onlychild

Well, this Friday and Saturday mark the 5th year anniversary of my parents deaths. They died 35 hours apart, my dad dying first, then my mom. She had terminal cancer, he was relatively healthy or so we thought. Then a day and a half before my mother died, we had to rush dad to the hospital with severe pain in his abdomen. We found out it was an aortic aneurysym and he died within a few hours. Shocked beyond words, I could not believe what was happening for it was very apparent that my mother was very, very close to death herself. It was a true blessing that she was unaware of anything at this point and didn't know of my dad's short illness and death. While getting ready for dad's visitation at the funeral home, my mom died. I am an only child (as my username indicates) and very close to both my parents. As I approach the 5 year mark this weekend (this year it is to the day) I am feeling that familiar alone feeling once again. No longer can I call them on the phone daily just to chat or drive an hour just to visit. I miss them terribly. I have a wonderful family, husband and two teens and we have a great life. Couldn't ask for more. God has blessed us beyond our dreams and although I sometimes feel alone, I know I'm not. He tells us in the Bible that He will never leave us or forsake us and I cling to that with all that is in me. The knowledge of this comforts me, but I still grieve often. In this life, we will have heart ache and troubles, but Jesus tells us He has overcome this world. I can't wait to see them again in Heaven. Thanks for having this forum, it is a great place to come and share feelings which are sometimes difficult to share. God bless you all. Lori

It has been 2 1/2 years since I experienced the death of both parents within 35 hours of eachother. There are lots of days the pain is better, more numb feeling. Then there are days when I want to retreat within myself and have no contact with anyone. I battle this every few weeks. As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, I want nothing more than to celebrate them with my family, my husband and two children. Create our own traditions, some from my parents and some of our own. There is a part of me that just wishes it was already January. I am an only child and that is a little more difficult. It is a different dynamic than families with multiple children. I feel so alone, even in the presence of my own family. There is an emptiness, deep within that aches for my parents. Don't get me wrong, I am a very strong christian and I know they are with the Lord and wouldn't come back now for anything. I know I will see them again, in Glory. I just long for that to be soon. Not that I want to leave my family, but that Christ would come back so we all can go! I will be praying for all those hurting this holiday season. I want to hurt less, but not be hurtless. Hurting is a natural part of this world. James 1:2 tells us we are to "consider it all joy whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." I would say to each of you, turn to the Lord, He is the only One who can make the hurt less. In Christ, Only Child

I lost both my parents within 35 hours! It will be two years next week that my world was shaken to the core. My mom was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2002. I was devastated. I am an only child and my parents meant the world to me. About a year after the diagnosis, mom began going downhill rapidly. My dad was beside himself. They had been married 51 years and that was all he knew. He told me on two different occasions, he had been praying God would take him first. That is the way he felt it needed to be because he was 7 years older than mom. I assured him and reassured him I would help him through the pain as best as I could, but that it was obvious God intended to take mom home first. Little did I know, how wrong I was. On the 4th of April 2003, the Lord called my dad home by means of an aortic aneursym. Within three hours of arriving at the hospital, he was gone. Mom was at home, unconscience. She never knew. I made the necessary arrangements, just going through the motions, in complete shock. Spent the night at the house with mom while sending my husband and two children back to collect our things for the next day. During the next day (April 5) which happened to be her 72nd birthday, mom had gotten noticeably worse. While changing to go to the visitation for my dad, mom passed away. Within 35 hours, I had lost BOTH parents. The pain is unexplainable! However, God heard and knew the pain they were both in. Mom, from her cancer and having to leave her family and Dad from losing his wife of 51 years. In God's indescribable, endless grace, He called Dad home before he could experience the numbing loss of his wife and allowed Mom to sleep right through it. Neither one of them had to experience the loss they both dreaded so. They are now in Heaven, and wouldn't come back for any reason. I am thankful to God He spared them. I am thankful for the comfort He gives me daily. Even though it still pierces my heart, I know they are happy, and that makes me happy, even through my frequent tears. God is a God of matchless compassion! I will keep you in my prayers, I know how difficult it is, but if you will allow the Lord to see you through it, He can comfort you like no other. Bless you. Only Child

I lost both my parents within 35 hours! It will be two years next week that my world was shaken to the core. My mom was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2002. I was devastated. I am an only child and my parents meant the world to me. About a year after the diagnosis, mom began going downhill rapidly. My dad was beside himself. They had been married 51 years and that was all he knew. He told me on two different occasions, he had been praying God would take him first. That is the way he felt it needed to be because he was 7 years older than mom. I assured him and reassured him I would help him through the pain as best as I could, but that it was obvious God intended to take mom home first. Little did I know, how wrong I was. On the 4th of April 2003, the Lord called my dad home by means of an aortic aneursym. Within three hours of arriving at the hospital, he was gone. Mom was at home, unconscience. She never knew. I made the necessary arrangements, just going through the motions, in complete shock. Spent the night at the house with mom while sending my husband and two children back to collect our things for the next day. During the next day (April 5) which happened to be her 72nd birthday, mom had gotten noticeably worse. While changing to go to the visitation for my dad, mom passed away. Within 35 hours, I had lost BOTH parents. The pain is unexplainable! However, God heard and knew the pain they were both in. Mom, from her cancer and having to leave her family and Dad from losing his wife of 51 years. In God's indescribable, endless grace, He called Dad home before he could experience the numbing loss of his wife and allowed Mom to sleep right through it. Neither one of them had to experience the loss they both dreaded so. They are now in Heaven, and wouldn't come back for any reason. I am thankful to God He spared them. I am thankful for the comfort He gives me daily. Even though it still pierces my heart, I know they are happy, and that makes me happy, even through my frequent tears. God is a God of matchless compassion! I will keep you in my prayers, I know how difficult it is, but if you will allow the Lord to see you through it, He can comfort you like no other. Bless you. Only Child

It will be two years next week that my world was shaken to the core. My mom was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2002. I was devastated. I am an only child and my parents meant the world to me. About a year after the diagnosis, mom began going downhill rapidly. My dad was beside himself. They had been married 51 years and that was all he knew. He told me on two different occasions, he had been praying God would take him first. That is the way he felt it needed to be because he was 7 years older than mom. I assured him and reassured him I would help him through the pain as best as I could, but that it was obvious God intended to take mom home first. Little did I know, how wrong I was. On the 4th of April 2003, the Lord called my dad home by means of an aortic aneursym. Within three hours of arriving at the hospital, he was gone. Mom was at home, unconscience. She never knew. I made the necessary arrangements, just going through the motions, in complete shock. Spent the night at the house with mom while sending my husband and two children back to collect our things for the next day. During the next day (April 5) which happened to be her 72nd birthday, mom had gotten noticeably worse. While changing to go to the visitation for my dad, mom passed away. Within 35 hours, I had lost BOTH parents. The pain is unexplainable! However, God heard and knew the pain they were both in. Mom, from her cancer and having to leave her family and Dad from losing his wife of 51 years. In God's indescribable, endless grace, He called Dad home before he could experience the numbing loss of his wife and allowed Mom to sleep right through it. Neither one of them had to experience the loss they both dreaded so. They are now in Heaven, and wouldn't come back for any reason. I am thankful to God He spared them. I am thankful for the comfort He gives me daily. Even though it still pierces my heart, I know they are happy, and that makes me happy, even through my frequent tears. God is a God of matchless compassion! I will keep you in my prayers, I know how difficult it is, but if you will allow the Lord to see you through it, He can comfort you like no other. Bless you. Only Child

Tootie, I do know how you feel, it was 2 years ago this very moment I was rushing to the hospital to see what in the world was wrong with my dad. It was my mom who was sick, liver cancer, and on the verge of death. Now I am going to the hospital for my dad. Well, as you can read in my post titled "Approaching two years without them" it didn't turn out at all like I thought, hoped and prayed it would. My dad died two years ago in a couple of hours and my mom 35 hours later on her birthday. I, too feel like I am reliving it as I type. My only comfort is the Lord of my life. I will keep you in my prayers and if you would like to talk, please feel free to email me at gtol8tr@earthlink.net . You'll make it through, that which does not kill us makes us stronger.

It will be two years next week that my world was shaken to the core. My mom was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2002. I was devastated. I am an only child and my parents meant the world to me. About a year after the diagnosis, mom began going downhill rapidly. My dad was beside himself. They had been married 51 years and that was all he knew. He told me on two different occasions, he had been praying God would take him first. That is the way he felt it needed to be because he was 7 years older than mom. I assured him and reassured him I would help him through the pain as best as I could, but that it was obvious God intended to take mom home first. Little did I know, how wrong I was. On the 4th of April 2003, the Lord called my dad home by means of an aortic aneursym. Within three hours of arriving at the hospital, he was gone. Mom was at home, unconscience. She never knew. I made the necessary arrangements, just going through the motions, in complete shock. Spent the night at the house with mom while sending my husband and two children back to collect our things for the next day. During the next day (April 5) which happened to be her 72nd birthday, mom had gotten noticeably worse. While changing to go to the visitation for my dad, mom passed away. Within 35 hours, I had lost BOTH parents. The pain is unexplainable! However, God heard and knew the pain they were both in. Mom, from her cancer and having to leave her family and Dad from losing his wife of 51 years. In God's indescribable, endless grace, He called Dad home before he could experience the numbing loss of his wife and allowed Mom to sleep right through it. Neither one of them had to experience the loss they both dreaded so. They are now in Heaven, and wouldn't come back for any reason. I am thankful to God He spared them. I am thankful for the comfort He gives me daily. Even though it still pierces my heart, I know they are happy, and that makes me happy, even through my frequent tears. God is a God of matchless compassion! If you would like to make a comment, please reply to this post. I welcome any and all replies. Thank you for reading my story. God bless each one of you! Only Child

My mom was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2002. I was devastated. I am an only child and my parents meant the world to me. About a year after the diagnosis, mom began going downhill rapidly. My dad was beside himself. They had been married 51 years and that was all he knew. He told me on two different occasions, he had been praying God would take him first. That is the way he felt it needed to be because he was 7 years older than mom. I assured him and reassured him I would help him through the pain as best as I could, but that it was obvious God intended to take mom home first. Little did I know, how wrong I was. On the 4th of April 2003, the Lord called my dad home by means of an aortic aneursym. Within three hours of arriving at the hospital, he was gone. Mom was at home, unconscience. She never knew. I made the necessary arrangements, just going through the motions. Spent the night at the house with mom while sending my husband and two children back to collect our things for the next day. During the next day (April 5) which happened to be her 72nd birthday, mom had gotten noticeably worse. While changing to go to the visitation for my dad, mom passed away. Within 35 hours, I had lost BOTH parents. The pain is unexplainable! However, God heard and knew the pain they were both in. Mom, from her cancer and having to leave her family and Dad from losing his wife of 51 years. In God's unbelieveable, endless grace, He called Dad home before he could experience the numbing loss of his wife and allowed Mom to sleep right through it. Neither one of them had to experience the loss they both dreaded so. They are now in Heaven, and wouldn't come back for any reason. I am thankful to God He spared them. I am thankful for the comfort He gives me daily. Even though it still pierces my heart, I know they are happy, and that makes me happy, even through my frequent tears. God is a God of awesome compassion! Just wondering, has anyone every heard of this happening within a day and a half of each other and not related to any kind of accident? None of the funeral home personnel, hospital personnel, people attending my church, no one that I have been able to find has ever heard a married couple dying this close together from totally unrelated circumstances. If you have heard of this or would like to make a comment, please reply to this post. Thank you for reading my story. Only Child

My mom was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2002. I was devastated. I am an only child and my parents meant the world to me. About a year after the diagnosis, mom began going downhill rapidly. My dad was beside himself. They had been married 51 years and that was all he knew. He told me on two different occasions, he had been praying God would take him first. That is the way he felt it needed to be because he was 7 years older than mom. I assured him and reassured him I would help him through the pain as best as I could, but that it was obvious God intended to take mom home first. Little did I know, how wrong I was. On the 4th of April 2003, the Lord called my dad home by means of an aortic aneursym. Within three hours of arriving at the hospital, he was gone. Mom was at home, unconscience. She never knew. I made the necessary arrangements, just going through the motions. Spent the night at the house with mom while sending my husband and two children back to collect our things for the next day. During the next day (April 5) which happened to be her 72nd birthday, mom had gotten noticeably worse. While changing to go to the visitation for my dad, mom passed away. Within 35 hours, I had lost BOTH parents. The pain is unexplainable! However, God heard and knew the pain they were both in. Mom, from her cancer and having to leave her family and Dad from losing his wife of 51 years. In God's unbelieveable, endless grace, He called Dad home before he could experience the numbing loss of his wife and allowed Mom to sleep right through it. Neither one of them had to experience the loss they both dreaded so. They are now in Heaven, and wouldn't come back for any reason. I am thankful to God He spared them. I am thankful for the comfort He gives me daily. Even though it still pierces my heart, I know they are happy, and that makes me happy, even through my frequent tears. God is a God of awesome compassion! Just wondering, has anyone every heard of this happening within a day and a half of each other and not related to any kind of accident? None of the funeral home personnel, hospital personnel, people attending my church, no one that I have been able to find has ever heard a married couple dying this close together from totally unrelated circumstances. If you have heard of this or would like to make a comment, please reply to this post. Thank you for reading my story. Only Child