When I first arrived at Jolene’s in early April my weight was 148 pounds. On Sunday, May 23rd, my weight was 115 pounds. I am exhausted from being a 24-hour 7 days-a-week caregiver. Neither Jolene nor I know whether it is day or night or what day it is.
May 23rd
On May 23rd, after returning from Jolene’s room I decided to attend Holy Mass by way of YOUTUBE on the TV screen. I was delighted to see that Divine Mercy Sunday was available for viewing. As I begin to participate in Mass I hear Jolene say, “God Give Me Strength”. Jolene later calls out to me, “Dad I know you’re watching Divine Mercy Sunday Mass.When Mass Is over I need your help”. About 10 more minutes and Divine Mercy Sunday Mass will be concluded. I thought about what Christ would do and He would want me to take care of Jolene. I put the TV on pause and go to my daughter. She shows me the reddish-brown bile she has vomited and asks me to go to the store and get her some Gatorade. When I return I find Jolene lying on the floor, on her back, alongside her bed. She tells me she rolled out of bed. She asks me to change the sheets on her bed. After changing the sheets I sit down next to her and say nothing since she is asleep. The Divine Light slowly covers her head as it moves toward her chest and then retracts. I say, “God you have come to take Jolene home, thank you.” I am calm as she now opens her eyes. I asked her if she would like to get back into her bed. She tells me she doesn’t think she can move. I help prop her up on the side of the bed. We are both sitting on the floor and I am sitting to the left of her. As I begin to wash her back with a sponge and hold her next to me, her head clicks to her right and she falls into my arms. I realize she is no longer breathing. I talk to her for a few minutes telling her how much I love her. I call 911 and the EMS operator instructs me to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but she is not breathing. She then instructs me on chest-to-chest compressions but they fail to start her heart. The EMS quickly arrives. They spend about an hour and cannot get her pulse started. They take Jolene to the hospital. About 2 hours later the hospital called me informing me of Jolene’s passing. I now leave the apartment to identify my deceased daughter.