Legacy
Piece Of Her For Everyone
Aliya – Lisa’s Mom
For many seniors, the desire to leave behind a tangible piece of themselves in the form of personal mementos or gifts is a profound expression of their life’s legacy, offering a sense of continuity and presence even after they are gone. These cherished items serve not only as reminders of shared memories but also as symbols of love and connection that can provide comfort and closure to loved ones.
Lisa’s mom’s life was a testament to the power of sharing and giving. From her humble abode to the depths of her heart, she made sure that her presence would leave an indelible mark on the lives of those around her.
Her mom’s home was a treasure trove of memories and mementos, each item carefully curated to reflect her vibrant personality.
The week before Lisa’s mom moved in with sister, Lisa was helping her pack.
“Mom, are you sure you want to give all of this away?” Lisa asked, her voice tinged with concern as she surveyed the piles of costume jewelry and antique furniture that filled the storage facility.
Aliya smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling with nostalgia. “Yes, Lisa dear,” she replied. “These pieces may not hold much monetary value, but they hold a piece of my heart. I want to share that with everyone I love.”
This was also apparent with her secret closet item with gifts tagged for everyone she loved. These gifts were supposed to be distributed after her death.
One day when her mom was walking back from an event at church, she was gasping for breath. Lisa looked at her mother and stopped her in her tracks.
She called an ambulance, and her mother was rushed to hospital. As it turned out, her mom was experiencing a heart attack. She stayed in the hospital for a few weeks, going in and out of surgery because of complications.
Her mom’s generosity extended far beyond material possessions. She was a beacon of light in the lives of those she touched, her infectious laughter and boundless optimism a source of comfort and joy to all who knew her.
“She was always so full of life,” Lisa remarked one evening, her voice tinged with sadness as she sat by her mother’s bedside in the hospital. “It’s hard to see her like this.”
Her mom’s smile faltered; her eyes clouded with uncertainty. “I’ve had a good run, Lisa,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I can’t help but worry about leaving everyone behind.”
As Aliya’s condition worsened, Lisa found herself grappling with the weight of her mother’s sadness. She just could not get her mom to smile.
“I just want you to be happy, Mom,” Lisa whispered one evening, her voice trembling with emotion as she held her mother’s hand. “You’ve given so much to everyone else. It’s time to take care of yourself.”
Her mom’s smile wavered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’ve tried, Lisa,” she murmured, her voice choking with emotion. “But it’s hard to shake this feeling of sadness that I am leaving my loved ones.”
“I wish there was something more I could do to help you, Mom,” Lisa confessed one afternoon, her voice tinged with frustration as she sat by her mother’s bedside. “I hate seeing you like this.”
Her mom reached out to grasp her daughter’s hand, her touch a silent reassurance amid turmoil. “Just knowing you’re here with me is enough,” she murmured, her voice filled with gratitude. “You’ve been my strength through all of this, Lisa, and I couldn’t ask for a better daughter.”
Lisa used to call her “my mom, the Energizer Bunny, because like the commercial she keeps going and going and going…,”
One day while Lisa was sitting by her mom’s bedside in the hospital room, with her mom in very critical condition, the same Energizer Bunny commercial started to play on TV. As the commercial ended, her mom’s heart rate monitors also flatlined.
Lisa thought to herself, “She was the Energizer Bunny who was going to take care of everyone around her, so many people depended on her, how could she leave without making sure her loved ones weren’t going to be lonely without her?”
Lisa’s mom had such a positive attitude about life that there was nothing anyone could say to bring her down. Her smiles dimmed by her health and by her sense of loss had been so gut wrenching to watch. Lisa really wanted her mom to finish her life on a good note…
The most comforting words were from the hospice Chaplain, who consoled the overwhelmed and hysterical Lisa, as she sat holding her mom’s hand on her deathbed, “Your mom was not who you saw in the last few weeks of her life. Remember her for who she truly was, a giving, loving and joyful soul. She is free from the body that failed her at the end.” As Lisa bid her mother farewell, she vowed to carry on her legacy of kindness and compassion, knowing that her mom’s spirit would live on in her heart forevermore.
Sharing Her Heart
Madeline and Eliyah’s Story
From Eliyah’s humble abode to the depths of her heart, she made sure that her presence would leave an indelible mark on the lives of those around her. Her home was a treasure trove of memories and mementos, each item carefully curated to reflect her vibrant personality.
The week before Eliyah moved in with her other daughter, Madeline was helping her pack.
“Mom, are you sure you want to give all of this away?” Madeline asked, her voice tinged with concern as she surveyed the piles of costume jewelry and antique furniture that filled the storage facility.
Eliyah smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling with nostalgia. “Yes, Madeline dear,” she replied. “These pieces may not hold much monetary value, but they hold a piece of my heart. I want to share that with everyone I love.”
Among her belongings, Madeline discovered a secret closet filled with gifts tagged for everyone Eliyah loved. These gifts were meant to be distributed after her death, a final gesture of her enduring love and generosity.
One day, after returning from a church event, Eliyah was gasping for breath. Madeline noticed her distress and immediately called an ambulance. Her mother was rushed to the hospital, where it was confirmed she had suffered a heart attack. Eliyah remained in the hospital for weeks, undergoing multiple surgeries due to complications.
Despite her health struggles, Eliyah’s generosity extended far beyond material possessions. She was a beacon of light in the lives of those she touched, her infectious laughter and boundless optimism a source of comfort and joy to all who knew her.
“She was always so full of life,” Madeline remarked one evening, her voice tinged with sadness as she sat by her mother’s bedside in the hospital. “It’s hard to see her like this.”
Eliyah’s smile faltered, her eyes clouded with uncertainty. “I’ve had a good run, Madeline,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I can’t help but worry about leaving everyone behind.”
As Eliyah’s condition worsened, Madeline found herself grappling with the weight of her mother’s sadness. She just could not get her mom to smile.
“I just want you to be happy, Mom,” Madeline whispered one evening, her voice trembling with emotion as she held her mother’s hand. “You’ve given so much to everyone else. It’s time to take care of yourself.”
Eliyah’s smile wavered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’ve tried, Madeline,” she murmured, her voice choking with emotion. “But it’s hard to shake this feeling of sadness that I am leaving my loved ones.”
“I wish there was something more I could do to help you, Mom,” Madeline confessed one afternoon, her voice tinged with frustration as she sat by her mother’s bedside. “I hate seeing you like this.”
Eliyah reached out to grasp her daughter’s hand, her touch a silent reassurance amid turmoil. “Just knowing you’re here with me is enough,” she murmured, her voice filled with gratitude. “You’ve been my strength through all of this, Madeline, and I couldn’t ask for a better daughter.”
One day, while Madeline was sitting by her mom’s bedside in the hospital room, an old commercial for the Energizer Bunny came on TV. As the commercial ended, Eliyah’s heart rate monitors flatlined. Madeline thought to herself, “She was the Energizer Bunny who kept going and going, always taking care of everyone around her.”
The most comforting words came from the hospice chaplain, who consoled the overwhelmed and hysterical Madeline as she sat holding her mom’s hand on her deathbed. “Your mom was not who you saw in the last few weeks of her life. Remember her for who she truly was—a giving, loving, and joyful soul. She is free from the body that failed her at the end.”
As Madeline bid her mother farewell, she vowed to carry on her legacy of kindness and compassion, knowing that her mom’s spirit would live on in her heart forevermore.
A Legacy of Love
Joy and Evelyn’s Story
Every corner of Eveyln’s home was filled with keepsakes, each with a story of joy and love. As she prepared to move in with Joy’s sister, Evelyn decided it was time to share these treasures with those she loved.
One afternoon, as Joy helped her mother pack, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. “Mom, are you sure you want to give all this away?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Evelyn smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting years of memories. “Yes, Joy. These things have brought me so much happiness, and I want to pass that on to others.”
Joy nodded, understanding but still feeling a sense of loss. Among the items was a special box labeled “For My Loved Ones.” Inside were gifts tagged with names, meant to be given out after Evelyn’s passing.
“Mom, what’s this?” Joy asked, her voice catching as she held up a small box with her name on it.
Evelyn’s expression softened. “I wanted to make sure everyone had something to remember me by, something personal.”
Weeks later, after a church event, Evelyn struggled to breathe. Joy rushed her to the hospital, where they discovered she had suffered a heart attack. The following weeks were filled with procedures and uncertainty, but Evelyn’s spirit remained unbroken.
One night, as Joy sat by her mother’s bedside, she saw Evelyn’s usual brightness dimming. “Mom, are you okay?”
Evelyn sighed, looking tired but peaceful. “I’ve had a full life, but it’s hard thinking about leaving you all behind.”
Joy squeezed her mother’s hand. “You’ve given so much to everyone. Now it’s time for you to rest.”
Despite her declining health, Evelyn continued to spread joy. She talked with the hospital staff, shared stories, and tried to make others laugh, even though Joy could see the sadness in her eyes.
“Mom, you’ve always been our strength,” Joy said one afternoon. “It’s okay to let us be strong for you now.”
Evelyn nodded, tears in her eyes. “I know, sweetheart. You’ve always been my rock.”
As the days passed, Evelyn’s condition worsened. Joy did everything she could to keep her mother comfortable, but it was clear the end was near.
One evening, as they watched a nature documentary on TV, Evelyn turned to Joy. “Remember all the camping trips we used to take?” she asked, a faint smile on her lips.
Joy nodded, her heart heavy. “Those were the best times, Mom. You taught me to love the outdoors.”
Evelyn’s smile grew. “I wanted you to see the beauty in the world.”
That night, Evelyn’s heart monitor began to slow. Joy held her mother’s hand, tears streaming down her face. “I love you, Mom,” she whispered.
Evelyn’s last words were filled with love. “I love you too, Joy. Always.”
After Evelyn passed, Joy felt a profound mix of grief and gratitude.