Tag Archives: Hospice

LET LOVE SHINE A LIGHT

Posted on March 21, 2022 by Judy

I thanked God for my music; it was such sweet comfort and soothed my aching heart. I was in absolute awe that those meditation recordings filling that ICU room were my own creations. I grinned when one of the doctors commented. He said, “All of the staff are in a Zen-like state listening to your music.” Continue reading →

Posted in Grief Stories | Tagged angel in the sky, anniversary of the heart, Beside Me Always, comforting a friend, comforting music, composing, courage facing death, creativity, daffodils, dealing with death, Dealing with pain, death from sepsis, death of a close friend, dying, expressing feelings, facing the end, friend dying, Friendship, friendshp, grief, Hang On, healing and grief, healing music, hope, Hospice, inspiration, Judy Unger, loss, Music, music and healing, musical comfort, nursing home, piano, solo piano, songwriter, songwriting, support, uplifting music, vulnerability | 19 Comments

NEVER GONE AWAY – PART TWO

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Judy

I know that soon you will leave me
how will I ever say goodbye?
there’s so much you’ve left me
I’ll try hard not to cry Continue reading →

Tagged Caregiving, child's death, death, death of a child, dying, end of life, farewell, Friendship, going away song, goodbye song, grief, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", GRIEF RELATED, Hospice, impending death, inspiration, instrumental music, loss, lovesong, lyric writing, lyrics, mother daughter relationship, motherhood, Music, music therapy, musical comfort, musical inspiration, original songs, palliative Care, saying goodbye, separation, terminal illness, terminally ill, Tersia Burger, writing | 7 Comments

HOW WILL I EVER SAY GOODBYE?

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Judy

Every time I sang the words “How will I ever say goodbye?” I felt tears fill my eyes. My son’s death was something I had not consciously anticipated, though he was sickly with his heart defect. What would it have been like to be with my child knowing he would soon die? I could not imagine! I wrote to a mother last night. She was anticipating that soon her daughter’s suffering would end and she would be entering the black hole of grief. Continue reading →

Tagged anticipatory grief, Caregiving, childhood friendship, compassionate friends, composing, creativity, death, death of a child, dying, Friendship, grief, grief bereavement "Loss of a Child", GRIEF RELATED, Hospice, impending death, loss, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, mother daughter relationship, Music, original songs, right-to-die, singing, songwriting, terminal illness, writing | 4 Comments

I ACHE AND WONDER WHERE YOU WENT

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Judy

Faintly, I heard a voice say, “Are you okay?” I was startled, but nodded, yes. My balloon was definitely on the ground now; it had come a long way down. I told myself that it was not my mother that had said those words to me. I knew that! My sadness was about not having my mother to cry to. I have missed her so very much!
Continue reading →

Tagged "sandwich generation", Aging Parents, dementia, Hospice, mother, mother and sadness, mother daughter relationship, mother's illness, my mother | Leave a comment

YOU WERE THERE-PART 1

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Judy

Although I try, I just can’t say goodbye
to someone who’s loved me all of my life
I might be sad, and when you’re not there
I’ll still see your love everywhere
Continue reading →

Posted in Hip fracture-no surgery | Tagged "sandwich generation", acoustic guitar, Advocacy, Aging Parents, Caregiving, composing, creativity, fractured hip, GRIEF RELATED, guitar, Hospice, inspiration, loss, loss of a mom, loss of a mother, love for my mother, lovesong, lyric development, lyric writing, lyrics, mother, mother daughter relationship, mother's hospice, mother's illness, mother's loss, Music, original songs, performing, singing, songwriting, terminal illness, tribute to my mother, writing, You Were There | 3 Comments

WHEN I FEEL DESPAIR

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Judy

I’m done taking breaks to pace myself. As I’ve learned, when you’re captain of the ship – you can’t afford to let anything drift. No one else really can steer. With a ship that is sailing into the storm, well, every moment counts. Sadly, I realize that my steering cannot really do much on a stormy sea. One day the sun will shine, and the sea will become calm. I’ll hold her hand tomorrow morning and we’ll have a nice talk.
Continue reading →

Posted in Hip fracture-no surgery | Tagged "sandwich generation", Aging Parents, Hospice, lyric writing, my mother, original songs, songwriting | Leave a comment

ILLUMINATING HEARTACHE

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Judy

There was a lot of listening to do. She shared her anguish with a voice that did not reveal the true depth of her pain. The hospital insisted that her dying husband be released to her care tomorrow. She was not prepared. The hospital felt there was nothing more to do and she was responsible to set up hospice care; she needed to handle all those arrangements. She needed a hospital bed; she needed nurses. It was overwhelming. It was hard for her to deal with; she wanted him to stay in the hospital a little longer. Continue reading →