Readers' Stories New Age Tiscali

I was intrigued by Grandma's goodbye, Some years ago, My mother became ill and slipped into a Coma for ten days. I visited her every day during my lunch break often having to wait outside of the ward whilst 'ITU' staff carried out their duties without relatives in their way. I would often be allowed in for the last five minutes of my time.

When the final moment came, it was five in the morning,I was at home, asleep in my bed and suddenly shot bolt upright wide awake. My first reaction was to ring the hospital, but then I collapsed into a deep sleep until woken by 'the telephone call' two hours later.

On the day of the funeral, my family were gathered in one room talking, I had apparantly fallen asleep in a chair. I dreamt that I was standing outside a hospital ward, through the open doors, I could see beds with people dressed in white gowns lying still. Doctors and nurses were going about their business. My mother got up from one of the beds, walked over to me, hugged me and said ' It's all right now'. With that, She went back to her bed and lay down. When I awoke I was asked why tears were running down my face even though I'd been asleep.

Over the next few weeks, each and every family member experienced some form of visitation as my mother came to say farewell. The memory is vivid to this day, even after some twenty years.