When Edie’s mom, Ruth, became ill it was hard to make sense of. Out of nowhere, Ruth started to experience issues with her balance, vision impairment and vertigo. It all started in the fall and rapidly progressed until she was no longer mobile in the late winter. It reached the point where it was no longer safe for her to be at home.
Creutzfeldt-Jokob Disease is a rare and rapidly progressing neurological disorder. Infection with CJD leads to death typically within 1 year of the illness’s onset. Sadly, this was Ruth’s diagnosis. A healthy, strong, and thriving woman until the onset.
“She was given 3 months to a year, but it was actually only 8 weeks. We got her to Hospice Georgian Triangle on a Friday in March. She was there for 12 days”, recalls Edie.
“Everyone was phenomenal. The staff, nurses, PSWs, volunteers. I was blown away. They were all so amazing.”
“There was joy in her room at Campbell House. The team encouraged us to hang her art on the walls, dress her in fashionable clothes, and display floral arrangements. They helped us to make it feel like home.
Gratitude was in the air, and it surrounded us. My sister and I played her favourite music and shared childhood stories with each other. We laughed, cried, and felt like a family again. I remember one night, when I walked into the room, my dad was holding her hand and the song “Here comes the Sun” was playing. On her wedding band was transcribed with “You are my Sunshine”. These are the moments that happen at Campbell House. A caregiver can become a husband again.
She passed away on Thursday morning. The hardest part was packing up her room. Campbell House was truly a special and peaceful place. A beautiful final home.
My journey with losing my mom has led me to a career in personal health and wellness. I teach yoga, meditation and breathwork. Grief is a normal process, but it can feel desperate when you’re in it. I help provide the tools to feel grounded throughout the highs and lows of life. These tools are already within us. People sometimes just need a reminder to call on them.
Edie now offers a yoga class to the staff at Hospice Georgian Triangle. A token of her appreciation for the care that her mom received.
Edie had Jenn Kerr, a registered psychotherapist and grief and bereavement counsellor with Hospice Georgian Triangle, on her podcast to bring more light and conversation to death and grief.
Have a listen – Click here
