NPR’s Scott Simon, who hosts Weekend Edition, has spent the past several days live-tweeting his experience at the bedside of his dying mother in ICU. In 2008, Simon and his mother, Pat Simon Newman Gilband, recorded a family story with the StoryCorps project.
I don’t know how we’ll get through these next few days. And, I don’t want them to end.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
Mother asks, “Will this go on forever?” She means pain, dread. “No.” She says, “But we’ll go on forever. You & me.” Yes.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
Wake up, see my hands shaking. Mother holds them, murmurs, “Goodnight Sweet Prince.” Morphine, but no sleep for her.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
When my mother woke briefly I sang her My Best Girl. She replied w/ You Are the Sunshine of My Life. Broadway in the ICU.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
ICU seems to be staffed by good, smart young docs who think they know everything, and wise RN’s who really do.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
I am not sure my mother understands Twitter or why I tell her millions of people love her–but she says she’s ver touched.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
I think she wants me to pass along a couple of pieces of advice, ASAP. One: reach out to someone who seems lonely today.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
Journos who say they’re hard-boiled cause they see so much should know ICU nurses see more in a week. And come out kind.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
Just spent 45 mins looking for mother’ favorite dental floss. Waste of time? Act of faith.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
Mother groans w/ pleasure–over flossing. “When they mention great little things in life, they usually forget flossing.”
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 28, 2013
I love holding my mother’s hand. Haven’t held it like this since I was 9. Why did I stop? I thought it unmanly? What crap.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 29, 2013
Mother cries Help Me at 2;30. Been holding her like a baby since. She’s asleep now. All I can do is hold on to her.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 29, 2013
Her passing might come any moment, or in an hour, or not for a day. Nurses saying hearing is last sense to go so I sing & joke.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 29, 2013
