In Honour of "Joe"

This week I want to share the most incredible experience we have
just been through with a gentleman that we knew, not a close friend, but someone we knew. "Joe" was a friend of my mom's that she hadn't seen in many years. A few months ago, he went to the hospital for pain, and it ended up going in a different trajectory than he anticipated.
He was admitted immediately and needed nursing home placement.
Sadly, before he even made it there, he died.

Very quickly, it was just a whirlwind of activity and trying to figure out what was happening. This man did not have a village, close family or friends. Suddenly he was in the hospital, he had an apartment full of things, a car and all all kinds of paperwork to be sorted through. He was everything I've been teaching and preaching about being proactive.

We will call him Joe. (It's always Joe!).  Joe said
"I read your your book three times. I loved it. I just didn't do any of that". 

We became the Love Your Life to Death team. We Just Showed Up.
We emptied Joe's apartment and sold his car and helped with his paperwork. We supported him right till his last breath.

Grief and joy, heartwarming and heart wrenching.

We made sure that his belongings were brought to the
men's shelter, food to the food bank, glasses, we donated to the optometrist so that that they could be given to someone who
needed them. We continue to do these things to honor Joe.
And we're very grateful that our children
have some of his dishes that they will use in college.

Thank you, Joe, for all you have taught us.
 Remember:

Let's talk about planning prepare before grief transitions
and end of life arrive.

 Thank you for the privilege and honour of being a part of your journey at end of life. For everything that you've taught us.

If you have any stories to share, I would love to hear them.


If you would like to learn more about how we supported Joe on his journey, you can watch three episodes on my show

Navigating Grief with Heart and Humour
HERE