This was the message! It was late Sept., 2008 and I was on the road. The average OTR truck driver spends one to three weeks on the road before taking time off. I usually stayed out three to four weeks at a time. Cookie knew the routine as we had teamed for several years. The last few departures had been difficult because each time it appeared that her health was gradually deteriorating. My question upon departure each time was always the same. Honey will you be able to manage until I can return. Even though she was getting steadily weaker her reply was always yes. It was early in September when we said goodby and I took off for parts known. She had a wonderful support group and up to this time they had been able to support her in most cases both literally and figuratively. During those last few days she had fallen and was not strong enough to get up by herself and it was at this point that I got the phone call. Her friends who had been so kind and giving had reached the point where felt they were no longer able to meet her needs. I was able able to piece together those last few days and it was amazing how much time and energy they contributed to her wellbeing those last few days before I got home. We owe them so much.
I got home around 10:00pm Oct. 3rd 2008 and found a very sick lady. I will be relating the events of the next six months in future posts. There are moments of despair, much pain, and eventually light at the end of the tunnel which was as yet quite a ways off. She, Mabel, aka, Cookie was experiencing a considerable amount of pain, greatly restricted in mobility and forced to use a walker to move around. She had an appointment with her Dr. for sometime around the middle of Oct. Her doctor hopitalized her on the spot. PTL & JPT til next post.
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