18 Comments
User's avatar
Chris's avatar

Thank you for sharing this. My dad died in late April in similar circumstances (cancer returning, rapid decline in the final days, a hospital bed at home) and everything you've said here really resonated with me. I wish you and yours all the best.

Domes's avatar

This was a great read. I lost my Dad a few years ago in a very similar fashion. Strange as it may seem, it is comforting to read about the medical missteps, the second guesses and the flashes of the old parent you knew growing up. The decisions and things that you hold onto may mean so much in those moments, but in the end its what you choose to remember. Thank you for writing this in the way that you did. I'm sure I'm not the only one that saw their parent in this.

Inga's avatar

This was really beautiful, thank you for sharing your memories of her. This is such a powerful sentiment and so important.

Kevduffy's avatar

I'm speechless.

Tom's avatar

Can't imagine how hard it was to write this. Thank you for allowing it to be read. So honest and beautiful.

Casey's avatar

Sending you and your family so much love Libby. So moving to read this. The love between you and your mom is beautiful.

Kelsey D. Atherton's avatar

Thank you for this. I wept reading it. It's a beautiful tribute to life, hers specifically, and also to the whole of human dignity.

Jon's avatar

This was just so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. I hope that if I am ever faced with something like this, that I can summon the courage and grace and clarity to be present for it in the way you did here. Much love to you and your family, and may the memory of your beautiful mother be a blessing.

William's avatar

Thank you for sharing this.

Benjamin L's avatar

Powerful as always Libby, I'm sure knowing how beautifully you would tell her story provided plenty of comfort in the last weeks

Abdiaziz's avatar

I am sorry for your loss. May the memory of your mother live on and may you find comfort in the small things. Thank you for sharing this with us - I am grieving with you.

Max's avatar

Beautiful work.

I’m so, so sorry for your loss.

Take good care.

Rachel Wilkerson Miller's avatar

This was so lovely, and sad. Thank you for writing it.

Joshua's avatar

Ms. Watson-May your mother's memory be a blessing. My father passed in February after several years of declining health (body and mind), and a bout of COVID. I started writing a lot more in this message but right now cannot do it. It hurts. It sucks. It's stupid. We all really need to do better.

Roseanne Edwards's avatar

Typically honest and true and written with absolute love and your Mum would have loved it Libby, as she loved everything about you.

Keep on doing what she felt so proud of - fighting for a civilised society that takes care of its people, cares for them when they are ill and implements a decent health service, which is not set up to make profit for a few, to allow every individual to have the best life, and best death, that is possible.

Why on earth would not every single person be fighting for the same thing?

Samantha Grasso's avatar

I really appreciated reading this Libby, thank you for writing it. Sending you so much love.