Arden, Lisa and Lauren (Capri's family) arrived yesterday and are spending time with us today.

Kimberlee Hamilton (Keith's wife and our dear sister) came in late last night as well.

Lisa was inspired to read the scriptures to her this afternoon and chose the story of Enoch and the City of Zion.  A City that chose to follow the teachings of God and thus remained pure in their hearts.  According to their faith, God blessed the entire city to be taken up to heaven and inherit eternal life.

In Lisa's words:

"It was a very powerful and touching time for me to hold her hand and know that she may be taken up into heaven at any given moment.  I pray, as she prepares to leave this world, that she will travel peacefully and be received with open arms.  I love her so much and feel so blessed to know that our family can be together forever."

A dear and sweet friend of our parents wrote a letter to them over the holidays with some very kind words for our family.  We spoke to her by phone this morning and she asked us to share it with you.  Here are her words:

Dear Rowland and Mary Lou,

Actually, I would like to direct this letter to your family:

Have Rowland or Mary Lou ever told you how they met me? The memories should include the first time I showed up for Church on a Saturday thinking it was Sunday.  It was a forty mile trip for me and I was just happy to have found the building.  Yes, I did wonder at the few automobiles in the parking lot.  That was our initial meeting and their first clue about my head injury that results sometimes in aberrant behaviors.

Their first home visit to me was no less interesting.  They searched and searched through the boondocks  of Pamlico County.  They finally found my tiny 18' trailer in an uncultivated field.  The weeds were knee high or higher.  They had the look of Moses as they parted their way through my weeds.  There wasn't room to visit inside, so we went outside being eaten alive by a swarm of mosquitoes.

Ever since then, they have been there for me for every illness, crisis and heartache of my life. I consider them two of the finest people I have ever met and deserving of the designation "Latter Day Saints".

They are also held in beloved regard by their fellow church members.  Sometimes we don't realize that close ones may be exceptional individuals. FYI - your parents , grandparents, etc., are two of those people. Cherish them as I do.

Respectfully, 
Linda Bennett

Thank You, Linda for your kind words about our parents.  We know that they have been generously giving of their time, energy and faith to everyone they have ever known, since before we were born.  It is so nice to hear the experiences of some of those they have touched over the years.

Mom stayed in bed today.  Her vital signs are beginning to weaken and she is less responsive, when she does talk it is difficult to understand.  The hospice nurse thinks she only has two or three days left to be with us. We appreciate your continued prayers on her behalf.

Capri's husband Arden and daughters Lisa and Lauren arrived and were able to spend some quiet time with Mom.  Kimberly (Keith's wife) is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

On a personal note I am comforted that she is leaving us at Easter time, because it will be impossible for me to remember her passing without also thinking of the Resurrection.  Christ conquered death for us all, and our separation from her is only temporary.  

Stacey

Chris Here.

We had a busy day yesterday and didn't have time to post.  Not to worry, that doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong, just that we didn't have spare time to post the events of the day.

Adam spent the day in the yard helping pick up the pine straw piles that accumulated over the winter and making sure the trash and recycle got picked up and are under control once more (we missed pickup day last week).  He has been a great help around the house the last couple days.

Mom had a rougher night last night than previous nights.  She was startled awake and got all our attention at her bedside. As we got her settled down and relaxed a little, she asked us in her very candid Mary Lou style "Am I holding up the funeral?"

She was very tired and was not able to get up to sit up with us this morning in the Living Room as she has in previous mornings.  Our most incredible Hospice Nurse, Sabrina, came in for an unscheduled check up. While her heart is still beating strongly, Mom's vital signs had slowed overnight and she is showing signs of weakening. As Sabrina was leaving, she told Mom she was in good hands.  Mom replied, "I am in the two most perfect hands possible."  Not sure Sabrina has had a patient bring her from laughter to tears as often as Mom has so far.

Part 2 - 3/28/13

Faye brought Dottie and Grandma Mattie for a visit this morning. Always a photo op when Gran comes into a room. Our hospice assistant was just finishing up her duties but couldn't pass up the opportunity to stick around and meet the Matriarch of our family she had been hearing so much about. Gran and Mom spent a good while holding hands and sharing hugs. Not so many words are necessary between them.

This afternoon we had Adam sit with her while we got some stuff done. At one point she looked over the shoulder of her grandson at what appeared to be nothing in particular and asked "what's that man behind the curtain coming here for?" Either someone was waiting for her or she was seeing the great and powerful Oz. You decide.

She has good moments and a few not so good. She drifts in and out of coherency, but is still able to tell us what she needs. She doesn't ask for much for herself. Still is very concerned for the needs of those around her. That's my Mother! (She was just advising me how to cut up the ice cream sandwiches to make sure all the family got equal size servings ;)

Again, a gracious thank you to all who have visited, brought food and helped with the family's needs as we help her along on this journey. So many...So caring! A reflection of the beautiful, silly, strong and LOVING girl I call my MoM!

Love to all of you and hope to post again soon. - Chris

On another note, Dad's Sister - Aunt Margaret - suffered a stroke shortly after arriving in town from Arizona to visit on Tuesday evening. She is in the local hospital and is showing signs of improvement. We hope you will join us in keeping their family in our prayers for strength and healing as they also cope with the situation at this time.

Dad had a hard day too.

Fell asleep sitting at the counter watching the digital picture frame Kim set up for mom, with hundreds of family pictures.

Don't forget to read the other posts from tonight. Mom wanted to share some of her feelings with us tonight before she went to bed.

Tonight mom wanted us to wheel her into the living room so we could sit together as a family.  We read her the sweet comments that have been posted to the blog and then asked her what she would like to say to all of you.  At first, she didn’t know what to say but then, in her words, she said:

“I love you all.

I have always loved you.

I have always had these feelings and they are in my heart.

And I think that Rowland and I couldn’t express things to each other so we held things in because we couldn’t help each other to bring it out so we just expressed it to each other because we couldn’t get it out any other way.

I still don’t know the words to say or do.

And now I can’t say anything because the words don’t come out.

I LOVE YOU!

I LOVE YOU!

I LOVE YOU!”

And after getting a much needed burp out, mom sang in perfect pitch, “Oh what a relief it is!”

She has not lost her sense of humor

She keeps talking about a church tree (we believe she is referring to a family tree) and all we needed was just to be there. She said, “We were much stronger when we were together like the tree.  I need each one that was there. Just seeing their face and knowing they are there for me as I was for them.  Each face and each memory reminded me and gave me the strength to go and carry on.” 

And then she said, “And now I just might sit here in this chair and fall asleep!”

After some more chatting, Kim said he was texting Stacey and mom said, “Stacey has been as much like a daughter to me as my own girls.”

Last night Mom told us, “If I go it will be because I want to - and I will be happy!”

She is so prepared for her journey home. She feels it and we feel it.  The Hospice nurse even said (with tears in her eyes) that in her many years of hospice care, she has never seen someone more prepared and at peace.”

Wanted to post a few pictures of mom with some of her visiting family.
-1st Dad's Brothers Gene and Grady.

-2nd Dad's Brother Barry (wife Donna) and Sister Margaret (husband Richard)

-3rd The Sisters, Mom, Dottie, Fay

Mom has gotten a lot of flowers. These came from Capri's family in AZ.

Uncle Gene (Dad's Brother) and his Daughter Karen came to visit with Aunt Linda (Dad's sister).

 

From Chris Thompson: It's a cool, rainy Sunday and Mom is maybe a little more tired than previous days.

It's been a little quiet today and Mom is getting some much needed rest. She seems to need a little more each day.

Mom's brother, Uncle Harold & Aunt Pat made the trip from Raleigh and arrived at the same time as Adam (Capri's Son). Thanks to them for the food that was prepared for us and of course the great company.

Mom had been asking if the trees (dozens of dogwoods on the property) were white yet. Adam opened the blinds for her and she was able to sit up and look out to see the first blossoms of spring from her bedroom window in the beautiful yard that she and Dad have painstakingly maintained over the years. She seemed happy to welcome them.

Uncle Gene and Aunt Linda (Dad's siblings) are on the way and we are expecting the church to send the young men over to offer her the sacrament this evening.

All of us would like to take this opportunity to say Happy 103rd Birthday to our Mother's Mother - Ms. Mattie Hargett. She has a little cold today, but has also had many well wishers come by and visit at Aunt Faye's home. We are so fortunate to have such AMAZING women in our family to lead by the example they set. We love them Very! Much!

Will update again soon!

From Capri this morning: It has been a very difficult couple weeks as we have watched mom's health quickly decline and knowing we only have a few more days with her. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received from so many of you. We hope everyone will understand that caring for our mom and dad is our number one priority. In order to give them time to rest, visiting hours in the Hamilton ...home will be from 10 am to noon and 3 to 6 pm and visits will be limited to 15 minutes so that everyone who would like to see her has the opportunity to do so. We need EVERYONE to call before coming as we know there will be times she just can't have visitors. We also understand that many of our loved ones have come long distances and want opportunities to visit with each other, but this is a hospice situation and we ask that you please gather elsewhere. Also, we need all guests to park in the north driveway.

 

Mandi, Gary and George with Mom

                                                     Fay and Martha come for a visit.

Hi All,

Mom was wondering what was being said on this blog site so I took some time to sit down and read it to her this morning. (Not an easy task I might add). She really enjoyed the posts and the associated comments and the pictures. She really enjoied the pictures. Just so everyone knows, Cara May tried to post a link to a photo from another site and this blog doesn't recognise the link. If you have pictures that you would like to post please send them to me via email and I will make sure they get posted.

I will continue to read from the blog to her as new things come in. Thank you for all the love and support you all have shown. We love you all.

Kim

Mom had an excellent day today. She ate ice cream and requested root beer sips and chips (root beer flavored ice chips) We can happily accommodate that!

Many family members, neighbors and friends from the church visited. She was lively and laughing most of the day almost non stop and is so grateful to all who have taken the time to come to her side! We want you to know how very much she appreciates your love and support.

Our Hospice workers (they are so amazing!) have been so impressed with her delightful attitude and her mental and emotional preparedness to go when she is called. She is such a trooper.

We would like to thank all of you who have generously brought in meals for our family. It has been a welcome relief not having to think about what food is here and take the extra time away from caring for Mom to prepare meals.

Here are a couple of pics of our day. Kim & Capri and our cousins Anne & Teresa. Also Mom with her sister Dottie. So happy to see her continuing to smile through all of this.

Mom continued to rest comfortably today and was able to have time with her mother and siblings Fay, Dottie, and Larry.  Dad's brother Grady was able to visit, and Granddaughter Mandi, her husband Gary and baby George were there for a while as well.  Mom was able to be awake for most of the visits, which is remarkable and shows what a strong woman she is!

Mom also requested a family picture with Dad and asked that we post it on the blog.  She sends her love to all.

From Chris this morning: Mom rested comfortably over night. Aunt Faye and Talena brought Grandma over for a visit this morning.  We're excited to see her here.

Please let people know that we are happy to have them here. Please call first so we know they are coming.  They should come to the lower family room door to come in.

Also, please have them come to the house on the north entrance through the yard & park their cars over by the garage.

We are trying to keep the main driveway open to nursing staff and for emergency access if necessary.

Mom has just arrived at home in New Bern. Home health is there to get her situated. I'll post more information as I get it.

Mom continues to sleep most of the time with short periods of wakefulness.  The ambulance to transfer her home was scheduled for Noon (EST) but, as of this posting,  has not yet arrived.  The drive itself should be about two and a half hours. Kim was estimating she should be home around 4:30.  I will update the posts as events unfold.  Thank you for your kind words, we will continue to share them with Mom as she is able to receive them.

8:30 PM (PST)  Arrangements were made today to take Mom home to New Bern.  She will be transferred via ambulance tomorrow to her very own bed and will have in-home hospice care to keep her as comfortable as possible.  I'll post again when she's home.

3.19.2013  Mary Louise Hargett Hamilton has terminal gastric cancer.  It is a difficult sentence to write. As of today, Mom's bowels have stopped working and because she is no longer able to eat or drink, the doctors give her only days to be with us.  Rowland, Kim, Chris and Capri are all with her at the hospital and making plans to take her home to New Bern for in home Hospice care.  I will up date this blog as soon as new information is available.  If you subscribe to this blog below with your email, you will be notified when I post something new.

Mom has touched the lives of thousands, and the show of love and support has been overwhelming. The Hamilton family wishes to thank you all for your love, support and prayers. As much as Mom and Dad would love to talk to everyone on the phone, it's just not practical right now, so we thought a blog was a good way to keep loved ones informed of her journey back home to her Heavenly Father.  We encourage you all to respond to these posts with words of love and encouragement, especially if you have a favorite memory of Mom and how she has touched your life. In the short periods that she is awake, we can read your messages to her, so she knows just how many lives she has touched and just how much she is loved.  Please be sure and include your name in the body of the post so we know who it is from.

Thanks - Stacey