| In April 2007 my mother became very ill. In the | | | | several hours which led us to believe that she |
| few days before Easter she had what seemed | | | | was sleeping off whatever illness was taking over. |
| like a normal cold. When she showed no sign of | | | | We left a glass of fluids by the bed which |
| healing and actually got worse we knew | | | | seemed to emptying throughout the day so we |
| something was wrong. She was spending more | | | | assumed that she was waking up to drink then |
| time in her room not wanting to get out of bed. | | | | falling back asleep. The whole day she was |
| She did not even want to go to bingo which had | | | | sleeping she was breathing loudly almost snoring |
| been her routine to go several times a week for | | | | so we thought she was ok. |
| what was going on years. | | | | At about 7 am I was woken by my moms |
| When Easter came she gathered her strength | | | | boyfriend who was saying to me "tati help me |
| and made it through a family gathering for more | | | | wake your mom up i cant do it" at that exact |
| than one event. We were hosting Easter dinner, | | | | moment I knew something was terribly wrong. I |
| my sons 2nd birthday and the baby shower for | | | | went in the room and the bottom half of her |
| my unborn daughter all in one day. Towards the | | | | body was purple, black and blue. She had brown |
| end of the day my Mother said goodbye and | | | | fluid leaking out of her nose and mouth. I called |
| went downstairs to her room to lay down. After | | | | 911 and the tried to tell me how to preform CPR. |
| all the friends and family had left our house I | | | | I could not understand in my state of panic and |
| went down to her room to see how she was | | | | shock. I rolled my mother onto the ground from |
| doing. No improvement, her condition actually | | | | the bed and tried to resuscitate her but i had no |
| seemed to get worse. The next day she was | | | | luck. |
| coughing up thick bright green mucus so I told her | | | | When the paramedics got to our house they tried |
| that I wanted to drive her to the emergency | | | | to save her, with medication and i.v.'s and a |
| room. She agreed to go and on april 09, 2007 in | | | | defibrillator. They loaded her up in the ambulance |
| the late hours of the night about 10 pm we made | | | | and took her to mercy san juan hospital. I |
| our way to Sutter Roseville emergency room. | | | | followed in my car. |
| By the time we got there my mom could barely | | | | When I arrived they led me to a small room with |
| stand or walk on her own. she was shaking like a | | | | 2 chairs and a small couch. Then told me to wait |
| wet dog. | | | | and someone would come see me soon and |
| The staff got us back into a room very quickly | | | | explain what was going on.. It seemed like forever |
| and the proceeded to take blood from an i.v. add | | | | in that small box of a room. Finally a nun came to |
| fluids to her system and take chest x-rays. They | | | | see me and she told me that my mother had |
| then discharged us very quickly. Told us that my | | | | passed. I was so filled with horror and sadness. It |
| mom had bronchitus and gave her a prescription | | | | seemed like a bad dream I was going to wake |
| for some cough syrup and antibiotics. | | | | from soon. But no such luck. The Doctor came |
| We stopped by sonic burger and got some drinks | | | | out and told me that they tried to work on her |
| and tator tots. My mom kept saying to me | | | | and save her but the best they could estimate |
| "Thank you so much Tati if you hadn't taken me | | | | was that she was already dead when the |
| to the hospital I could've died." She kept repeating | | | | paramedics arrived. they said she had passed |
| this over and over saying how much she | | | | sometime in the night. Then they handed me a |
| appreciated me being there for her when she | | | | bag with all her jewelry she was wearing upon |
| needed me to be all these years. Our next | | | | arrival. |
| destination was Walgreens pharmacy on Madison | | | | I was then faced with the horrible job of calling |
| Ave and Dewey Dr. in Fair Oaks. When we got | | | | everyone in my family and telling them that my |
| there and turned in the prescription they informed | | | | mom had died. When you have such a large |
| us that the antibiotics she was prescribed were | | | | family its a daunting task. I first called my best |
| not covered by her insurance so they would call | | | | friend so she could come to the hospital and |
| the hospital and find a suitable replacement | | | | support me in the task. I then had to call my |
| medication for her so we walked around | | | | grandmother and my sister, then my brother and |
| Walgreens until they got it cleared up. At this time | | | | they all came to the hospital. We were allowed an |
| it was about 1 am. After all the confusion we | | | | amount of time to see her body and have much |
| were on our way home. | | | | needed closure. Believe me sometimes you just |
| The next day the weather was very nice and | | | | have to see it to actually believe it. |
| sunny outside. My mom was feeling much better | | | | I think one of the worse sickening things I had |
| so we decided to go out and do a little yard work | | | | the responsibility of doing was telling my youngest |
| together.. well i did the work and my mom sat on | | | | brothers and sister that mommy was not coming |
| the porch keeping me company. At this point I | | | | back ever. Soon after I got home and had to deal |
| should not have been doing to much physical | | | | with that, many of my family members came by |
| activity considering i was about 6 1/2 months | | | | to support us,with food and telling good memories. |
| pregnant. I remember the sun was so bright and | | | | There was a lot of crying just as I am as I sit |
| warm that i got a tan line between my shirt and | | | | here and write this now. You never realize how |
| my pants on my back, which is unusual because I | | | | close your family is until a tragedy happens. That |
| never tan not even in a bathing suit out in the sun | | | | was by far one of the worst days of my life. I |
| for 6 hours. After a few hours outside we | | | | look back on it now and the only comfort I have |
| decided it would be best to go inside so my | | | | is to know that she passed away peacefully in |
| mother could rest. | | | | her sleep without pain and suffering and she is in |
| The rest of the day was unlike any other but my | | | | a better place now guiding me and watching over |
| mother spent it in bed watching tv and visiting | | | | my family. |
| with the family. I cooked dinner that night and put | | | | It has been really hard without her and I miss her |
| the kids to bed for my mom since she was not | | | | every day.. Sometimes I am angry with her for |
| feeling well enough to do it herself. I then visited | | | | leaving me unprepared and it ripping my siblings |
| with my mom for a while telling her goodbye and | | | | away from me but I know there is a greater |
| I love her before I made my way out for the | | | | purpose for all of us and these things happen |
| night. That was the last time I spoke to her ever. | | | | exactly how they are supposed to.. you know in |
| I made it home very late that night and when I | | | | the greater scheme of things. |
| did my mother was asleep for the night which | | | | I like to think that she is helping me every day do |
| was normal. | | | | the right thing and make the right decisions for |
| On April 11 the very next day, when I woke my | | | | my family. |
| mother was still asleep. She stayed asleep for | | | | |