Grandma Blanche passed away

My husband's maternal grandmother, Blanche, passed away yesterday morning at 1 am. My mother in law, Lynnie, was at her side. As I read her death announcement, it stated that family was at her side when she passed. Family at her side. As a nurse, I have seen the face of death in many ways. Trauma, loss of life at a young age, loss of life's blood causing the heart to stop beating. Complete devastation on a family. I remember holding a brand new Timberland boot that belonged to a young lad. It had been knocked off his foot from the impact of the crash. I stood there with his mother at his side. A loss of words to comfort. A loss of composure on my part, as my young lad lay sleeping in his bed. Family was at his side. Gradual. Death that is coming due to the infliction of disease. All science and miracles of medicine have been exhausted. What is left is time. Time to sober the reality of the end. Concerns of pain, fear, coldness, loneliness. I remember a patient who was bleeding to death. We were working as fast as we could. The holes were just to big to fill. He spoke to me softly. "Please keep talking to me, I can no longer see you but I can hear you. I don't want to die alone." No family. No one waiting. Just me. I spoke to him him. I held his hand. I watched him die. Changed. Forever. When you watch the face of death. How can it not effect one? Grandma had a stroke, a deep brain stem injuring stroke. When Lynnie called me, I knew. I knew her death was coming. Unless, a miracle. Lynnie asked me about respirations, pulse, heartrate. Basic, medical terms. Watching an indiviual take one's final breath. The heart one cannot see. A final breath, I have seen many times. The rising and falling of the chest, like the rising and setting of the sun. We are all changed today. Grandma will not be led into the family room to open presents. There will be no distorted laughter with the chackle to follow. No more Isotoner houseshoes or large print puzzles to be worked. Someone will sit where she once claimed a spot on the sofa. Our hearts will be beating, our bodies will be breathing, our voices will be sounding. Yet, we will all know a dearly loved one, passed our way, with family at her side.