Taree NSW

We got a call on Friday to say that Mum Walker was not very well and that it would be better to come to Taree sooner rather than later.
We had commitments on Saturday in Esk and made the decision to leave firt thing Sunday morning.

On Friday night we got a call from the hospital and it became evident that we wold have to leave early on Saturday morning.  We were up and on the road by 8am.  Our friends in Esk passed on their concerns and their well wishes and off we went.  We made it to Walcha NSW by 7pm and decided to spend the night at a roadside stop as we had a steep, winding road ahead of us.  We had had rain all the way.

Sunday morning and we were on the road by 8am.  Light rain showers were experienced during the drive down the mountain.  We arrived in Taree at 12md and left the Van at the van park.  We spent the afternoon at the hospital with Mum.  She was drifting in and out of alertness but still managed to contribute to the conversation.
We left at about 5pm to go and get dinner, have a shower and return later.  We got back to the hospital just after 8pm but it took until 8.30 for the security guy to escort us up to the ward.  We relieved Aunty Marie and Uncle David and sat with Mum.  She had just had some Morphine and Midazolam [as she was quite agitated and trying to climb out of bed and confused] and at this time she was sleeping peacefully.  At 11.15pm Darryl and I decided to go back to the van and return in the early hours of the morning.  Mum was still sleeping peacefully and her respirations were less laboured.  The staff said that would be the best plan.
We got back to the van, changed into our pj's and hopped into bed.  Five minutes later the phone rang to ask us to return to the hospital as she had passed away.
Back to the hospital and say our final goodbyes...........................

Monday morning and we met Aunty Marie and Uncle David for Breakfast and then returned to the house.
This is when it finally hit home that she was not coming back..................
I was so used to dealing with things from a medical point of view and it was difficult trying to think WHAT we needed to do from the grieving family side of things......   It is certainly different and difficult from this side........

Wednesday - and we have almost got things sorted.........
Beckie and Ben will be arriving sometime tomorrow afternoon.

We only have to do the final liaising with the funeral directors tomorrow and pick up the DVD that is to be shown during the service.

Mum's funeral will be on Friday at 2pm in Taree.  We will stay in Taree until Tuesday 14th - and help Neville and Shirley sort out the house and everything that that entails........

I don't think that any of us will be posting things for a little while.............
Until next time - take care and stay safe