I am from a family where I am one of six children. I was the appointed power of attorney for our Mother’s health and living will. Our Mother contracted a bacterial infection while going through rehab therapy after a knee replacement. At the time it never dawned on me that this was a life threatening situation and my siblings, family and I believed that our Mother would recover. As the days and weeks went by and the swings from stabilizing to worsening continued it was evident that the infection was serious. I recall my sister telling me about a dream our Mother had where my Father was waving to her to come to him. Our Father passed away the year earlier. My Mother said that she wasn’t ready yet to join him. Our Mother’s spirit through this time was mostly cheerful and positive even though she was experiencing intervals of severe pain. The Doctors and hospital care providers were also optimistic because of her engaging personality. Things didn’t improve. I received a call at work on a Tuesday morning. The Doctors advised that our Mother’s condition was worsening and that we had a difficult decision to make. I was met at the hospital by my wife, sister and brother in law. We went in to see our Mother and she said that this can’t be good. At the time we still did not know what the Doctors were going to tell us. We met privately with the Doctors and they told us that the infection was going to kill our Mother and that there was no way of stopping it. To continue treatment would only slow the process. The pain would worsen and her quality of life she would not dignify. I asked everyone to ask all there questions to the Doctors and to convince me that there is another option for her. The conclusion was to tell her what the situation was and what we believed was the most humane option. When we went in to see her, she said so the jury is in. Before you tell me anything I want you to know that I don’t think that anyone should have to go through the pain that I have and that it was her wish to be given pain management so that she could die peacefully. I told her that she made this easy for us and that based on everything that we were told her wish was the best option. She seemed relieved. She said that she was ready to be with our Father. She said that she wanted this to be a party. Convincing my other siblings who were out of town was met with some resistance particularly my older brother. I was returning home from the hospital late that evening and received a phone call from him. I was pacing the driveway and trying to explain the reasons for the decision. Just then I look up into the evening sky and I saw a shooting star. I told my brother this and told him that this was a sign from God that we are doing the right thing. Our Mother was moved to a hospice facility three days later. We got her settled there. I went to visit her on Sunday. She was in and out and I sat with her talking to her for the brief moments when she would awaken. She said to me, Jimmy I can see Jesus standing behind you. That was that last words that she spoke. She died five days later. Those words gave me the strength to handle what I needed to do. I continue to recall her last words and they help me to know that we are not alone and the lord is there to help us. I share this story and hope that you find comfort in it.

  I am a Christian. I believe in the Ten Commandments. I believe in the Golden Role. I live my life believing that my fellow man is not out there intentionally trying to cheat me or to harm me. I am not naive to the risks that all of us face. We still need to be aware. This is how I choose to live my life. I believe in prayer. It is comforting. It allows me to collect my thoughts and sometimes provides me with answers. I believe that the All Mighty helps those who make the effort to help themselves. I believe in the saying. "If you teach a man to fish he can feed himself for life." We all need to be good teachers. If we would all try to respect one another and help one another perhaps we would have a better chance for peace.