Nana is gone. She passed away at 9:45am on Sunday morning, December 6th, 2020. I know she's in heaven. I know she's our guardian angel now. But I can't hold her hand, I can't kiss her cheek, I can't hear her sweet voice on the phone.
Yes, I'm grateful we had her until she was 97 years old. I'm grateful she was in her beloved apartment until she was almost 95. I'm grateful Watsontown Nursing and Rehab took good care of her.
When she got Covid-19, her tiny 77 lb. body couldn't win that battle. After all the struggles she overcame in her life, this was the one that took her.
I'm grieving but along with my grief is anger. Anger because Nana didn't
have to die this way. She didn't have to die now. She was robbed of the chance to die of natural causes, to die
on her time line. Nana died from a pandemic that has stolen the lives of so many
of our long term care residents for months and months and it's not right.
Ultimately, I blame President Trump and his administration. They knew from the beginning that long term care residents were the most vulnerable for this virus. But instead of addressing how to keep this extremely vulnerable population safe, he chose to ignore the severity of the virus, chose to refuse to listen to scientists who are experts on infectious diseases, chose to make fun of people who wore masks, chose to hold super spreader events. All the while showing no empathy for the hundreds of thousands who've died. And still die every day —like Nana.
When Nana got Covid, she didn't get preferential treatments or get whisked off to a military hospital by helicopter so she could recover. No, she had to suffer and die without her family beside her.
I’m sure there’s others who share some of the blame for this tragedy, but the buck stops at the top. Leadership matters, science matters, intelligence matters, empathy matters. I will never forgive Trump and all those who support and enable this cruel man.
On another day, on another post, I'll share memories of our dear sweet Nana.
But today, I'm grieving and angry.
Nana should still be here with us but she is gone and I will miss her forever.
Link to Nana's obituary:
https://www.mccartythomas.com/obituaries/Deanie-Rhone/#!/Obituary
One of my favorite pictures of Nana and I.
Nana and Diane June 2019
