佚名/Anonymous
-yearsurvivorofbreastcancer, shehadsufferedtwoheartattackswhenadvancedcancerwasfoundinherlung.
Momhadstruggledtoraisethreedaughterswhileholdingafull-timejob, , Iknewonlytwothingsaboutmymother:Shehadanironwill, , shetoldmeathird:“I’vehadamiserablelife.”
Mydadwasadifficultmantolivewith, butmymomdidnotcomplain, , mydadregardedherasaburden, sheandIdecidedthatshewouldmovetomyhome.
, foundtransportation, anoncologist, cardiologist, hospicecare, medicalequipment, ’sfinaldayswassimple:shewouldlivewithlove, , afteranexhaustingfive-hourtrip, ,“Howlongdoyouthinkyourmotherhas?”
“Two, maybethreemonths.”Isaid.
Thenurselookedatmesadly.“Adjustyourthinking,”hesaid.“Shehasafewdays, .”
Myhome, smallandcomfortable, .
Weinstalledtheelectrichospitalbedandoxygenmachine, whichfrightenedthecatsfromthebedroom.I’dmovedtheirfurniture, , ontheotherhand, animmaturedogwithbadhabits, , barkedandshedmoreprofuselythanusual.
HeisOttowhowasnotafraidofthehospitalbed, ’shospitalbed, andstayed.
, , , OttoneverleftMom’sroom.
Dayspassed, andMomstartedtorally.“Notunusual,”Iwastold,“arallyisoftenasignofimminentdeath.”
, , shecaressedthedogandwouldnotallowmetotakehim.
, afterthenurseshadgonefortheday, IheardthesoundofMom’, ’sfacewithOtto’spaw, clawsretracted, caressingthesideofherchin.
Eventually, usingawalker, , , , Ottoknew, andduringthosedayshebecameherdogchild, givingherlifepurpose.
