Do not be disappointed: Make time to spend with family and your friends

I grew up with the knowledge that, aside from my parents and sisters my extended family of with aunts, grandparents uncles, aunts and many cousins I couldn’t remember, were more devoted to me than any other person. They were some of my very first most beloved friends.

My female cousins from the past taught me about makeup, clothing music, and boys. My male cousins of the older generation helped me learn to fish or play ball, to take apart frogs and play cards. They also taught me to fight to the death. Of course, I gave my cousins younger ones the things I had learned from my cousins. We shared family secrets, mystery similarities, holidays birthdays, joys and sorrows, but most of all, we were able to share our affection.

Through the years family members have gotten bigger as well as moved and changed. Like many families, we’ve lost parents, grandparents siblings, children friends and cousins. As I write this my soul is heavy because I recently lost a close friend of mine from my first year. Another cousin left us to join the family, which has been there before.

The weekend before, as the final goodbyes, I stumbled across photos of us as we were teenagers, young and without any sort of care. Although I was just a few years older I still remember her as a young girl and smile at the jokes we used to play with younger cousins. Another photo shows the couple with her husband, and their two daughters. Life was good and they were beautiful and young.

When I looked through my pictures I realized that the photos were telling a story about my life. When I was looking through the pictures I was reminded of the fact that each day and write our own story. While not every person has a collection of photos to gaze at and recollect without doubt, every one of us leaves a mark on the minds and eyes of those around us that doesn’t diminish.

The illness my cousin was suffering from was swift, cruel and cruel. She was transferred from Home Health to the hospital for a period of three weeks. In a state of incapacity she was referred at an inpatient hospital just two days before her death. The majority of us didn’t have the time to visit, touch the, hug and tell us how much we loved her before she passed away. A few of us were able to say her goodbye.

Spend time with your loved ones and family. Visit or call the people you’ve been looking forward to seeing. Friends, let’s record our stories in a way that is well-written. We should be kinder to all people we meet, as we never know what the next day will bring them.

If you know anyone suffering from an a terminal life-limiting illness or disease, please encourage them or their family members to contact hospice. The benefits outweigh any fear that comes with the term “hospice.

Over the years I’ve been a hospice advocacy advocate, I’ve not heard anyone say that they wish they hadn’t had the opportunity to use hospice. One of the things I hear most often is “I wish we had discovered hospice earlier.”

As I think of my family members, I am reminded of the quote I heard several years ago. “A family member is like a tiny piece of childhood that will never be forgotten.” Through my life, I’ve discovered this to be accurate. Today, hug a friend.

-” Vickie C. Wacaster is a patient and Advocate for Hospice at Aveanna Hospice.

The article Avoid regrets: Make time for your family and friends appeared in The Andalusia Star-News.