[Faith-talk] My Mother Crossed the Rainbow Bridge

[qubit]

Hello Peter --
I am sorry to hear about your mother's passing. We did remember her in our 
prayers -- if she had survived such a major catastrophic event she most 
likely would have had many challenges to overcome.  Life goes on, as you 
say, even after death and she is probably being welcomed joyfully by those 
who went beefore her. And for that, and your belief and loving reminiscences 
make us feel at peace.
She was only 73... My Mom would call her young -- but these things happen to 
people of any age.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, which I'm sure will be filled with lots of 
reminiscing and loving thoughts.
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Mary Donahue" <braille at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: <officeofthepresident at nfb.org>; <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>; "Steve Shelton" 
<steve at sbshelton.com>; "williamslev" <williamslev at bellsouth.net>; 
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<nfbsatx at nfbnet.org>; <donnajwood at cox.net>; "Buna Dahal" 
<BunaDahal at DynamicBuna.com>; "Michael K. Freholm" 
<mfreholm at blindnet.zzn.com>; <Gibbson565 at aol.com>; "J BICHLER" 
<jcbichler at msn.com>; "Stanzel,Susan - Kansas City, MO" 
<susan.stanzel at kcc.usda.gov>; "Lisa Hall" <lhall007 at cinci.rr.com>; "sam 
jackson" <samj1964 at hotmail.com>; "kenneth rollman" 
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Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 9:39 PM
Subject: [Faith-talk] My Mother Crossed the Rainbow Bridge


        Good evening everyone,

    This year's Holiday Season will be filled with sorrow and joy. For those
receiving this news for the first time my mother was rushed to Northeast
Methodist Hospital in San Antonio and was later transferred to Main
Methodist to receive treatment from a neuro surgeon. Yesterday morning she
was found slumped in her chair bleeding from the nose and mouth. She is
believed to have suffered a major stroke  and was placed in ICU upon arrival
at Main Methodist. She never regained consciousness and was placed on life
support where she remained until this afternoon. Her condition worsened
during the night. The doctor offered to perform surgery but could not
guarantee a deasent quality of life following the operation. With heavy
hearts we decided to end life support. She crossed the rainbow bridge at
about 1-15 p.m. following termination of life support. She died without
regaining consciousness and is now in a better place.

    We're all sad and shocked with her passing. She exercised and took long
walks to keep in shape and always insisted on eating right. She died at age
73. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

    Mom was a fighter particularly when it came to my education. Like many
parents of blind children during the 1960s and 1970s she was roped in to
believing that the so-called "Experts" with the Department of Education in
Massachusetts had all the answers when it came to teaching blind kids and
where they should attend school. All of that changed when she visited the
Oak Hill School for the Blind in Connecticut for a concert I would be
participating in in 1972. The things she observed during her visit along
with concerns about my well-being at the time prompted her in to action.
Thus began what my family called the "1973 Uprising!" The environment at Oak
Hill and transportation issues lead to a campaign to have me transferred to
the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown Massachusetts if not in to
public high school. When the battle was over I attended Perkins for the
remainder of my high school years and graduated in 1975. To the best of our
knowledge this was the first time the parent of a blind child in
Massachusetts issued a serious challenge to the dogma of special education
officials at that time.

    To set the record straight this happened prior to my involvement in the
National Federation of the Blind. Although we did not know the organization
by name we had its spirit which subsequently allowed myself and many other
blind individuals to have a quality of life we would not have otherwise.
Had the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children been around I
believe mom would have eventually rose to top leadership in that
organization and would have been one of its staunchest members.

    Mom has assisted several other disabled individuals over the years most
recently my adopted niece who has Down's Syndrome. Although they could only
progress to a certain level she expected them to achieve a degree of
independence and self-sufficiency. I am one example of her persistence and
her "Pushing" me to attempt to do the assumingly impossible.
    It will be different tomorrow not hearing her in the kitchen cooking
Thanksgiving Dinner and bossing us around in her demanding and sometimes
humorous way.

    Our Thanksgiving feast will be dedicated to her memory. We're not sure
about funeral services yet. She has requested that her body be cremated
following the funeral.

    Mary and I along with the rest of my family greatly appreciate everyone
keeping us in your prayers and thoughts during this Holiday Season. Mom's
death was sudden and unexpected. We will miss her but we know she crossed
the rainbow bridge and is now among the wranks of family members who
preceded her. Again thanks for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts. All
the best for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Peter Donahue



"Will you come and awake our lost land from its slumber
      And her fetters we'll break, links that long are encumbered.
      And the air will resound with hosannas to greet you
      On the shore will be found gallant Irishmen to greet you."
Will You Come to the Bower
Traditional Irish Folk Song


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