STORY OF A CHAMPION For Ethel Clifton   There are those  who would say this is too personal  and too private to share with the world, but I must write it -  it is too precious to hoard.   If it were up to me to pass out trophies,  my mother would be a Champion! The last night of her life,  mother didn’t want me to leave -  as with every other night since she had entered the rest home.   But I went again with the automatic promise of returning. The next day at noon,  I came to feed her lunch.   When I came into the room it was a different look I got from her.   She scrutinized me as if in a microscope.   Every hair was examined, every pore of my face.    In an instant she had it done and I felt it very profoundly.   A smile spread across her face  and her crystal blue eyes were shining!   Any semblance of Alzheimer’s was gone! “Oh, honey!  You look just like my little girl!” “Well, I hope so, mother, I am your little girl.”   She clapped her hands together like a child  at first sight of the carnival. She held them there smiling all the while. “You are??  Oh, I’m so glad!” I began getting things ready to feed her,  but I felt those eyes and turned to her. She was as earnest as a lover,  looking directly into my eyes.   “If you only knew what you mean to me!   I love you!”   “And I love you...”   “No,” she was emphatic.  “No, I LOVE you!!”   “I love you too, mother,  and if you love me, you’d better take a little bite..” She tried.   But only about 3 bites and  a swallow or two of the chocolate shake they had brought.   She told me she was full,  and sick at her stomach.   She had her digestive system upset the day before,  but I was expecting it to be better today. She started to be sick at her stomach  and I took a lot of phlegm from her.   The med. nurse came in with a light nerve medicine. I walked to the nurses station and told them  she was still sick to her stomach and wondered if they wanted to give her something  for a sick stomach. I walked back to her room  and told her I was going to check on my husband  who had just received a pace maker/ de-fibralator  placed in his chest 4 days before. She smiled again.   I told her to rest a little  so she could eat some supper. Then I left, came home, fed my husband,  and began the errands that had been delayed because of the surgery.   Bills to pay, a few groceries to pick up.   I got home and went to put the water on the yard.   I was just connecting a sprinkler to the hose when my recovering husband  called from the back door   “The manor wants you to call”.   It was nearly time to go feed her supper,  but I laid down the hose and ran in to telephone. Then I heard the words that stunned me.  “ She’s gone...” “No..you don’t mean....   I’ll be right there!” I ran out of the room crying.   Straight to the car.... ”She’s gone, she’s gone!....”   I never expected to keep her forever,  but I had a different idea of how it would be. My father had died 8 ½ years earlier  and she had developed Alzheimer’s Disease. The most cruel enemy of a human mind.   She had fallen several times in the last few weeks, but even though her Osteoporosis  was measured off the chart, nothing had broken.   I had envisioned that was how the end would come,  a broken bone, a hospital stay, pneumonia.   But this was so sudden!   The noon time had been so sweet!   If ever I saw blue eyes sparkle, this was the time!   They had the door closed.   I pushed it open and entered.   She lay on the bed with clear blue eyes looking as if they could still see me.   I just ran to her and took her ace in my hands.  “Oh, you darling mother!   You sweet, sweet, mother!   You are so precious!   I should have come back sooner!   I love you!   You precious, dear lady!”   I had to cry a little longer.   My son arrived.   A medical technician, he reached over and very gently closed the blue eyes.   I knew I would never seen them again on this earth.   I just fell to pieces. Somehow I managed to call my sister.   Somehow I called the mortician.  Somehow I took care of the mirid of little things  that must be done.   During all this time, I couldn’t keep from remembering  the last hour we had together.   What a blessing she gave me!   And I knew too,  that I would always see those beautiful eyes.   I really couldn’t ever forget them  nor the beautiful words... nor the wonderful examination of my face. I thought of all the times  she had been brave in a way  I have never had to encounter. Trying to still be “friendly” like she had been her whole life  when all the words are taken away and you can’t recall the simplest things  or the simplest pass times. Even trying to assist a fallen room mate -  forgetting that you can’t stand alone. Faking it so you cover you disease as if it were disgraceful.   What a heroine you were! It won’t be long, just over the hill, we’ll have our reunion day.  I already know... What she will say.  I already see the sparkle.  I really do understand now how faith in Jesus pays off.  When the test is there, He really comes through.  I praise Him for the merciful way it happened and for the faith he built up in my heart through the years. Her room mate told me she had gotten sick to her stomach and so she called for the nurse.  Mother was in her wheelchair and when the nurse was delayed, her room mate decided to go find a nurse, but mother followed in her chair, by her own power.  When they reached the lobby, she became sick again and the nurse noticed and quickly took her to her room.  By the time they got her laid down... She was gone!  That quickly.  Before I could be called or drive the 6 blocks... She was already in Heaven.  She was already surrounded by loved ones that she had been asking for, for years!  Those dazzling beautiful blue eyes, were already beholding the face of our Savior! Joan Clifton Costner Copyright     Mother was 89 ½ years old.  She died at 4 p.m. July 7, 2003.  Her funeral was held Thursday and to me, it was the most beautiful ever.  We laid a beautiful Child of God to rest who now can remember her Savior’s name! Page Created By Pam Gallo Please Visit  Our Memorial