All About Lena

Hello again everyone. I couldn't end this journal without saying a few things about my Mom.

What a remarkable lady! Attending the visitations and the funeral, I was amazed by just how many lives she touched, how many people truly loved her. Family, friends, neighbors - and she always had time for all of us.

I spent Sunday night in the hospital with her, her next-to-the-last night with us. She had been sleeping all evening, not waking up when any of us spoke to her or touched her. Late that night after everyone had gone I leaned over, kissed her on her forehead, and told her I loved her. She opened her eyes, looked into mine, and in a strong, clear voice said, "I love you." It was a gift - the last words she said to me.

The last few days of her life she had been breathing through her mouth, and when she passed, her jaw was left open. Tom tried to close it, and the nurse did, too, but she explained that we wouldn't be able to because the muscles had relaxed. Not long after that my niece, Evie, came to the hospital to visit her grandmother and found that she had gone. She went to her and kissed her, and I went behind her to do the same. When I looked down, I found that Mom's mouth was closed and there was a gentle smile on her face. That was so like her, to leave us with a sense of peace and humor.

Lena Louisa Kahrig Pettit was my mother, my best friend, my biggest fan. No wonder it's so hard to let her go.

If you attended her funeral, you know that Mom was writing her life story. She named it "All About Lena." I plan to compile those writings in book form and add this cancer journal to the end, then make it available to anyone who would like a copy just for the cost of printing and postage. If you would like for me to let you know when this book is ready, please email me.

Thanks to all of you who stood by my Mom, sending prayers for health, strength, courage, and hope. Never doubt how much it helped, what a difference it made in her life.

Kathy Gatten Johnson
August 31, 2005