Life & Death

Saturday 9/22/24

We were supposed to be camping at Mount Ranier today. Instead, we were in New Jersey at Liberty State Park across from lower Manhattan where the Towers of the World Trade Center once stood. We were spending time at the park before flying home following the passing of my extraordinary mother Dorothy Zimmerman.

Jamie and I plannned were supposed to be in the midest of a five week camping trip along the Oregon & Washington coasts and the Columbia River gap, Mom was supposed to have had life-saving heart surgery that would have given her more years to enjoy her very happy life. Unfortunately, things don't always go according to plan.

Before leaving for our trip, I spent ten lovely days with Mom; keeping her safe and well in the days before her surgery. My bother and sister took her to the hospital and stayed during the operation. They were supposed to be with her as she recovered, but they caught COVID and had to isolate for 10 days. Fortunately we were near my brother's home in Sacramento, where we parked Rhoda and I flew to NJ to be with Mom who was in intensive care.

My wonderful sister in law Patti, joined Jamie for the three day drive to bring Rhoda back to Colordo. I spent eight days with my Mom in the ICU. At first, she was on a ventilator and sedated to keep her relaxed and comfortable. Once she was weaned off vent, we had a few good days when we could love, laugh and visit. There were some awful days too when Mom had trouble breathing and succumbed to ICU psychosis, which impacts many patients in intensive care.

On Sunday morning, Mom took a significant turn for the worse. Although she couldn't talk, she made it clear to my brother and sister that she was done fighting. Prior to the surgery, she documented her wishes that her life not be prolonged. So Mom was moved to Palliative Care, a quiet and peaceful place for her to spend her final hours. She died on Monday. Jamie and flew back east on the red eye Monday night. Mom's funeral and burial took place on Wednesday. In keeping with Jewish tradition, we sat shiva for Mom and we flew home on Friday.

I'll be mourning my Mom for a long time...probably forever. She was an amazing woman, who although tiny in stature had a huge impact on the world. I loved her and will never stop missing her.

Our camping blog will return, whether or not we'll be back OnTheRhoda this season.