My mother lies in the UCSF Emergency Department, dying too slowly by
her courageous estimate. I am reduced to tenacious advocate for pain
meds, imaging, admission, palliative care. But not death and alas, no
dominion over death, not I, not this time. I shall accept it but
begrudgingly initially. Till the woman who bore me embraces it and
death embraces her, it will be a trying journey beset on all
sides by the ravening dogs of war.

So I play many roles, ER Nurse Man, advocate but most of all I yearn
to be just her son and as she slips the surly bonds of earth I will
tend to her body and soul. I will clean, dress, feed, comfort, read to
and most of all love her as a son.

Thank you for reading.

David