TO MY PRECIOUS WIFE:
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. Page 10
A story of love, happiness, tragedy, and death.

DINNER AT RUSTY PELICAN


SHE LOVED ALL ANIMALS

PARADISE LOST – A TRAGIC ENDING

Terry was always in top physical condition, strong, powerful swimmer, perfect figure. In 1992 she was diagnosed with the first medical problem. She was diagnosed with Renal Artery Stenosis. She had angioplasty to try to correct it. I had noticed that at certain times she was exhausted. One night I took her to the hospital where they said she had a TIA. In my opinion she had several of these, a clear indication that a stroke was a real possibility. In 1995 she entered the hospital where they said she needed a Radical Nephrectomy of her left kidney. I immediately took her to another hospital where all the tests indicated the same diagnosis. Her blood pressure was out of sight and could not be controlled. On 4/4/95 Terry underwent the operation to remove the kidney. During the operation apparently one lung collapsed and she had a major stroke. The stroke devastated her whole body, leaving her paralyzed on the left side. Complete paralysis of her left arm and leg. I was asked where I was going to send her upon release. I replied that she was coming home. They told me I just didn’t understand the amount of 24hr care she would require. After two months in rehab she returned home, and I retired from my job. I started to collect the items she would need, hospital bed, wheelchair, transporter chair, and a hundred other things she would need. I had it rough, but I figured I owed it to her after the happiness she had given me. I had to pick her up and put her in the wheelchair, or back in bed. I kept her bathed, new clothes, hair combed, teeth brushed, glasses cleaned around the clock. I gave it my best shot for 11 years. Doing the wash, grocery shopping, and cooking were not my best efforts. On Jan. 1, 2006, it all caught up with me. I woke up and couldn’t breathe. It got worse so I called my son in Palm Bay. He drove down and took me to the hospital. I needed a quadruple bypass. I panicked as it left no one to take care of Terry. My son Wayne, surely a one of a kind, quit his job in Palm Bay and came down to West Palm to take care of his Mother. I went to rehab for 45 days, and had an infection in my leg from the operation that was not easy to clear up. I lost 40 pounds. Now we had an impossible situation. I came home and he had both of us to take care of. We both needed 100% help. Wayne did it all. He got someone to take care of his house and his dog, and started down the long road to try to get me recovered enough so I could help with Terry. This turned out to be the most tragic event you could ever imagine. Numerous problems came up with no solution, so just to exist was a near impossibility. My back has put me in a wheelchair many times. I injured it when I bailed out of a disabled B-29, and through the years has continued to deteriorate. Ever so slowly I improved enough to help take care of Terry. Wayne started working a four day week. After all he had a home and a dog to take care of. I was always so glad when he came down.

As time went by Terry became a little weaker. Where was God? I cried a bucket of tears, and prayed for even a little help with Terry. God apparently didn’t hear me. As her condition continued to deteriorate, I noticed that in the month of Oct, 2007, she was getting worse. One morning she awakened throwing up and shaking violently. She said she wasn’t going to make it and wanted to go to the hospital. She was put in ICU, her blood pressure dangerously high. Two Doctors told me her remaining kidney had failed, plus other complications, and that I should make arrangements as to where she should spend her final moments. I decided to send her to Hospice. She had a private nurse. Got a sponge bath every day, but broke my heart knowing she was not going to make it. After 48 years of tough times , and good times, we were now faced with a monumental tragedy. They made her as comfortable as possible, however on 10/20/07 she passed away. I am certain in my heart that she is in a world all her own, reunited once again with her animals who had been waiting for her. This is all she talked about for her last 6 months. My heart is broken, and full of memories. I will never be the same without her. It was a wonderful relationship, and I shall never forget her kindness and companionship. For all practical purposes my life is over. I feel like I have nothing to live for. I will never forget Terry, I will always love her.

MY DEVOTION

With respect,
Wayland Mayo

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