Valerie, thank you so much for sharing this with all of us through Rana.
I am so sorry for your son’s illness and his long fight. I, too, had an uncle with Parkinson’s. It is a cruel disease.
I had to start reading your essay several times as I was so emotionally reminded of my three journeys over the past three years. I had to watch both my mother and sister in their final illnesses. My sister was diagnosed with terminal cancer in September 2017, she passed away in June 2018 after a valiant struggle to survive and our Mother passed away in January of last year at the age of 105 1/2. In addition, our mother’s brother passed way two weeks before my sister.
It is the hardest thing in the world to watch the people you love most struggle through their final days. I rely on my faith and the wonderful lifetime of memories to help me through what is still a very difficult time. There will come a time when your family and friends will be the most comfort to you
Your last two paragraphs say everything and I could not agree more.
Patsy McCarthy