Today I am mourning the passing of a dear friend. She came into my life when Kaitlin was one year old. I always saw her as an angel sent to me from God. I knew her for many years before that, but my relationship with her was through my parents who knew each other from their youth days back in Cuba.
When Kaitlin was born, I was lucky to have my sister take care of her during the first year of her life. When my sister decided to go back to work, I faced the momentous task of finding alternative care for my daughter. I visited several day cares and just could not bring myself to enroll Kaitlin in any of them. I was getting desperate when somebody suggested I talk to Lolita. From then on, Lolita became Kaitlin’s sole caregiver up until she started Kindergarten.
She cared for Kaitlin just as she was her grandmother, showering her with affection and love. Kaitlin in return adored her and they developed a very deep bond.
Loli was a very spiritual person, and even when faced with health issues that became increasingly unbearable, she never lost her faith in her God. When my mom passed away, she offered a shoulder for me to cry on and was a huge source of comfort.
When I became pregnant with Natalie, she was all set to also take care of her. However, her health was declining and they made the decision to move to Florida, to be close to her daughter there and with the hope that the climate down there was going to be better for her ongoing struggle with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fybromyalgia. Even though she was not able to take care of Natalie, she left her mark in her nursery by sewing the curtains that still hang in her room.
I kept in touch with her during her time in Florida, although now I wish I had done it more often. When we went to Orlando in March of this year for our Disney Trip, high on my list was to be able to visit with her for at least a couple of hours. I am so glad that we were able to see her then! It did not cross my mind then that would be the last time I saw her. She was always very careful about her appearance, and that night she looked very nice, you could not tell from her outward appearance how sick she was and the pain she was in.
Everyone attributed her ailments to the Rheumatoid Arthritis but after getting sicker this summer, they found out in early September that she had cancer. She finally rested last night. Although I grieve her death, I am also comforted in the fact that she is finally resting and no longer suffering.
My thoughts are with her husband and her children. I know how hard it is to lose your mother, no matter how old you are. I cannot wait for the moment when “He will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
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