He gently moved he hair out of her face, as she went to sleep. Stephanie had just settled down after ripping her I.V.'s out and asking to check out of this hotel.
"You're not on a hotel, mom." He stated carefully. "Mom, it's okay. I'm here."
"Oh Donny they're not letting me out of this place."
"I know mom, it's okay, they're trying to make you healthier. It's really okay."
"Why am I so tired?"
"It’s because you need to get some sleep."
"Okay, Donny. Good night."
"Good night mom." He said while he slowly lowered himself into the same old recliner he had been sleeping in for the past 2 weeks just to see his mom and make sure she was getting the care that she needs. It's so painful for him to see her this way, with her old, frail bones just laying, waiting for the Lord to take her away. Don is getting older to, he has knee and hip problems that have had him in the hospital before. He doesn't have the strength to keep living like this. In a recliner, eating hospital food, making sure his mother isn't alone when she leaves us and goes to heaven. The nurse comes in to check on old Stepha, like she does every two hours, and accidentally wakes up Don. He gets no sleep whatsoever. He only knows that he has to stay up here, in Menominee, to stay with his 91 year old mother, hoping she will make it through this horrible sickness called old age. She is fighting it as best she can, but it's time. She has lived her life to its fullest, and it's just the circle of life, he told himself. But that doesn't mean it's easy to let her go.
"Do you need anything else?" the nurse asks after bringing Don his breakfast.
"No, I'm fine. Thanks, though."
"No problem," the nurse adds while walking out.
"Good morning mom." Don says with adoration in his eyes.
She nods lightly knowing and seeing the love and affection in his eyes. She is so glad seeing that someone is there to keep her company.
Everything repeats, as usual, until one morning Stepha said to Don "Donny I feel great. It's like I was just over tired, and now I'm well- rested."
"Really?" Don asked surprised. "Well, we will tell a nurse, see what they say."
- - -
"I'm sorry, Mr. Mrosz, we can't give your mom much more freedom. She is in a great condition, for a 91 year old woman with diabetes, but if we loosen the leash just a little, you could lose her...for good. " the nurse said very seriously.
"But, she said she felt like she was 20 again. My mother stood up without any help, and she hasn't done that in over a year. I truly believe that she is getting better." Don said, a little frustrated.
"I'm sorry, sir, it's not in my authority to change her routine or medication. I don't have the authority to change anything, actually." she grumbled.
"Okay, but could you get a doctor? I truly think she might be getting at least a little better. I would really like to discuss the possibilities."
"Sure, I can do that sir."
Donald walked back to Stepha's room a tad bit agitated about the discussion with the nurse. Why was his mother acting this way? It doesn't make sense for her to just wake up better one day. She had a serious condition and it couldn't get better within a day. He started drifting off and pondering different possibilities when he snapped back into reality.
He was standing in the doorway of his mother's room getting pushed out of the way while doctors leaned over her. The heart monitor displayed a solid, straight line, and all he thought was that this has to be a dream. He heard the solid beep of the monitor and just remembered only seeing this scene in TV shows like Grey's Anatomy or ER. Not in real life. Especially not in his life. One doctor walks over to him and explains the situation.
"Sir, I'm really sorry for your loss. I know it's hard to think that she's really gone, considering how much you cared for her, but you should know that she lived a happy life and it was well past her time."
"I know…It's just hard to believe that she's gone for good and-"
"It's hard, but you'll eventually get over it," the doctor said busily filing through papers. He walks away disregarding Don's sorrow.
"I'll never see her again."
- - -
After getting off the phone with his wife and explaining the tragedy, he contacted a funeral home and made some arrangements. Then he drove home counting the minutes until he could see his wife again and talk to her.
A week and a half later he drove back up and reassured that everything was okay for the funeral. Without anyone to comfort him, or to make sure he’s okay.
A couple days later his wife comes to Menominee with his daughter and her family. His grandkids hug him like nothing’s wrong, because they’re too young to know about anything that’s happening around them.
The next morning they get up early and meet at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church at around 9 a.m. for viewing the body and greeting the guests. Every other minute I could hear from a distance, “Oh I’m so glad to see you! I’m sorry it had to be under these circumstances, though.” Almost everyone was emotionally unstable because they all loved Stephanie so much.
“She was light- hearted, care free, extremely entertaining, thoughtful, and sweet. Not a soul had a problem with her.” Don said with a gleam in his eye, tearing up a little. “No one wanted to see her go.”
* * *
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