Alaska Bound In Memory of Mom
Donation protected
We will never forget Mom telling us the last state she needed to visit to fulfill her dream of being to all fifty states was Alaska. Unfortunately, on February 9th 2017 at 3 pm, Mom passed away before realizing her dream. This was shocking to us (her three girls) as she had a lot of life left to live at only 56 years old.
The evening of January 31st, Mom began struggling with her breathing. She had asthma and it was assumed she was having an asthma attack. Sadly, this was not the case. Shortly after EMS had arrived, she went into cardiac arrest, but not before telling her youngest daughter “I love you”. These words were the last to any of her three daughters. What followed next was a grueling eight days of waiting for swelling in the brain due to lack of oxygen to reduce. After eight days and showing signs of improvement, we were told her condition was irreversible and there was no identified cause for the cardiac arrest. We had few options left for mom; she could remain alive on life support or she could pass peacefully. Even though it was a difficult decision, we decided to do what was best for her and allow her to pass peacefully.
As our parents had divorced when we were young, Mom invested her whole life into us. She would always say “It is us [mom and daughters] against the world”. The four of us have been inseparable until now. She passed away investing everything she had into us, her girls. One important lesson she taught that will stick with us through life is “You can’t take it [money] with you”. A gift she gave to all that crossed her path was her kindness and ability to give when she had nothing to give.
So, to give something back in loving memory and to honor mom, we [three daughters] would like to take her remains to Alaska and fulfill her dream. This is not only to fulfill that dream, but to bond us together as sisters even stronger through this difficult time. We are aiming to take our trip in early August 2017 around Mom’s birthday.
The evening of January 31st, Mom began struggling with her breathing. She had asthma and it was assumed she was having an asthma attack. Sadly, this was not the case. Shortly after EMS had arrived, she went into cardiac arrest, but not before telling her youngest daughter “I love you”. These words were the last to any of her three daughters. What followed next was a grueling eight days of waiting for swelling in the brain due to lack of oxygen to reduce. After eight days and showing signs of improvement, we were told her condition was irreversible and there was no identified cause for the cardiac arrest. We had few options left for mom; she could remain alive on life support or she could pass peacefully. Even though it was a difficult decision, we decided to do what was best for her and allow her to pass peacefully.
As our parents had divorced when we were young, Mom invested her whole life into us. She would always say “It is us [mom and daughters] against the world”. The four of us have been inseparable until now. She passed away investing everything she had into us, her girls. One important lesson she taught that will stick with us through life is “You can’t take it [money] with you”. A gift she gave to all that crossed her path was her kindness and ability to give when she had nothing to give.
So, to give something back in loving memory and to honor mom, we [three daughters] would like to take her remains to Alaska and fulfill her dream. This is not only to fulfill that dream, but to bond us together as sisters even stronger through this difficult time. We are aiming to take our trip in early August 2017 around Mom’s birthday.
Organizer
Elizabeth Hankins
Organizer
Saint Clair Shores, MI