That's what I've been doing these past 11 days- navigating life's events. Or more accurately, death's events. As of April 18th at 10:40pm I became my dear neighbor's Successsor Trustee. I was authorized to make health decisions although she had a DNR. Even though she didn't want me to call a priest, I overruled her. Carla had been a faithful Catholic and weekly church goer all her life. It seemed fitting that she should receive a visit. I learned from Fr. Paul that people get a bit "upset" so he has a great rap downpat so as not to worry patients and parishioners he visits. He said the blessing and promised to visit her "next week when she was home."
Coincidentally, she began to calm down, relax and be more peaceful and she passed on that way. Was it his visit and the blessing? The morphine? Geez, I don't know. What I do know is that there was a beautific, peaceful look on her face in death. Seeing her made me very happy I called for the priest in spite of her protestations because it ultimately made her happy to leave this earth having received the traditional rites.
Being a successor trustee isn't easy. What I learned so far is that there is so much to do, so much I don't know and to listen to my guts. If something strikes me "as odd" it is. If something strikes me as a measure I should take, I will. It's a learning opportunity. I've learned to leave my "affairs in order" to make it easy on the trustee who will be spending lots of time taking care of me once I'm gone.
Recent Comments