My sister passed away 2 1/2 years ago. She was 48. Problems started with a twisted intestine. After the operation she went into a rehabilitation facility. There they gave her an antibiotic that caused her to get Stevens Johnson syndrome. Had to be placed in a burn unit for close to a month. At times in that month I felt my sister had so much pain she wanted to die but after day after day of me coaxing her to walk she finally made it home. Three weeks later she contracted the flesh eating virus and never again left the ICU until I brought her home to die 4 months later. I saw her go through 20 operations and eventually lose her ability to breathe on her own. Twenty doctors met with her husband, me and both of my parents to tell us she would never live without being on a machine. My dad said no more. We went into my sisters room after that and it was like she knew. She told me not to worry that she was going to a much better place and that she loved me very much. I knew she wanted to be home to die. From that point on my husband and I did everything in our power to make that happen for her. Her husband was by her for most of this. However it was like he didn't understand how sick she was. Everytime I asked how she was doing he said she is fine. My sister came home on May 29th 2009. My brother had filled her home with orchids. Hospice was there. She promptly told them to go away with her hands. They medicated her to make her comfortable. She looked at me with pleading eyes that said she was done her on earth. And then I told her to go. Everything will be okay here. Her husband was across that street when she passed. When he came home and found out she was gone, he started throwing things and screaming. I felt so bad for my parents. In a way though I thought that my sister wanted us there to help her and to let us see what life with her husband was really like. We waited till she was taken to the funeral home and then I took my parents home with me. I miss my sister everyday. I am so glad she got to go home and that when she closed her eyes for the last time it was here home she saw and not a cold hospital room.
-Sharon, 1/31/2012
