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| This page is dedicated to the memory of my Mom... LaVerne C. Franzen December 22, 1928~October 19, 2000 |
| My Mom. I have been fortunate enough to have a mom for 45 years. I feel lost without her. My Dad has been gone for 12 years now. As one of my sisters stated, "Lin, are we orphans now, we have no parents?" Sad, but such a true feeling. The matriarch is gone, who is to carry on? I wanted to use this page to tell a very special story about my Mom and Jenni. You see, unlike most kids her age, Jenni loved to spend time with old people. She was proud to be seen with Grandma. I am proud to hear how kind she was to older people. My Mom was very ill her last few years here on earth. She was highly diabetic and had been through two open heart surgeries. She could barely see anymore due to the diabetes taking it's toll on her eyes. Her hearing was also pretty bad. On Mom's second to the last hospital stay, her condition was so bad, we did not expect her to survive. Well, she beat the odds one more time, and I believe she did that to tell me a beautiful story about Jenni. |
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| Mom was in a semi coma for a few days during that hospital stay. While in this condition, she saw Jenni. Days later, while still in the hospital, she told me she saw Jenni. Well, Lindsay was with me, so I said something to the effect of, "That's great mom, we'll talk about it later." I did not want to upset Lindsay, as everyone feels and believes what they want about these situations. I could not wait to question Mom about seeing Jenni. Mom could no longer live alone and the arrangements were made for her to move in with one of my sisters. First she had to go to a rehab center for about a week for therapy and to regain some strength. It was in this center I was finally able to ask Mom about seeing Jenni. I asked her, "What was Jenni wearing? What was she doing? And did she say anything to you?" Mom went on to tell me, "Oh Linda, she had on the most beautiful, flowing angel dress. She was just floating around the top of my room. She had a wand with a star on the end of it in one hand, and she was reaching out her other hand to me saying, "Come on Gram." Then Mom said, "but I couldn't reach her." I told Mom it must not be your time yet. But her time came just a few short months later. Again hospitalized, the bad news was, she needed a valve replaced in her heart, but most likely would not survive surgery. So no way would she consent to it. We had already initiated a DNR code into her chart. Next, the kidneys were beginning to shut down, and dialysis was necessary to keep her alive. Again Mom said, "NO, I just want to die, let me die." |
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| At this point, Mom was moved into a Palliative Care Unit, comfort without cure. The next best thing to Hospice. Mom's nutritional IV was removed, and the only thing besides food that she was given was a morphine drip for pain. We were told it could take up to two weeks for her to be granted her final wish. At my last concious visit with Mom, we talked about her seeing Jenni the last time she was in the hospital. I told Mom I wished I could take her place. She scolded me for talking that way. I told her she had no idea what a void I had in my life without Jenni. I told her if Jenni came into this room, to let me know. Her last words to me were, "OK honey." The next day Mom went into a coma she would never return from. Upon this occurance, I kept talking to my Mom. I told her I would not leave her side until she left me. I took time off from my job and moved into Mom's room. I slept at her side for the next five nights, constantly touching and talking to Mom. Always reminding her to let me know when Jenni comes for her. |
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| On the evening that Mom passed away, another sister was there with me. I was away from Mom's bedside when my sister called to me saying Mom's eyes are open. I rushed over and knew immediately that this was it. I told my sister, "This is it, she's leaving." We each took a hand and told Mom not to worry about us, we would be OK, it's time to go now Mom, Jenni is here, go with Jenni Mom. She was staring past us, and with her final breath, she squeezed my hand. It was ever so peaceful, calm, and reassuring to see Mom go so gracefully. And that final hand squeeze~I took that as Mom's indication that Jenni was there. And so, it was upon Angel's Wings that Mom went to heaven. The most beautiful Angel's Wings. |
| The last picture taken of my two angels together! August...1998 A poolside caption!!!! |
| Guestbook |
| I created this background especially for Jenni & Mom, please ask if you want to burrow it. |
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| I love you Mom & Jenni |
