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OJ 's HUGS, RUM & CHOCCIE SUPPORT THREAD

1001 replies

bossybritches · 29/04/2008 22:34

Log in here to donate & update with OJ

OP posts:
Madlentileater · 05/05/2008 18:28

nearly 6.30, am sending reasonable vibes to BILxx

NorthernLurker · 05/05/2008 18:30

OJ - just popping in quickly as we are in the throes of housemoving. Just wanted to say how much you and the children and Steve are in my thoughts. However long you have together I'm praying for that to be a good time. Take care of yourself

BreeVanderCampLGJ · 05/05/2008 18:33

Just sent you a text....

xxx

LGJ

amber32002 · 05/05/2008 19:38

OJ, got this link from the prayer chain. What a situation for both of you and the kids. Will be praying for you.

Not sure if this will help or not, but I'm a mum who's on the autistic spectrum (I'm an adviser for the Church of England on autism, amongst other things) and have been through the death of parents including cancer. If there's anything at all I can do to help re the kids, I gladly will.

lilyloo · 05/05/2008 20:00

OJ you are right my mum didn't wake at all for the last 4 days her final moments were peaceful , i didn't want to spend them with her i had said my goodbyes but it was my dad and her mum who were with her when she died.
Has the Mc nurse given you any ideas for helping the kids ?

Hope his brother wasn't too unbearable.

ChutneyMary · 05/05/2008 20:01

I wonder if your BIL has been and gone by now. If so, I hope he was reasonable and didn't distress you or Steve further.

I too have been to a humanist celebration as well as traditional religious services and found the humanist one to be very moving and a real celebration of that person's life.

As for when the time comes, I agree with the post that the children watching Steve "sleep" and you then having to explain about not waking up might worry them about not waking themselves. I am sure when the time comes you will make the right decision about them being there.

God, you are doing such a great job holding this together. I am in awe of you. As ever, if you need anything, please just say and I can internet / post anything that might help.

Big love to you all tonight XXXX

NotABanana · 05/05/2008 20:02

thinking of you.

hope the bil visit went calmly.

onlyjoking9329 · 05/05/2008 20:54

so many posts to catch up on.
Beetroot
hospices are lovely places i am glad you got the chance to be with your friend at the end.
Triflenorks (steve would love your name)
Steve wouldn't want them here at the end he has never been close to his mum, steves family won't bother with the kids when steve is no longer here, they haven't bothered with the kids, when steve was in the hospice for 6 weeks and they haven't bothered with them in the four weeks he has been home, i think they just tolerate the kids really.
Dutchoma
thanks for the prayers.
Ruby
thanks for sharing your experience i am still thinking about it all.
soapbox
i am not sure how the end will be, i think his mum should have the chance to say goodbye but she wouldn't want me or the kids there as she doesn't want to share steve.
Janestillhere
sorry to hear you lost your mum so recently, i already feel proud and indeed hounored that steve has been part of our lives for so long and that will never cahnge.
NAB
you have not upset me, this is our reality, we all know whats coming, hearing other peoples ideas thoughts and experiences is very helpful.
lentileater
i haven't thought too much about the service part to be honest i guess i will have to soon thou.
Wanderingtrolly
thankyou for making me laugh.
Amber
thankyou for your kind offer but not sure what we need right now or what would be of help.
BIL came and was ok, Steve slept throu most of his vist then woke up shouting for me to get him trifle and morphine.
steves brother sat and chatted with me alone after the vist just asking general stuff about steve he made no mention of his mum or sister.

BreeVanderCampLGJ · 05/05/2008 20:54

I texted her just before they arrived....

The message read.............

and breathe.................

the answer came.............

Never mind the breathing, I have a large rum and coke.

Waswondering · 05/05/2008 20:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BreeVanderCampLGJ · 05/05/2008 20:57

Ha Ha

Horse and stable door come to mind.

You beat me to it OJ.

Hope tonight is a calmer night, will take the phone to bed if you need to offload.

lots of love

LGJ

XXX

onlyjoking9329 · 05/05/2008 21:02

i have just sat down with my second rum and coke
all is calm in the OJ household, it will be different tomorrow at ten when MIL arrives, i have taken the batteries out of the doorbell, so shall i leave her there pressing the bell for ages?

lilyloo · 05/05/2008 21:05

OJ if it makes you do it!

ShinyPinkShoes · 05/05/2008 21:07

Glad BIL was chatty- I really do hope that they all come to accept the reality of all of this.

Since you've said that other people's experiences aren't upsetting you I thought mine might help you.

When my Dad died I was fortunate to be told we would have only about an hour left with him that was time to get his best friend and his brother to come and say goodbye.

We lit candles and the lovely ward sister provided some oil in a burner- I still remember the smells and sense of calm and peace there was in the room. We also had come of Dad's favourite music playing quietly.

My stepmum and I were with him, either side of him on his bed, stroking his face and telling him we loved him.

When the end came his breathing became very noisy, he then became twitchy and had a small fit and slipped away looking very peaceful with my stepmum and I on his bed snuggled up with him.

As sad as it sounds, in a bizarre kind of way it was such a special time. I have retyped that sentence a few times and nothing quite fits. Suffice to say if I had to die, that's the way I'd like to go.

Really sorry if I've rambled a bit

BecauseImWorthIt · 05/05/2008 21:11

OJ - I check in and look for your updates everyday, even though I don't often post.

It is so hard to know what to say, but I just had to send you my best wishes and, in particular, to wish you all possible strength in dealing what seem to be the last few weeks.

You have shown unimaginable courage and humour in all your posts, despite all the trials that you are enduring.

I shall never be able to look at trifle again without thinking of you and Steve!

onlyjoking9329 · 05/05/2008 21:26

That sounded a very peaceful way to go pink shoes, in an ideal world steve would be surrounded by the people that loved him, sadly his mother doesn't seem able to be in the same room as me without being abusive and i really won't be able to deal with that when steve is dying, i am sure she truely believes that me and the kids are less important in all of this.
once steve has gone i will have to avoid the trifle bit in the shops.

Hulababy · 05/05/2008 21:32

Thinking of you all.

ShinyPinkShoes · 05/05/2008 21:40

All that Steve needs is you OJ. x

cositjustisok · 05/05/2008 21:41

OJ..thinking of you Steve and the kids as always..hope you all have a restful evening. Enjoy your Rum and Coke....you deserve it sweetie...xxx

WanderingTrolley · 05/05/2008 21:42

oj you will buy trifle once a week and toast steve and celebrate his life [stern]

.....as soon as you feel ready [much kinder face]

Or you could ceremonially flick spoonfuls of it at a photo of MIL.

Ooh, when she shows up tomorrow, have a pot of it on each shoulder and when she asks why you didn't hear the doorbell, give her the old 'I'm a trifle deaf' line. And make sure you offer her some nuts and crackers whilst she's there. After all, you are what you eat.

Dottydot · 05/05/2008 21:45

OJ - thinking of you even though I don't post much - I haven't got any direct experience of what you're going through but I think of you often xx

onlyjoking9329 · 05/05/2008 21:47

i don't have any photos of MIL around, i don't want to frighten the children
the crackers and nuts is a good idea but to subtle for MIL

WanderingTrolley · 05/05/2008 21:50

lol at not wanting to frighten the children

I expect you don't own a cauldron to serve crackers and nuts in either.

onlyjoking9329 · 05/05/2008 21:51

i don't have a cauldron, but i know someone who does

pepperrabbit · 05/05/2008 21:53

OJ, I don't know if this will help but my best friend lost her husband very suddenly last year, his mother - who he never got on with particularly - has always acted as if it has only happened to HER, SHE has lost a son, SHE is bereaved, SHE is suffering. At the end the nurses actually told her to leave and let my friend be with her husband.
She has made no acknowledgement that my friend was married to him, shared a bed with him and a life with him for nigh on 20 years and he is the father of their 3 children. It's as is she has lost an 18 year old, not a grown man.
My friend was very strong about the funeral/burial arrangements because we realised that actually you could not insult her, nothing got through her "readybrek glow" of self absorption.
My friend is so glad that her husband is interred nearby, she and the kids visit whenever they can, and they can pop by if they need to spend some time with him.
Be strong.
and I'll tell you about the competitive flower displays another time

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