I didn't post anything then because I wasn't looking for sympathy or prayers. Lost her a month ago so I know what it is like for the McGovern family....and we all will face it at some point. Hopefully, yours will be as peaceful as mine and coming when the time is right.

I'll tell the story now...we're a month down the road so I emphasize I'm very comfortable and not looking for anything from the board.

My Mom would have been 95 in November. Full life. Ready to go.  She lost any enjoyment of life a couple years ago. Lost all mobility...legs have been the pits for years. Within the past year she was transferred from assisted living to skilled nursing and she hated it with a passion. Eight years ago or so we moved her to Buffalo where she bought a townhouse right next door to my sister. Sister was nearby but Mom was able to enjoy her continued independence for a couple years. 

Then the progression to needing assisted living. Lack of real mobility prevented her from staying in the townhouse. She wasn't happy with it but she adapted fairly well. The switch to skilled nursing didn't go as well. First of all, Medicare won't pay for it unless it is direct from a hospitalization (I think). We spoke several times per week for years. Once in skilled nursing, she constantly told me she was ready to go but there wasn't anything really wrong with her other than a bunch of nagging problems that wouldn't kill her. She particularly hated paying $10,000 per month for virtually no real services that would improve anything. Physically, there wasn't much that could be done to improve anything. She was still pretty sharp, mentally.

Then, a month ago, on a Monday, she had a minor to moderate stroke. That was what she was looking for. Minor paralysis. The big thing was her tongue didn't work anymore. She refused all means of life saving measures and particularly no nutrition. I couldn't speak with her but I spoke with the nurses at the nursing home on Tuesday. Asked what was ahead and when. They told me she would just gradually progress into a deeper sleep and eventually pass but they couldn't tell me when that would happen.

I flew to Buffalo on Wednesday. We spent all of Thursday together. Mentally, she knew 99% of what was going on. I could understand about 80% of what she said. Remember, the tongue wasn't working. By Friday, she was sleeping a lot more and I could only understand perhaps 20% of what she said. She was still aware enough that she knew the kids were on their way up to Buffalo. My daughter, her husband, the Kid and the Mini-Kid.  She told me how happy that made her.

Saturday morning she was in a deep sleep and I didn't try to arouse her before heading off to the airport to pick up the family. We all spent all afternoon there on Saturday. Her Grandkid and her husband and her Great-Grandkids and my Sister and I. We spoke with her all afternoon. The young kids were just fabulous. I had a long talk with them before I took them in trying to help them understand that it might be difficult for them. I am so very proud of the Kid and, particularly the Mini-Kid. They were just fabulous ( I said that twice). They spoke with her all afternoon, particularly Mini-Kid. She is such a piece of work....strong, beautiful, with a totally infectious personality. Mom was never responsive by then. I don't know if she heard them. Maybe, maybe not.

I need to say something about the nursing home too. They were very good to me in the days leading up to Saturday. Answered every question. Told me exactly what they were doing for her....pain medication, medication to reduce the extreme congestion she was experiencing, but honoring her wishes for no life saving measures. Once the entire family was there Saturday afternoon, they brought carts full of food to us...unasked....pastries, coffee and tea....sandwiches. We all knew the end was near and I appreciated their treatment of all of us without asking and somewhat unexpected.

We left around 6:00 to go eat and to watch the Gators play UT. There wasn't anything else we could do that day we hadn't already done. My Sister called me about 2:00 Sunday morning to tell me the nursing home had called and she had passed away.

Anyway, what started this was the current condition of George McGovern and how it struck home. I trust his family feels the same as we did and do....the time is right and it is time to end what has become an unpleasant existence.

http://news.yahoo.com/ex-senator-presidential-nominee-mcgovern-no-longer-responsive-191525402.html