Last Friday, November 14, we went as a family to the Alvin C. York Veteran's Administration Hospital to clean-out Mom's office. She had worked there for 15 years and did x-ray and mammography. She was the tech who actually got the mammography program going at the VA, and in her memory the mammo suite is being dedicated to her. There will be a dedication program in about 2 weeks and her picture will hang in the suite. Also, a mirror was dedicated to her and hung in the dressing area of the mammography room.
Friday was a really, really hard day. To be honest with you, we weren't ready for our trek to the VA (the question is, would ever be really ready and it was time) but we knew that her co-workers had to begin healing and moving on with patient care. Mom was an avid decorator for the seasons, so they had already boxed-up most of her stuff and had it loaded on carts for us...this was a HUGE help because I fell apart when I practically walked in the door. Mom's death still doesn't seem real and cleaning out her office seemed so final.
She loved her boss, co-workers, and patients. She just outright loved life. The new mammography suite was opened this past summer and a new digital machine was put into use. When Mom was in the hospital at the end of October after her surgery, one day when I spoke with her, she was crying and thanking God for a huge praise....she had passed accreditation for the new machine. For those of you who don't know much about accreditation, it is a very difficult and time-consuming ordeal. Accreditation lasts for 3 or 4 years and then you have to apply all over again. The tech that Mom had been working with is a relatively new tech but Mom adored her and often praised her for being such a fast learner. It gave Mom such peace to know that her patients were being cared for in her absence. Mom knew that Brenda (her special co-worker) could do the job and would take care of any problems that might arise with accreditation of the new machine, but Mom sure was glad that they passed on the first time. She actually was so excited about the passing that she had me join her in praying a prayer of thanksgiving just for the accreditation - I laughed and asked Mom if she hadn't already done that and of course she said, "Yes, but let's thank Him again." I sure love my Momma!
Friday was a really, really hard day. To be honest with you, we weren't ready for our trek to the VA (the question is, would ever be really ready and it was time) but we knew that her co-workers had to begin healing and moving on with patient care. Mom was an avid decorator for the seasons, so they had already boxed-up most of her stuff and had it loaded on carts for us...this was a HUGE help because I fell apart when I practically walked in the door. Mom's death still doesn't seem real and cleaning out her office seemed so final.
She loved her boss, co-workers, and patients. She just outright loved life. The new mammography suite was opened this past summer and a new digital machine was put into use. When Mom was in the hospital at the end of October after her surgery, one day when I spoke with her, she was crying and thanking God for a huge praise....she had passed accreditation for the new machine. For those of you who don't know much about accreditation, it is a very difficult and time-consuming ordeal. Accreditation lasts for 3 or 4 years and then you have to apply all over again. The tech that Mom had been working with is a relatively new tech but Mom adored her and often praised her for being such a fast learner. It gave Mom such peace to know that her patients were being cared for in her absence. Mom knew that Brenda (her special co-worker) could do the job and would take care of any problems that might arise with accreditation of the new machine, but Mom sure was glad that they passed on the first time. She actually was so excited about the passing that she had me join her in praying a prayer of thanksgiving just for the accreditation - I laughed and asked Mom if she hadn't already done that and of course she said, "Yes, but let's thank Him again." I sure love my Momma!
One thing that I learned today was that one of Mom's friends, Sharon, from x-ray school and her first job at Tri-County Hospital in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA, passed away right about the same time that Mom did. Even all the years (over 25) since they last worked together, Mom used to talk about Karen and Sharon (they were twins). I can only imagine how surprised Mom must have been to enter Heaven and see her friend join the grand tour with her! Isn't God good!
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