One Month Ago Today......................

Katherine Gaylo Coulson
December 7, 1937 – December 7, 2009

It was her birthday, a day when we were all going to celebrate with her at the hospital with balloons and cake but instead we celebrated with tears and memories.

Shawn’s mom was a feisty lady; she fought a well fought battle with cancer for three years. By the end the cancer had spread throughout her whole body yet her heart stayed strong.

It was two thirty in the morning when we got the call to head down to the hospital. So Shawn and his brother went first, at first I stayed behind with Carly, Shawn was to call if it was important I be there so I knew that when I got the call 20mins later from Shawn that I had better head down there it was going to be the end. I dropped Carly off with my brother and went to the hospital.

When I got there to my surprise Gay was still coherent, she still knew who everyone was and although she could not talk we knew she was happy we were all there with her. At one point I said to her Happy Birthday, it’s your birthday today and she just shrugged her shoulders like of course it’s my birthday today.

It was not until around 10:00 – 11:00ish when she left us. Shawn’s Sister, Shawn’s Brother, Shawn and I got to be there with her the few hours before she went. I will never forget the feeling in the room that day. I remember everyone’s brave smiles and fake laughter. I remember when Gay actually gave Shawn heck for fooling around, she pointed at him and he knew what she was saying even though she couldn’t talk.

In the little time that I had the privilege to know her, Gay made a HUGE impact in my life. She taught me perseverance, patients, and also about how life is too short to not say what is actually on your mind.

She raised three kids all on her own, although they never had money, a huge house, or expensive things her kids ALWAYS were loved, clothed and fed.

We will never be able to fill the void that Gay left us with that day, but hopefully we will be able to keep her memory alive and honour her the way she deserved to be honoured.

December 7, 2009, although a sad day, it could not have been a better way for her to go. As she breathed her last breath we knew she was ready.

Thank you Jesus for the time you gave us with such a beautiful lady.