Sadly my father and siblings and I lost our mother to Parkinsons Disease on March 27th, 2022.

We camped at Indian Bear for Christmas of 2021 and always planned to return to remember our last Christmas with her there. We were all very sad to hear it had been sold.

My mother retired and was taking full-time hospice care of my step dad and we lost him. She was doing well but lately hasn’t been herself. She does everything for everyone and it’s so hard not to be able to help her as her sadness just grows bc she can’t live through her retirement w/ her most cherished husband. My mother worked for a city police department and once retired began almost immediately full-time care for her mother and husband who was worsening with a rare disease and ended up in hospice. She never complained and was always there for our family including them.

She, unfortunately, lost her mother and her husband all in the same week prior to the winter holidays. She has hung in there until recently I believe it is more setting in with time and is having such a hard time with the losses. When asking her she always says she is fine, just sad. This woman has done nothing in her life for herself and would love this opportunity to attend with my sister and comfort my mother.

On Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 our beloved brother passed away from a lingering illness of approximately 8 years due to his 38-year employment and unfortunate exposure to asbestos. This led to pulmonary fibrosis and COPD. Shortly after his early retirement (due to illness), he was administered supplemental oxygen. At the time of his death, he was on 9 liters of oxygen. Dave was our only brother. He never married so when he became ill, we, his siblings became his caregivers.

We watched him struggle to breathe every day since. This disease thickened the lungs and the person loses elasticity causing scarring and decreasing lung capacity. Myself and one of my sisters accompanied him to nearly every doctor appointment, medical testing, and wherever else he needed to go whether it be to the Pulmonologist, Veterans Administration medical team, or his family physician. We assisted with his outside chores until it became evident he could no longer maintain his home. He moved into my husband’s and my property as to be closer to family.
For the past year and one half, he was in the care of hospice. There was never a doubt among the sisters that we would be his primary caregivers. This took a toll on family time and other outside events that we simply could not attend.

Christmas morning Dave took a turn for the worst. We knew his time on earth was closing. We provided 24-hour care until his passing.
Giving us this opportunity would give his siblings and I a chance to rest and reflect on Dave’s life. It would provide a time of much needed sister bonding in a beautiful quiet, peaceful setting.