Memories of My Uncle-Leighann’s Story

Child Grief and Bereavement

As a hospice nurse for the past 3 years, I have seen and comforted many.  I have experienced many personal losses and patient losses.
This story though is written through the eyes of a 16 year old.   This all happened to her when she was 12 years old.  This story is about her Uncle and my son, who was at the age of 30 at the time of his death.  She wrote this as a school project when asked to write about some special moment in her life that she remembered.  This short story is only through her memories.
As an adult we grieve the lost loved ones differently then a child does at times, the emotions and memories may also differ.  It is still a loss no matter how we look at it.  The grieving takes time, and the memories are always there.
Linda

My Uncle’s Last Christmas
12/17/2009

     Before we knew it, we found out that my Uncle had cancer.  He was a U.S. Marine and he was a Lance Corporal.  He had lost his left eye and had tumors in his brain.  And what he wanted most before he died is he wanted everyone to be there for his last Christmas.  He didn’t want didn’t want any fighting because he wanted it to be a Christmas that he would never forget.
     It got worse for my uncle because what happened was the cancer spread down to his lungs.  He had to have an oxygen tank.  Then we lost him March 24, 2006.  He had a short life to live and I remember that Christmas, baking cookies with him and unwrapping Christmas gifts. It was so much fun that I never wanted that day to end.  But I know that everywhere I go that he will always be there to protect me because he is my Guardian Angel.  And whenever we have Thanksgiving or Christmas or any other holiday I can feel his presence having fun with us.
Leighann