The sweetest things

Lillian and Dan Smith lived in a small town in California where I lived when I was growing up. I remember Lillian as a loving a vivacious woman who was sweet and good and much like my mom. She and my mom were good friends. My mom forwarded this email to me today, from Dan - an update on Lillian's health. I wanted to share it with you (if there's anyone out there. LOL). It is what life is made of, and what life is all about.

Subject: Prognosis
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:16:21 -0600

Lillian spent last Tuesday through Saturday in the hospital because of diabetic issues. Saturday night she was placed in Rehab. to give me a chance to rest. Monday morning early, I found her in a diabetic coma at the rehab. and she was transported again to the hospital.
The Dr. recommended she come home today and hospice enter the picture. Her outlook is six days, six months, or six years. They don't know, other than her Kidneys are failing. Monday all of us including the Dr. didn't think she would last the day. However she has
a way of fooling us. They recommended we take her off all medicine, including insulin. I asked if we took her off insulin how long would
she live, "if" she went back into a coma. The answer was about seven days. I said remove her from all her other pills, but I will keep
giving her insulin. I just can't put her through what I seen Monday.
Today I gave her a shower when we arrived home and she was almost impossible to shower. I will be glad to let hospice assist from
this point on.
Her memory is good at times and other times she doesn't even know her little dog. She had no idea how may kids she had and what
their names were. However this evening she is a little better. A lot more alert and talkative.
Hospice said they are not necessary end of life assistance. I feel a little better about that. They come out tomorrow to evaluate and
try once more to talk me into a Hospital bed for her. I want her in bed where I wake her up about four times and talk to her
or test her blood, if I don't like they way she sounds. I can tell most of the time when she is having blood sugar troubles.
If she were in a hospital bed it would be in the living room and I know I would sleep on the couch.
I don't want you too assume all is doom and gloom with us. We do fine and I really don't mind assisting her and trying to
get her to talk. Underneath her problems is still the girl I married...............Dan