Hello everyone,

May has always been a busy month in my Grandma's life.

When this Caring Bridge site was created, she had broken her back May 2018. In May 2019, she started having significant TIAs/strokes and we had moved between hospitals, TCUs, and assisted living in the whole month of May starting on May Day! Last year when the world was shutting down and everything was different, she (and the rest of her memory care unit) contracted COVID in May 2020. Just a few days ago on Saturday, Grandma started to have another episode. Oh May. . . .

The last few days have been difficult to hear/see her uncomfortable. Yesterday, things started to look a bit iffy but Grandma has bounced back from a lot. The chaplain visited yesterday and we felt that it was fairly serious but we have seen her through many episodes and we have seen her bounce back from some very scary places so we were fairly skeptical. Just like a good April Fool's joke, she keeps us on our toes. We (Bonnie, Dave, Erin, and Sean) had stayed for a few hours but then we acknowledged that we needed to rest. The Shores knew to call us if there were any changes.

This morning we went out for breakfast for Bonnie's birthday (Happy Birthday Mom!). We were heading from breakfast to the Shores and we got the call that her breathing had been increased (up to 40 respiration per minute) and we were headed there anyway so it was good timing. We were at a stop light and my dad pointed to something in the crosswalk and was like "What is that? Is that a screwdriver?" So naturally, I exit the vehicle to go get this screwdriver and find that it is a fishing pole. Ope, Grandpa's around. I got back into the car and we all had a good laugh and Bonnie said "he always said he would visit on birthdays!"

Alright so we picked up Grandpa, the light changed and we were off to the Shores. When we got to Grandma's room, Alfonzo met us with an update. He had re-positioned her at about 10:00 am and she had gotten morphine at that time as well. He was telling us that she would always critique him if he tried to dress her in the same outfit she had worn in the last two weeks. She was very particular about her clothes to the point of hilarity. I had often had other aides tell me that she whispers to Pearl (loudly) that she can't believe how they dressed her and cast shame in their direction.

We were all there with her as she took her last breath and now free from a body that limited her giant spirit. We have been so blessed to have had her for so long and have been blessed with so many that we have crossed paths with because of her. One story that was told to us today that on the days that were sad/hard, you just had to get her to dance to turn her mood around. I imagine that wherever she is, after the last few hard days, she is finally dancing.

We will be having a service on Sunday, May 23. Visitation begins at 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm service will begin at Anderson Funeral home in St. Paul at 1401 N. Arcade S. (Highway 61). Masks required within the funeral home.

After a while crocodiles