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TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2003

"There are times in our lives when we actually can see the pages of our lives turn. When I saw my mother in the hospital Sunday, I could almost feel the slight breeze created as those pages turned.

My mother, Dorothy, was healthy most of her life. She has outlived all but two of her sisters and she is the oldest of her family. But this last year hasn't been good for her. She has had bouts of an illness that seems mysterious and has put her in the hospital. During those episodes, she seems to go into her own world. This weekend, we were told she probably needs special equipment that we can't deal with at home, which means a nursing home may be the only option. So the family set the next steps in motion.

Before I left the hospital and after the rest of the family had gone, I went to her room to give her a hug and kiss. She looked so small lying in that white hospital bed with two quilts tucked tightly around her, even though it was warm on that Easter day. She knew me, I know, and closed her eyes as I leaned toward her."

Get the Story:
COLUMNIST DORREEN YELLOW BIRD: A loved one nears the completion of the circle (The Grand Forks Herald 4/22)

More Dorreen Yellow Bird:
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