I’ll Dream About You and Say, “Thank You.” - PART THREE

Well, it was hot, like I said, and her air conditioning went out. So, she called and scheduled an A/C technician/friend to come over and repair it. Then, she called one of her closest friends and invited them and their mom to go out and eat. She just could not take the heat. They went to a Mexican restaurant and by the look of the receipt (I found after her death) they ordered and ate a lot! Immediately following, she told her friend she did not feel well and asked if she could take her to the hospital. They checked her in. It was Friday. We would visit her, still not making that great a deal out of it. The next day she called me and let me know that she had finally forgiven herself for something that she had done to me as a child… some spanking that went too far (in her mind) that she could never let go of. The next day, she had a stroke and fell to the floor. Hospital staff were not really equipped to deal with this big of a person. (They later told me.) My mom went into a coma, had severe brain damage and on Friday we had to pull the plug leading to her death twenty minutes later. She had been doing some exercises and this was no good for her as her heart was already struggling to pump that much blood as it was. She was only 49.

You see, growing up with her was good for me, but a struggle for her. People would point at her and stare and make little jokes. She was enjoying a carnival once and when I saw the jokes, I walked straight up to them and ask if their mom ever taught them that it was rude to stare. I was ready to fight for this woman. I still remember the day when they told her she was too big to ride the Ferris Wheel. She said it was okay, but I could see her heart was so heavy. I swear, life was different after that. She also loved to ride horses and couldn’t do that, either.

Looking back, I really wish I would have had her on a meal plan or created one for her myself. Seeing how she lit up when all the things were there on her tray. It didn’t matter to her that they were low in fat or fat free. She delighted in the presentation.. The completeness of it all. My mom really needed to diet down before attempting that exercise. I believe that’s why she went. If your parent, family member or friend is going through something similar to this, it is an EMERGENCY that they get the help at home, also, ESPECIALLY if they are going in and out of the hospital. While I was at the hospital that week my mom was in the coma, the nurses were confiding in me that there were a lot of people dying because of things like hypertension due to being extremely overweight, and that you just didn’t ever hear about it. You know how you never hear about stuff until you’re going through it and then they say it happens all the time? Well, it was! These days, you hear more about it.

I’m hugely grateful for the efforts that people like Wesley Virgin and other fitness experts are putting forth to help people either diet down or get fit or both. He is making the world a better place to live in because people like my mom would still be here with his help and service.

Postscript- Let's start doing some regular service for someone we love who is feeling weaker.  Let's listen and see what they 'regret' not doing and help them accomplish it a little-at-a-time.
LALA

So, please for the memory of my mom, help these sweet and dear people in your life get on some sort of a meal plan. Encourage them that they can do better for themselves and their families. Ask them to please do it so they can stick around.