“We lost our mother Gracie to ovarian cancer in 2012. She fought hard, but finally she just couldn’t anymore and we moved her to the hospice house. She had wanted so badly to live long enough to see her new great-grandchild. On Monday of the week she died, the baby was born, but Mom was already on a morphine drip and was in and out of consciousness. We weren't sure when the new parents were going to be able to visit or whether Mom would even know it if they did, but on the afternoon of the following day, all at once she jumped up in bed and said, ‘My baby’s here!’ That's when the door opened, and in walked my niece's family with 1-day old Adriana Grace. Mom had gotten her dying wish. We have no idea how she knew they were there. Her pastor, who was also present, said the angels must have told her. She rallied, knew exactly what was going on, and was strong enough to hold and cuddle the baby and kiss those little feet. That was her last conscious day and the last thing she ever did.
“Four days later, when we knew Mom’s life was drawing to a close, the two of us borrowed hymnals from the hospice chapel and climbed into bed with her. We told her ‘We’re not good singers, Mom, but we’re here with you and everything’s all right. We’ll be okay. You can let go.’ We sang her favorite hymn, Amazing Grace, as she was dying and were still singing it as she drew her last breath. We loved her so much. It’s emotional to talk about even three years later, but we know it’s not the end of the story. While she was sick, she always told us, ‘I will see you someday soon. It will be like a blink of the eye.’ We know she’s right, and that’s what we’re holding on to.
“We’re out here today because September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Memphis, and we’re turning the town teal to raise awareness. We want women to know the warning signs and symptoms, and we want to encourage the funding of research in this area. Breast cancer gets a lot of attention and funding and lives are being saved every day, but that’s not the only cancer there is. In 2015 alone, 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 14,500 will die from ovarian cancer. It’s the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States.”
“Four days later, when we knew Mom’s life was drawing to a close, the two of us borrowed hymnals from the hospice chapel and climbed into bed with her. We told her ‘We’re not good singers, Mom, but we’re here with you and everything’s all right. We’ll be okay. You can let go.’ We sang her favorite hymn, Amazing Grace, as she was dying and were still singing it as she drew her last breath. We loved her so much. It’s emotional to talk about even three years later, but we know it’s not the end of the story. While she was sick, she always told us, ‘I will see you someday soon. It will be like a blink of the eye.’ We know she’s right, and that’s what we’re holding on to.
“We’re out here today because September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Memphis, and we’re turning the town teal to raise awareness. We want women to know the warning signs and symptoms, and we want to encourage the funding of research in this area. Breast cancer gets a lot of attention and funding and lives are being saved every day, but that’s not the only cancer there is. In 2015 alone, 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 14,500 will die from ovarian cancer. It’s the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States.”
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Gracie with 1-day old Adriana Grace
From Turn The Towns Teal website:
Special thanks to Kim Skaggs Tutt (seated) for working so diligently to have September proclaimed as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Memphis and for obtaining the permit to decorate the town with teal ribbons.
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