back in town, and life goes on, and the world keeps on a' turnin'.