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Hello friends. It's been a VERY emotional AMAZING week starting 2 AM last Sunday Morning (central time). That's when dad fell in his new Assisted Living apt. and broke his hip. He was seen by the Ortho Dr. on Monday and scheduled for surgery at noon on Tuesday. I headed for Texas from Arkansas to make the 7 hour drive to be there in time for surgery. I was too late, however, since they took him in at 10:00 when no family was there. By the time I arrived, he was back to his room. My SIL and Brother were really upset they'd not been called. Fortunately, according to the Dr, all went well. They kept him well drugged the rest of the day. On Wed, we he was still quite out of it. We'd talk with us but he'd just look at us. I got a small smile when I said he had lost a bit of weight since I'd seen him 3 wks ago, but that was it. I'm not even sure he recognized me as his daughter. At one point he looked at us and said "I'm sure they are all dead...they went into the inner circle". We just looked at each other and my brother told him that, "no...they were fine since they were able to find an escape portal on the other side" and dad smiled. He doesn't have dementia or memory problems normally, so we figured it was the pain meds.

After a bit a nurse came in and started trying to get him to sit up so they could get him out of bed and into a chair. He started howling in pain and I couldn't help but lose my temper. I told her to give him a chance to catch his breath.. The nurses response was, we have to get him out of bed and sitting up as we are sending him home later today. HOME??? No one had informed us they were sending him home. He'd just had surgery the day before for heaven's sake, the next day was Thanksgiving and they were sending him home to Assisted Living where it was only going to be minimum staff?

20 minutes and a lot of arguing later I was told I could appeal the discharge. I was on the phone to do just that when a new person came in and ask if I'd wait and give her a chance to talk with me. She explained that he wasn't a candidate for their rehab ward as it would be too stressful, and that Hospice could look into low impact rehab for him to have in the Assisted Living facility and that the operating Doctor felt that he would do better back at the facility.

They discharged him around 4:00. The rest of this story is one that I will be sharing for the rest of my life.

The ambulance took dad back to his assisted living facility and he was happy to be back. He was smiling at everyone, thanked the ambulance guys, and was glad to see his hospice nurse when she came in. He was sleeping peacefully when we decided to all head off and grab a bite to eat as none of us had eaten in quite awhile.

Afterwards we decided it would be nice to stop at the local Goodwill to find Christmas things to decorate dad's room with for when he woke up. We all love Goodwills and Thrifts as you'll never know what treasure's you'll find. Dad loved shopping them too, and would love that we decorated his room for Christmas with the treasures we found there.

We had the cart nearly full (we'd even found a lovely 3' fiber optic tree complete with ornaments) when my younger brother looked around, spotted my older brother and my sister in law, then looked at me and said, "Do you all realize that the last time the four of us were together like this, Mom died?"

OMG...he was right! It hadn't crossed my mind. In 2008 my Mom was in a hospital in Louisiana dying of lung cancer. After three long days of vigil Dad chased us out of the room telling us to take a break and get some lunch feel free to stop at the local Goodwill to get our minds off things. It was there that we got the call to come back to the Hospital and found that mom had passed away.

I answered my brother "OMG! Your right. And I wouldn't put it past mom at all to come and grab dad, saying...Come on honey, now's the perfect time as they are all at Goodwill. They'll get a kick out of this and know for sure that it was I who came and got you and that we are together." Then my brother and I both chuckled as we made our way to the cash registers.

We left the Goodwill with the back of the SUV full of Christmas decoration as my brother and I shared the amazing coincidence we'd remembered with the others. We all felt a bit of a chill on the telling, but chuckled none the less. Once back my brothers went straight to the fridge to put leftovers away, sis- -in-law went to the bathroom and I went to cover dad better with the blanket. That's when I noticed he didn't have his Oxygen on and he wasn't breathing heavily. It took me a minute to confirm what I suspected, and when I did, I was stunned! It had really truely happened! Mom had actually come and taken Dad with her, just as she was taken in 2008, when their loved ones were all together at their favorite store, the Goodwill.

I couldn't believe it.. I even silently told mom I wanted him back, that I didn't mean what I said. I turned just as my sis-in-law was coming to say hi to dad. "I think we've lost dad" I told her. It was surreal...at first she thought I was joking, but then she saw the tears and knew. She rushed to him to confirm what I discovered and we all hugged and cried. However, it wasn't long before the tears stopped and a peace came over all of us. Our grief turned to wonder as we realized what had just happened...we knew...we knew he was with mom, exactly where he's been wanting to be for months.

At this point, I want to be mad at mom for taking him, but I can't, as I know he is safe in her arms and she is in his. I want to be mad at the hospital because 4 hours after they released him, he died. But I'm not sure I can be mad at them either, for if they'd not sent him home this miracle would have never played out as it did. My older brothers from Ohio, I'm from Arkansas and little brother and sis-in-law are from Texas...and yet...here we were, together in Goodwill when mom quietly came and took dad away, just as it happened 8 years ago. And no doubt that both were smiling from ear to ear!

That very next day everyone was happy and we enjoyed a lovely family Thanksgiving in honor of our terrific parents who were finally together once again.

Now who could ask for a more wonderful ending to a wonderful life???

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That,s a beautiful story and it's nice when it happens like that, kind of like in The Notebook movie. I'm glad for all of you. Merry Christmas!
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Beautiful story. So glad that you turned this into a time of thankfulness, rather than hanging on to bitterness or what could have been.
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My deepest sympathies on your loss, though the timing was very special and meaningful. A story to be told over the years... ((((((hugs)))))
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That's "laughter"
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The last couple of weeks 3 people I knew passed in their 80s. One lady I grew up with her daughter and knew the mother just about as long. She was an incredible woman. Her obit was worded "in celebration of her life" which her funeral service was. There was lighter and tears. A former neighbor thought it was disrespectful. But I know Mrs. R was laughing with us. The worst one was the minister who gave the service.
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Same here, sorry for your loss. I love the way you and ur siblings looked at it.
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It's been nearly a month now, and I'm still in awe of mom's involvement from beyond when it came to Dad's dying. Only she knew we were at the Goodwill together, just as we were when she died 8 years earlier. I really believe she did it this way so we would all have peace knowing that they were finally once again together and that we will all be together when our time comes. Amazing parents, in life and in death!

I'm so glad this story is helping others who have lost loved ones. I really believe we will "see" them again beyond this world thanks to mom and dad's story.
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Wonderful story. All the best to you and your family.
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Hi Dustin...........Just read you story, gives me the chills, but what a beautiful ending to a life Great comfort for your family to be all together at this time.
My Mom died a number of years ago on the day I had arrived from CA to visit her. Although she could not put together my name with me, everyone said she was just was waiting to see me before she left this earth. Perhaps ir was true, hope so.
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What a sweet story--don't be mad at any one. Your sweet dad is out of pain and with your mom.
My mother is very ill, currently, just the flu, but she is not eating and drinking only sips of water or juice. She's home, but she's miserable.
I told her I took flowers to dad's grave. What I didn't tell her was that I said a prayer that dad come and get her soon. He died 12 years ago on New Year's Day morning. She'd go with him happily.
I just don't want to see her suffer. She's going downhill so fast. Your story brought tears to my eyes.
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A beautiful story full of love, hope and faith. Godspeed to your Dad and sending good vibes to you.
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yes, thank goodness mom came and got him! beautiful story...no need to suffer her on earth at the end of life!!
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Wonderful story! Death is not the end, but a new beginning, and your folks are once again reunited in love.
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Your story brought tears to my eyes! I will always remember it because it is such a nice memory to have. My father died when I was 8yrs.old and my family thought it best if I did not go to the funeral. However, by them thinking they were protecting me never gave me a chance to grieve - it never gave me a chance to be part of the experience the pain with people who were feeling the same pain.
However - I was not to be denied and in the growing up years ahead of me I often had conversations in my head with Dad. That is how I handled the grief and I always feel "to this day" that he is there for me to talk to when I need him.
Your story brought tears to my eyes and a warm and loving feeling in my heart.

Thank you for sharing it,
Rosepetal
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Dustien, I am sorry for the loss of your Dad. This story was beautiful and gave me some peace as my Mom died earlier this year. It is all a mystery but very inspiring. {{Hugs}}, Katie.
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Thank you for sharing...sometimes tears seem selfish ..when actually a passing can be beautiful...yes, your mom and dad are finally together again...and they had their children all together one more time. How beautiful...
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Thank you for a very beautiful and inspiring story. It is just what I needed to read during this holiday season. I lost two wonderful sister-in laws this year. Your story helped me find some peace in their passing.
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I was told by our Hospice nurse the Dying is a very private event and if someone wants to be alone when they are ready they will wait or figure a way to be alone for a moment.
Thank you for sharing this story it was quite beautiful and I know it will be added to the Family Stories that are told every year when all gather.
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Thanks for posting Dustien! I believe in these stories.
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Dust, I am so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful story of how you and your siblings were together when your dad passed immediately after a hospitalization. And the way you and sibs were able to share the experience and sadness whioe accepting and acknowledging that dad was well taken care of without placing blame on anything else.

Your story brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing it with us.
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Sorry for the loss of your dad, Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.
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Dustien, big hugs. Thank you for the tears and smiles you shared with us.
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Sorry you lost your dad but, he was apparently ready to head home to your mom. Some fear death but then those like your dad consider it a door to happiness and peace with loved ones. I'm sure you will feel his and your moms presence as they watch over you and your siblings. God bless.
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Dustien, a beautiful tribute to your parents, and your story is much simular to my own, when we lost ourDad, and then 14 months later, our Mom. We knew that he left this earth to give our Mom all of our attention to her Cancer recovery, but she only wanted to be with him, speaking to him constantly and believing he was answering back in this funny little way, a buzzing in her ear, but you had to believe it, because she was so intent on it, and who knows, they were together for 60 years, and a connection like that is hard to break! In rhe days afterwards, there were many signs to me anyway that they were together again in Heaven, just as I asked her to show me!

I'm so sorry for your loss, but a wonderful thing that you and your family were all together out doing something so wonderful for him, as he lay there comfortably waiting to join your dear Mom! A beautiful story indeed! Hugs!!! Stacey
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Dustien,
Thank you so much for sharing your story...
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Thanks for reading it all guys. I know it's quite long but I just had to get it down in writing. Freqflyer..that's amazing about your mom... like going to bed when the movie's over. Even in coma she knew her favorite movie had come to an end and it was time to go one last time. A peaceful end...
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Dustien, it was a sad event and also a peaceful event. It is amazing how similar both your Mom's passing and that of your Dad's passing.

My Mom did something similar, even in a coma she waited until her favorite movie was over... she passed 5 minutes after. Even though the tears I had to smile at what she done.
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Dustien, I couldn't suppress the tears as I read your post. Whether it was from sadness or the pleasure of coincidence that the family was together, and that your father died peacefully....I don't know.

But your strength and flexibility in seeing the positive aspects of this situation are incredibly positive, and encouraging, and reflect such a strong ability to adapt.

Thank you so much for sharing this very personal event with us.
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What an amazing story, what a good death! I'm so glad you are all there for each other.
(((HUGS)))
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Oh Dustien. That's so beautiful. Thank you so much for posting.
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