Lost my mother today
My mother passed away peacefully in her sleep early this morning at home. She was 71 years old, and in very poor health. She was on kidney dialysis 3 times a week, and was not enjoying life, so she is most definitely happier now. She fostered my love of horses and enjoyed them as much as I did.
Mama didn't have to die at this young age (our family lives well into their 90's)... she was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1985, but ignored it. She became diabetic at some point but self-treated until she went into a crisis in 1996. Her kidneys failed in 1998, but she wouldn't see a doctor until she was extremely ill. Mama (and all the female members of our family) was morbidly obese for most of her life, and only really lost weight once her kidneys failed (end-stage renal disease) and she could only eat the renal diet. She didn't have much appetite anyway.
Please, don't let this happen to you. This history of MO, diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney failure in my family is what is prompting me to get WLS. I'm not saying it's the answer for everyone, but please, SEE your doctor, TAKE your medication, and TRY to lose weight and keep it off. Obesity will kill you -- it killed my mother.
If anyone is moved to send flowers or anything, instead send a donation to the National Kidney Foundation. Please make it in memory of Elizabeth E. Harmon, Beloved Mother of Lorraine Harmon Robinson.
http://www.kidney.org/affiliate/al/support.html
Lorri
Lorri, please accept my heart-felt condolences regarding your mother. The loss of my mother in 1996 was the hardest thing I've ever experienced, it even surpassed the loss of my father in 2000.
The family history of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer was the greatest factor in my deciding to undertake my quest for WLS.
God Bless you and your family.
Respectfully,
James Lamb
Lorri,
I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. I too lost a parent, my father died at 58 from complications of obesity and Diabetes. I watched him lose his eyesight from the retinopathy, lose his leg from a ingrown toenail, and then finally his kidneys shut down. I think that your heartfelt post might just be what some people are needing.
Take Care
Cathy Martin