To ask what to say

[cheekydevil]

Please help.
I am off to visit a friend in a minute who has only a week or so left to live. What should I say to her?
I am not good at this, I really want to see her but I don't want to say the wrong thing. I would like to think I could say something that would give her some comfort.
I have been worrying about this all day since made arrangements and I have come up with a big fat nothing
Sorry in this thread but needed a quick response.
Also are flowers appropriate?

[BumpingFuglies]

Tell her how much she means to you, be honest. Talk about happy times and let her talk to you if she can.

I think flowers are fine. Be yourself. So sorry for you and your friend.

[cheekydevil]

Thank you bumping. Do you think it is ok to ask her if there is anything she would like me to sort for her or should I avoid the death issue. I am usually inclined to think that people need to talk about it but I don't want to make a mistake in case it is the last time I see her.
This is so hard as I am still grieving for my Father and the emotions are all getting mixed up

[chocoluvva]

I'm so sorry for you. What a very sad thread.
Please try not to worry though- there's no magic thing to say.
If this will be the final time you'll see her then you need to say goodbye and tell her how much you value her friendship. You could ask her if there's anything you can do for her now and/or after she's gone if you think that's appropriate when you see her.
Let us know how you get on.

[cheekydevil]

Thank you choco I don't mean to be morose (sp?) but I am seriously panicking about it. I want my visit to make a difference to her in a good way. I better had get going I have procrastinated on this all day.
Don't think I can say goodbye yet, maybe just keep popping back every couple of days.

[WileyRoadRunner]

So sad.

I would ask if there is anything you can do/ could do. i think that is a lovely sentiment and definitely take flowers.

Perhaps you could write a letter as having a conversation about feelings can sometimes be too hard for both parties, that way you can say everything you wanted to.

[jeee]

Normally flowers are lovely - but if your friend is in hospital, the ward may not allow them.

If your friend is at the end of her life, all you need to do is be there. Just visiting shows that you care enormously.

Best wishes.

[onetiredUTTERLYTERRIFYINGmummy]

Yes to flowers.

Apologies if this sounds a bit cold but this is what I remember from my mum when she only had a couple of weeks left with cancer & people came to see her.

Nobody knows what to say, so reminisce about past times & events that were comical. Give her a laugh. When its time to say goodbye, do so & don't let it turn into a sob-athon. If you want to ask her about death then do it, don't leave thinking 'I wish I had said...'.

Remember that you have to do this once but she has to do it many times & its tiring. She will feel obliged to return the 'same amount' of grief as you so you don't feel under-valued & this is exhausting for her.

There are no wrong things to say, give yourself a break as there will be many people who will avoid going to see her as its too difficult/they don't know what to say. If you don't want a final meeting then yes, pop in over the next few days. That's good but remember to keep it short.

Lots of love to you & she is lucky to have you as a friend :)

[jeee]

At the end of my sister's life her friends came to visit her. We were all round her bed, laughing and remembering (though when the end came it was only family). My sister was too ill to join in, but she knew we were there, and she knew we loved her. Don't worry about what to say, please.

[BumpingFuglies]

Trust your judgement about what to ask her OP, you sound a lovely friend and I think you will instinctively know what to say when you see her. Be guided by her mood/awareness/pain.

[cheekydevil]

Thank you so much for your replies. She is comfortable at home as she wanted to be at home. She is extremely frail and just wants to sleep all the time. I talked about nice memories to her but also things in the very near future that were nice things.
All her wishes have been noted and she appears very resigned.
I will visit again for just a few minutes as suggested as she is so tired.
Keep trying to think what I would want to hear. I think she will just want to know I will be there for her dd. Which I will obviously.
Thanks everyone

[Merrin]

I would start with the serious stuff and finish the visit with good humour to leave her feeling happier, not the other way around.

[maddening]

You could find pictures of shared memories and put then together in an annual to go through with her - something you could leave with her to look through? Did she keep diaries that you could get out for her to look through when she has quiet moments between sleeps

So sorry for you and your friend x

[chocoluvva]

Are you flexible about when you can pop round to see her? That would probably be helpful for her and her family. Does she like being touched/having her hair brushed?
Towards the end of her life my mum said that she enjoyed people being in with her and hearing them chatting to each other when she was mostly too tired to speak.
Please don't be upset if you don't manage to have a deep and meaningful final conversation - like in films - as she is so tired as you've said.
You sound like a very thoughtful friend. I really feel for you and her DD.

[ShiftyFades]

Didn't want to not post on this. What a tough thing for you all

I can't offer anything else but I will be thinking of you and your friend (and her DD).

((hugs))

[cheekydevil]

My friend has just passed peacefully. Thank you to all that tried to help

[Euphemiaaaarrrrgggghhhh]

So sorry, Cheeky.

[mockeveryweek]

So sorry cheeky. I've been where you are. Be kind to yourself x

[cheekydevil]

Thank you, so sad

[MrsKeithRichards]

So sorry.

What a touching but sad thread. Take care x

[lucyellenmum]

cheeky, you are a wonderful friend to be there for her, it will have meant so so much to her xxx so sorry for your loss

[Portofino]

Oh cheeky - sorry to hear this. You sound like a wonderful friend.

[StuntGirl]

I was crying at this before I even got to todays post. So sad :(

You sound like a lovely friend, your friend was lucky to have you. I hope you're doing ok devil xx

[mutny]

I am so sorry. So so sorry.

I don't know what else to say. Hugs to you.

[cheekydevil]

Thank you again she is going to be a loss to my world.

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss x