Disturbing Family Trait

Maybe it's just that some people hold on, so to speak, for the things that are important to them? Like Christmas, a child's graduation, and that sort of thing.

Maybe. I wish they would have held on a little longer.




(Sheesh, I shoulda used the spell checker.)

Yeh. Dec 24th not a great day for that for me either, but not as severe as yours.

Does her heart rate seem to match her general health? Well, none of my business, but just maybe it is something changeable. Hugs...

Swimpy, it is easy to see why you are getting paranoid aobut something awful happening on Christmas Eve. What Roger said has a lot of truth behind it. A speech therapist friend has said that she always gets more patients after Christmas because there are so many strokes that happen around that time. By New Years they start coming to her.

There is something about Christmas, the stress, the unusual social activity, presents, the commercialism that certainly causes tension. The end result is tragic for too many people.

We will be thinking of you and sending happy, relaxing thoughts your way.

We certainly hope for the best.

Thanks, everyone.

We're going to see the cardiologist on Monday. A pacemaker might be what she needs, but given her age (96), the benefit might not be worth the risk. (If that makes sense.)

Oh, yikes. Best wishes to you and your mom, Swimpy.

Meanwhile, I sometimes wonder if the cause and effect of holiday deaths isn't the other way 'round. This is a brutal season, just in terms of weather -- I don't have SAD, per se, but it's plenty hard for me, and I know many people who have a much harder time. Just talking about short days, cold weather, being cooped up, lack of light, etc.

I think that is part of why we have the midwinter festivals, to alleviate some of the inherent gloom.

Amen to that, Soz. Having grown up in Arizona and moving to Connecticut, I realized what hell winter is when there never is enough light.

It's particularly brutal right now. Temp last night got down to -22F.

I really think my family members deaths were coincidental. One weird coincidence. Not weather related at all, in my opinion. Both my dad and sis were anti-health nuts. Both drank heavily and my sister was a three pack a day smoker. Their days were numbered anyway.

I want to believe my Mom will live forever. I would like to see her make it to 100.

Swimpy--

I'll keep my fingers crossed that she does.

Hold your dominion.

swimpy, I can relate. The same sort of thing happened in my family, only it was at at particular age. 2 men in the same line (grandfather, father and now hopefully not son). Worries me to no end. I feel for you and am thinking about you.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you and your mom too Swimpy. I'm leery of asking but is she worried about Christmas Eve also?

Thanks Noddy, Bella and eoe.

Bella, I'm sorry about your family, too. I hope that developments in medicine can prevent the continuation of your family pattern.

eoe, I know she thinks about my sister a lot since this only happened two years ago. A mother should not outlive her children. It's the ultimate cruelty. As far as her worryining about herself, I don't think she does. She still insists there's nothing wrong with her. And, quite frankly, she has no obvious symptoms. She is quite frail, but will bound up a flight of stairs just to prove that she's tough. She's quite a gal. I only hope I have half of her staying power.

On the other hand, my beloved aunt who died just short of 101, had a really hard time those last five years. Be careful what you wish for.. (I don't think wishes matter except as neglect or encouragement are results, and you aren't that way, re neglect.)

Strokes and other cardio vascular propblems happen more in winter.......the cold and perhaps less activity seems to contribute to clotting.

Perhaps christmas stress might add a bit....but the dame pattern occurs here in our winter, and christmas is high summer.


Good luck, Swimp!

Let me back up, they may matter to her and affect her hanging on, as she is aware.

It's good that she's not afraid for herself. That would be a horrible thing.

She's not just hanging on, Osso. I wouldn't want that for her at all. I want her to have a peaceful passing, not a lingering death. That's what i want to know from the cardiologist. Is a pacemaker or other intervention going to improve her quality of life? If so, I'm all for it. If not, then nature should be allowed to take it's course, as sad as that is.

Good, swimpy..