I’ll Wait for You

 Dali – Ascent into the Sky

Synchronicities often occur during major transitions in our lives and one of those transitions is the ultimate journey we all take – death. You’ve heard the stories – clocks stop at the moment a loved one dies, a pet acts strangely in the days leading up to its owner’s death, appliances break down inexplicably,  the seemingly random sighting of a crow or owl occurs shortly before a person passes on. Often, the synchronicities involved defy the odds.
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On September 23, 2005, Trish got a phone call from her sister, Mary, in Roswell,  Georgia. Their father, who had spent the last two years in an assisted living facility where Mary was the wellness director, had had a stroke earlier that morning, hadn’t regained consciousness, and was not expected to live. How quickly could she get to Georgia?

At the time, Rob was visiting his mother in Minnesota, Megan was still in high school, so Trish couldn’t go anywhere until Rob returned. Frantic, she called her father’s room and – to her shock – he answered. She explained she would be in Georgia as soon as Rob returned from Minnesota. He assured her he was fine, she
 shouldn’t worry, he would wait for her.After that call, he lapsed into a coma again.

Trish arrived in Roswell two days later. She and Mary spent the day in his room, sorting through his belongings, exchanging memories. Since hearing is the last sense to go, their dad’s favorite classical music played in the background. He was known then by Megan’s name for him – Buddy. Her grandmother, who had died five years earlier, was Nana. So for most of the day, it was Buddy this, Nana that. The aides who had taken care of Buddy for the last two years wandered in and out of the room all day to see how he was doing.

One of them drew Trish aside.  “It’s amazing he has hung on this long. I think he was waiting for you to get here.” Those were his exact words the last time they had spoken.

He died peacefully at eleven that night.

“It is as if natural principles do not apply during the process of death,”  writes Robert Hopcke, author of There Are No Accidents, “as if causality and matter are suspended.”

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13 Responses to I’ll Wait for You

  1. Spence/Dnatree says:

    My whole life has been about synchronicity and I just used this story as my father just passed and his nickname was Buddy and a promise was fulfilled as he waited for me to deliver my children to see him before he died.
    Here is the story
    https://oroborusforum.com/posting.php?mode=editpost&p=131093

    The whole story of my life through synchronicity is at http://www.stephentree.com

  2. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    New Soul – special people do hospice work. To help people pass on in a peaceful way is a calling – and a gift.

  3. A New Soul says:

    Trish what a lovely story and a special moment for you to be with your father on his last day. I am just beginning my career as a hospice social worker and I am in awe of what a powerful moment it is to be present at that time. Thank you for sharing!

  4. Shadow says:

    my father was VERY superstitious of friday the 13th. he died on one. and a few years later, my mother passed away on their wedding anniversary. synchronicity???

  5. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    Thanks for posting this, Ray. It's a terrific story. There's obviously so much we don't know about how things work!

  6. Ray says:

    I am certainly a believer in your conclusions.

    My brother called me to come home from Virginia to the state of Washington. He told me our mother had about five days to live. She had pancreatic cancer discovered when she had surgery for what was assumed was a problem with her gall bladder. My wife and children accompanied me home. That evening at dinner was Mom's last lucid moments. The next morning she was definitely not herself. A lot of that was demerol induced, but she had had her pain medication the night before.

    My brother rented a station wagon so that we could take her to Spokane, 100 miles away for hospitalization. Being on vacation I stayed with her 24/7 except when my wife, Dad or my siblings would stay with her for a few hours while I went to the hotel to sleep. I had my birthday while she was hospitalized. I told her what day it was and asked if she remembered what happened 28 years earlier on 7 January 1944. She mumbled no, what? I answered her, but it didn't register with her.

    A couple of days prior to her death she was transferred from Spokane to our home town of Moses Lake. The night she died, 18 January 1976 my wife, one sister-in-law and I were staying with her. I was tired from that period of nearly a month with not much sleep. I crawled under her bed and fell asleep. As she gasped her last breaths I woke up and crawled out from under the bed to be at the bedside as she took her last breath.

    In November 2000 my dad died. I slept in a recliner while my sister was awake with him. Again, I awoke just as he died.

    Ray

  7. GYPSYWOMAN says:

    forgot to mention, my sister's name is the same as your other reader – but spelled differently: jerelyn
    🙂

  8. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    What an incredible story, Gypsy! And Jarielyn's right. These are moments to cherish.

  9. GYPSYWOMAN says:

    oh, addendum on my comment above – both our brother and mother had died a number of years prior – she was having a dialogue with them when i first arrived –

  10. GYPSYWOMAN says:

    beautiful story – very moving, trish!

    similar thing with my sister who several years ago – she was in louisiana – i was in delaware – she had undergone a major repair of her quad by-pass surgery and had been moved to rehab when she suddenly deteriorated and had to be hospitalized again – deterioration was rapid – in and out of consciousness she would whisper to ask if i was there yet and even told the nurses that she "would wait" for me – i got there about 10pm one night and went straight to her in icu – sat down beside her and called her name – she was muttering our brother's name and saying "mother" – i asked her if they were "there" and she moved her head "yes" – then she stirred a bit and moved her index finger for me to come closer and whispered "go tell the doctor that i WILL NOT DIE TONIGHT" – i didn't want to leave her for even a moment even to walk over to the nurse's station, but she wagged her finger again for me to go so i did – the nurses came in and then the doctor – all astir! – bottom line – true to her word, she did not die that night – and today is living in her own place, doing her theatre work!

    great post!

  11. ~JarieLyn~ says:

    This is amazing. How awesome to have experienced this. What a wonderful moment to cherish.

  12. Trish and Rob MacGregor says:

    I've heard a number of stories like this, Nancy, and they never cease to amaze me.

  13. Nancy says:

    I had the same thing happen when my aunt died. She had been comatose for some time, and had not spoken in weeks. I traveled to Pennsylvania to see her one last time, and after a four day visit where she didn't speak, just as I was leaving to renturn home. She very clearly said "I love you, Nannie." Her name for me. She died within days after I left.

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