Well, we’re almost to the end of this story. After a period of extreme emotional response to the news that Lynette was dying and that she would be admitted to hospice, Connie Mitchell Shelton and Joey Shelton offered to let Luke and me use their unoccupied house in Belhaven for the night. This would save us a 35 minute drive back to Harrisville. Lynette’s sister Linda was going to stay with her at the hospital. I can’t say I slept much that night, but it WAS good to avoid the long drive.

The next morning Lynette and I waited for the hospice admission nurse to come. She was reasonably prompt. Lynette understood what we were doing and she signed her own admission papers. I then went to the house in Harrisville to wait for the durable medical equipment delivery man to come with the hospital bed for Lynette. It was set up in the living room, just steps away from the room where I’d be sleeping and allowing her to see those who came and went.

I took Luke and Sarah to the new Pearl Steak n Shake for supper that night. The four of us had always enjoyed going there on our trips to Florida. The three of us enjoyed our meal, though it was a somber time.

The next morning, December 10, was spent waiting for the ambulance that would take Lynette home to arrive. By now she could not walk safely or otherwise care for her own Activities of Daily Living. She was conscious and able to talk and communicate, but she was quite weak. It certainly would not do for me to take her home in our car, which was how I had brought her to Jackson a week earlier.

Sarah took Luke home and got Lynette’s bed made. When the ambulance arrived, they sent me ahead to wait for them. We got her situated in the bed about 4:00 that afternoon. Luke asked me how long Mama had. I told him that the doctors expected six months or less. I certainly hoped for the longer period.

That Sunday evening Lynette and I caught up on her favorite show, Jane the Virgin. It was a little odd for her to be in the bed, while I was on the love seat/recliner, but it was still good to have her at home.

She called me once in the night to help with personal hygiene. She was a little distressed that I had to do this for her, but I didn’t mind. I’d have been glad to do it every day for six months.

The next morning we sorted out what was the “new normal.” I spent some time in my nearby home office catching up on internet, while playing “Favorite Christmas Songs Written by Jews.” Luke sat next to her bed telling her about pro wrestling. He was glad to have his favorite audience available.

The Hospice Ministries social worker came by and completed her “pycho-social assessment.” One of my folks from Harrisville UMC brought by a cake he had made and the best peanut brittle anyone has ever made. The Hospice nurse and home health aide came. We agreed that the home health aide would come five times a week, meaning that personal hygiene could be handled by someone not a relative. We got the “emergency” kit for pain and shortness of breath. Lynette asked about inpatient services. The nurse said that at her current level of health and functioning, it wasn’t necessary.

One of Lynette’s folks from Rexford brought some vegetable beef soup. Lynette could eat that and enjoyed it. Two folks from St. Paul in Ocean Springs also came. Lynette carried on gracious and friendly conversations with all of them.

I was able to get to Florence to get Lynette something she REALLY wanted-a cup of Sonic ice. This helped keep her hydrated and comfortable.

That night we got caught up on our other favorite show, The Good Doctor. I told her goodnight and that I loved her.

She didn’t call me in the night. I woke up around 7:00 the next morning, saw that her nasal canula for oxygen was in place and just thought she had passed a peaceful night. About an hour later, Luke came downstairs. He said “Daddy, I can’t wake Mama up.” I then got closer and saw she was not breathing. I called Hospice Ministries. The home health aide was already on her way. When she arrived, she checked Lynette and said “She has expired.” I actually don’t care for that phrase, since I certainly didn’t think she’d passed her “sell by” date.

I began making my calls, first to Sarah. Sarah had been completing her work for the semester and was planning to be at home that afternoon. She was QUITE distressed that she hadn’t gotten to spend any more time with her Mama. I then called Lynette’s sisters, then my father, sisters and brother. I also contacted Chancellor Funeral Home.

I had been a hospice chaplain and knew the protocols for a death of a hospice patient at home. That didn’t make it less distressing to be the family member.

The nurse who had been there just the day before said “I’m surprised. I really thought she’d be with us for a few weeks.” I thought so too.

When the folks from Chancellor came to take Lynette’s body away, Sam (our 14 year old dog) registered HIS distress about these events. Sam never cares much for “outsiders” in his house, but I think he knew this was also Lynette’s final departure. I could be reading too much into his vocalizations, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.