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And Another One Gone, And Another…

by Ruth Ann Harnisch on 07/01/10 at 10:42 am

Day 180

Did you know that when people are in the process of dying, they might stop breathing for several minutes, and then gasp for breath again?

I learned this several years ago from a helpful instruction manual given to us by the caring and sensitive people from the hospice  that provided end-of-life care for someone close to us. Their educational materials were very enlightening to me in helping our loved one make her passage. Believe me, that one tip I just gave you was REALLY IMPORTANT.

Today another loved one is in the care of hospice in another part of the country, and I am grateful for every donor and volunteer who created the organization that is serving us now.

And I support another hospice as well, one that helped educate an entire community about the hospice experience and which has guided several of my dear ones through the end of their lives.

I got the sad news last night of another death, this one of a nonprofit to which I have contributed  and whose work is life-changing and good for the economy.  It was sudden and immediate.  They just couldn’t raise enough money for their exemplary work in these difficult times.

Reminder to self: Contribute to those nonprofits whose existence might not be important to me today, but that I want to be sure are still around if I do need them.  Hospice, for example.  Just a few small and faithful contributions from a large number of people can keep a nonprofit alive .

It’s true: You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.