Mum has been dead for almost four years now. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about her. She was my best friend, greatest cheerleader and illustrator. She would have loved scribbling her bizarre illustrations for this book and as usual she would be so proud of me.
In the months leading up to my mother’s death, she had grown increasingly weak. Her old frame was fighting multiple threats and it was proving impossible to balance her medications. In the weeks before her death, she had to be moved to a new rest home in South Auckland that was better equipped to help her, and she was spending more time at Auckland Hospital. She was constantly hallucinating and disturbed.
I was called to the hospital about two weeks before Mum’s death. My mother had little time left. Bella was with her, and other very close family arrived. She was in a bad state and I was told it could easily go either way. She was slipping between the world we were inhabiting and the special world of nightmarish wonder only accessible to her. Despite her little strength, she had us in stitches. “Look at me. S*** I’m a wreck. I’ll never get a boyfriend in this state.”
That night, Bella and close family stayed with her, amused at times by her chirpy outbursts throughout her sleep. She started to improve and was moved from intensive care to a ward. She was not so much in pain as in constant discomfort, and her mind was betraying her. A lot of the time she had little idea what was going on around her or where she was.
Denne historien er fra November 16, 2020-utgaven av New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra November 16, 2020-utgaven av New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Sweet SUCCESS
Delicious twists on traditional favourites
Calzone CRAVING
Anything you can put on top of a pizza can go inside these air fryer Italian turnovers
Kai & kindness - ‘OUR RECIPE FOR A GOOD LIFE'
The foodie and her brother have dished up a cookbook full of comfort
Kia Ora Dame! 'I HAD A BIGGER PURPOSE'
It could have taken a toll on her, but Naida's phone greeting started a legacy
Dame Hinewehi's healing haka - 'IT'S GOING TO CHANGE LIVES'
Beating a world record is personal for the music therapy founder
Unbreakable Mamie - 'I'M READY TO FAMOUS!' BE
The TV star and model is excited about what the future holds
Below Deck detective - CAPTAIN LEE'S SEA CHANGE
The superyacht hero's family tragedy has led him to navigate scary waters
Swings & roundabouts - OWEN'S BIG KID PROJECT
Playtime's a whole lot more fun thanks to the radio host
Haunted by tragedy - KATE'S SHOCK LOSS
The star is still dealing with the death of her dad when she was aged four
Top-secret royal plan - BRINGING HARRY HOME
Disillusioned with life in the US, the prince is reaching out to friends in the UK