Posted by noa on September 4, 2000, at 12:52:29
In reply to Re: real life instruction manual?, posted by shar on September 3, 2000, at 1:16:51
Cindy, so sorry to hear this news.
Do you have a friend who can go with you, maybe even drive?
I think if you do go, don't focus so much on what you will say. Being there is a big thing in itself.
What do you need? Would more information help you? If so, you could focus on talking to the doctors, etc., and finding out what your mom needs. Maybe don't focus so much on what you have to give, but go to find out, to see what this is about, what is in store for your mother, and the family.
If no one is available to drive you, I agree about considering alternative transportation. If going is going to be so stressful to you, then don't, but I suspect that you will be stressed either way, and despite the awkward feelings toward your parents, it is probably better to go, lest you not get the opportunity before she is too ill for it to matter. I think the unfinishedness of not having gone would be difficult to deal with.
Hospice services often provide counseling to families around dealing with devastating illnesses, even when it is not clear that the patient is dying. Some of these services come in and out of a family's life as needed.
poster:noa
thread:395
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20000813/msgs/435.html