Goodbye my sweet aunt "F" -

In January I lost my aunt "F". She was one of the most sweetest and giving person I've ever met in my life next to my adoptive mom.

My aunt had 3 down syndrome children. She lost her first when "K" was 6 months old back in the late 40's. She raised her other two until their deaths in 2002 and 2009. She had the most unconditional love for them and her family.

When I moved to the central valley back in 2002 I had the opportunity to visit with my aunt frequently and was there for her and my cousin. My aunt is the only sibling of my dad and he worried with my aunt aging and trying to care for my cousin, who was now in her 50's, alone. When my cousin was put into a convalesent home it crushed my aunt more than words could say. She couldn't drive on the highway anymore so I ensured that she was able to see her daughter everyday.

My aunt and I were with my cousin the afternoon before she passed. We were visiting her and my cousin was in and out of it. Everytime she was coherent she's say "hey turn back on the light". Then she would sit up in her bed and try to look around me (I was sitting at the foot of her bed) and wave with this huge smile on her face. As I took my aunt home it dawned on me.... The light, waving as though someone was standing behind me and the smile on her face told me that the end was near. That evening I received a call from my aunt that my cousin had passed. She was devastated.

Months later my aunt was starting to forget things. One evening my hubby and I called her and started worrying because it was after dark and she had a doctor's appointment earlier that day and hadn't returned. We headed towards the house. When we got there the house was dark and no sign of my aunt. I called my dad and was ready to put a missing persons report out on my aunt. Then a cab pulled up. My aunt asked "what are you doing here sweetheart"? I told her that we were worried. Jeff asked her where was her car and she said that she couldn't find it. Come to find out that she left it at the medical building telling the security people that the car right in front was NOT her car. Jeff and I headed over and found her car parked right in front of the building. When we returned she was munching on some chicken and said, "oh, you found it". That's when I knew that something was really wrong. She acted like nothing was wrong.

I received a call 2 days later from my aunt's neighbor saying that she was running down the street after her daughter in her nightgown. Impossible because her daughter was now deceased. I immediately took her to the emergency room for an evaluation. My aunt didn't know the date nor the year. After some testing they said that she couldn't live alone anymore.

I placed her in one of the best facilities. It was a facility where their specialty was for memory patients. She had a beautiful room with a nice bath attached. The dining room was elegant and there were marble tables and paintings that lined the halls of the facility. They had happy hour on Fridays with singing. They had a Wii system and discussion groups. After about a year she started deteriorating and calling the police saying that she was kidnapped and such. We finally put her in the special care unit so they could keep a better eye on her. She needed full time care now.

My aunt feared dying alone and being alone. I made her a promise years prior that I would not let that happen. I loved her and wanted only the best for her.

I visited as much as possible (about every other day). Finally the end started happening and she went into a semi-coma 3 days before she died. My dad didn't even have a chance to say good-bye to her because it happened so fast. He had planned on coming to see her on that Friday, but she passed suddenly on that Thursday afternoon.

I'm relieved that she's in a better place but miss her dearly. I miss talking with her. Picking her brain about stories of her past for the family tree. I miss her laughter and the way she'd ask the same question every 5 minutes because she couldn't remember.

I guess God needed another angel. Sleep with the angels Aunt "F". I love and miss you. Thank you for your unconditional love that you showed me and my family. Thank you for just being you!!!