Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Dana Reeve R.I.P.

She's dead.

A widow's worst nightmare is leaving her children without the one parent they have left. I can only imagine what she must have been feeling as she realized that she was really going, leaving Will parentless.

There was a slight debate (it never got nasty) on the widow board about whether or not we felt jealous that she now gets to be with her husband.

We have discussed that many times in widow group. Would we, if we were guaranteed to be with our husbands, choose to end our lives. My answer has always been no. But if I didn't have kids, my answer may be different.

People sometimes ask me how I do it. "How do you do it?" It, meaning get up in the morning, and go about my day. My answer is always the same. "I just do it." There is no other option. My boys need me to be a mother, not a zombie, not a weeping mess.

If ever there was someone who "just did it," it's Dana Reeve. I hope that she and her husband are together, free of pain, watching over their son.

She was a true inspiration, and she will be missed.

-b

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sucks that someone so young died of such a crappy illness.

Of course I guess you know exactly how that feels B on having to experience it yourself.

As to the question of whether given the choice of being guaranteed of being with your loved one and ending your life.

Personally I don't believe in life after death in the sense of good people go to heaven bad to hell. I do believe that those we love will be resurrected in the near future to a life of peace, immortality, and non-sickness for that's what it says in the Bible.

For this reason I would continue living, as hard as it would be, and work my hardest so that I could be with my loved one in the new world.

I know that's what they'd want.

Anonymous said...

So, if you believe you get to be with your true love in the hereafter…then what if you love more than one person in life…who are you with in the after life? How can that work?!?

I wonder about that a lot
R

b said...

Rebecca,
I thought of you when I was writing this, of course. I know how much you are hurting right now, and I know how much you want to be with Amos.

But I am so absolutely positive that very soon you will have the answer you are looking for. There has to be a reason you were left behind. You will find love again, just as we all will.

And he won't be Amos, but he'll be a new kind of perfect. And you will have the family you've dreamed of. I am as sure of this as I am of anything.

And of course, you'll always have widow group :O)

Rad, I have no idea what the answers are to your questions. But they are really good ones to ponder.

Love you both.

M said...

I like the idea of Dana Reeve being with her husband, again together. Now without the pain and frustration of the disabilities he struggled with in life. I hope that it's possible...

Selfishly, I'm glad you choose here. I'm glad for me and I'm glad for the boys. But I'm even glad for you. Although being with Joe again would be a dream come true, I truly believe you will find joy again. I truly believe that life has so much more to offer you, and you have so much to offer it.

However, someday (a VERY long time from now) when your time comes, I'll picture you and Joe together.

b said...

Wait, I'm going before you?

M said...

B- Either I'll picture you, or I'll get to see it for myself! :o)

Highlandgal said...

Yeah, this one has hit hard all around. I just felt is was very sad and very unfair. She should have had a chance to heal from her loss to some degree and to live life. Sometimes life just doesn't make sense.

ninetieschild said...

sad as i feel, ive nevr been able to believe there is a soul or a life-after..though i guess it makes death easier to handle doesnt it..just..im really sorry if this makes u uncomfortable..but since uve lost someone so near to u..n i havnt..do u evr feel like the presence of his soul..somewhere..around u? coz surely if theres a soul, then we,d try n hang around our near ones after v die..

Mrs. G.F. said...

I was so sad about that.

Still am.

It completely sucks, that poor boy. He lost his grandmother a year or two ago as well.

Why should one child have to experience so much loss?

Charlene said...

Between Dana and Kirby it was a sad day for my family! Glory to God, may we all meet again!

ramblingmuse said...

I was going to post about it too. So sad! Not only for her child, but also that she was SO young!

The resiliency of people is just amazing. Everyone who "just does it" is an inspiration. We just have to take the time to let their story unfold.

Thanks for posting this!

Leslie said...

It is just such a sad sad story. I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for her to let go knowing that her son was going to be orphaned. So upsetting to even think about.