My uncle died yesterday, a short history of his condition… It would have been twenty years on the 29th of this month the he had a stroke/Brain Hemorrige (spellcheck) resulting in him falling down the stairs. He lived alone and we think laid there overnight before the alarm was raised because it was realised no one had seen him. Despite the doctors telling us he would not survive, survive he did. He was left doubly incontinent, paralysed down one side and what I’m sorry I can only describe as he wasn’t all there. He would talk about his mother (my Nana) who had died eight years previously as if she was still alive. At the same time he would know who we all were and would remember everything about the past but he never once asked where he was or why he was now living in a nursing home. We think he thought he was still at his home. Twenty years on and he just became weaker quieter and less responsive we were called to the home on Tuesday as it was thought he would not last much longer and yesterday fifteen minutes after having the priest attend to give him the last rites he passed away.
He was 59 just five years older than I am now when this happened to him he would have been eighty on the 9th Sept. It is going to leave such a hole in the families life my mum visits him twice a week unless on holiday, my aunt once a week my uncle once or twice a week various cousins at various times, I take my mum every sat morning and when I’m not at work on a Wednesday too. What are we going to do now he’s not there , it’s a blessing for him but so sad.
I go on holiday on Tuesday so spent yesterday afternoon trying to do all that needs doing and have a couple of appointment today to finish the arrangement so at least I know everything will be sorted and my mum doesn’t need to worry about details, my son will make sure she has someone to go to during my absence. I feel sad to be away for the funeral but I don’t feel guilty he doesn’t need me now he’s no longer here but I do wish I could be here for my mum but if I don’t go my friend won’t go, I’m rambling now I’m sorry I just felt the need to write it down I haven’t gone into all the details but I hope I’ve given you some insight into how he was and how he had to live we all prayed he would live when it happened but with hindsight it would have been better for him had he died, he hasn’t had a life thes last twenty years and at least he is now at peace. He had massive faith in God and I so hope he finds the peace he deserves.
Jan x