by Hope
Many of you who have been following my journey know that my mom has been on hospice care for almost two years now. In fact, two years ago, they told me to come immediately and say goodbye. They didn’t expect her to last much longer. Parkinson’s sucks!
I love seeing my family. But it’s been so hard saying good-bye every time I go back to visit.
The end may be near
This trip was a little different. The signs are there. The end may be nearing. She’s starting to have trouble swallowing or refusing to eat.
But this post isn’t about that. It’s about the awe inspiring care I have gotten to witness every time I have visited. My dad and siblings provide around the clock care. They are relentless in their pursuit of what is best for my mom’s care. They spend HOURS every day getting the most basic nutrition into her. And then adding treats on top of that.
They keep meticulous notes. They bathe her, change her, inspect for any signs of bed sores. Turn her over several times a day. They sit with her. Watch movies with her. Make sure there is moisturizer on her lips and her glasses are cleaned.
The dedication and love my family displays love in action like I have never seen or experienced. So I will make this trip as often as I’m asked. Because the self-sacrifice my family exemplifies every day is inspiring!
But, otherwise, this trip also showed me just how much I am settling into my new phase of life. How much I am enjoying being home. Not chasing the constant adventure travel that I used to crave so much. While I am still pulled to the road on occasion, what I really want to do is stay home and piddle around my house and yard.
Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.
But life has a way of rewriting your plans.
A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.
Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.
Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.
She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.
I am glad you could take the trip – and I hope your mom feels all the love as she transitions. It’s wonderful that your family can take care of her.