The following message (subject: Re: Old people dying-I have no sympathy) was posted by Judy, on 12/31/2004 2:03:37 PM.

Hey Kath,

My 93 year old mother died on October 6th. Her death made me sad, but it was not as hard to deal with as my sister's death 16 months ago at the age of 60. I consider 60 to be young. It's all relative, right?

I am very proud of my mother. She struggled to live a full life even while in the nursing home unable to care for herself due to Parkinsons disease. It was sad to watch her slowly disintegrate over the course of 30 years as she struggled to stay as active and as mentally alert as she could. The last two years were especially difficult for her as my sister was dying and Mom was confined to a wheelchair and could not speak in an understandable voice. Nor could she write, as her hands were shriveled up due to Parkinsons. It was hard to see her like that.

She left a directive that her brain was to be donated to "medical science" upon her death. Don't expect that to happen, the people in the nursing home told us. But it did! My mother's brain was donated to a medical school near Princeton, New Jersey for research in finding a cure for Parkinsons. We are very proud of her.

So it was "a big deal" to me when Mom died. She was old, but had to struggle to live a "full" life due to her disease. So maybe you could have a little sympathy.

I know the pain of losing your brother is so raw and hard to deal with. My heart is with you.

Judy