The Death of My Mother
The Death of My Motherby Tadami YamadaAfter three and half years struggle against a diseasemy mother rested at 10 a.m., 30th march, 2012at the age of ninety two and nine monthsThe stream of time goes swiftIt's been seven days since the dayThe 28th, early morning, her physical conditionsuddenly changed in badShe given medical treatment by the family doctorwho hurried to my house, and escaped a crisisThe next day, the 29th, it was going onthe schedule for nursing with me7:40 a.m. Temperature was 36.9℃ Blood pressure and Pulse; (the first)124 over 67. 82/m., (the second)124 over 69. 78/m., (the third)122 over 68. 83/m.,8:20 a.m. Injected the prescription nutrient liquid 100ml and water 100ml in to her nose through a plastic tube10:25 a.m. Injected several mixed medicines and water 60ml in to her nose through a plastic tube11:40 a.m. The family doctor came my house for treatment Temperature was 37.1℃ Blood pressure was 112 over 76 Pulse was 95/m ST Oxygen was 99% (by Oxygen inhaler 3.5l/h)0:00 p.m. Changed the liquid for IVH (a intravenous drip injection from her neck)2:10 p.m. Injected the prescription nutrient liquid 100ml and water 100ml in to her nose through a plastic tube8:00 p.m. Absorbed phlegm8:30 p.m. Injected the prescription nutrient liquid 100ml and water 100ml in to her nose through a plastic tube9:45 p.m. Injected several mixed medicines and water 60ml in to her nose through a plastic tube10:40 p.m. Her right thumb fell into a fit of convulsions. Instantly, I call the doctor, and then absorbed phlegm. Temperature was 35.8℃ Blood pressure was 124 over 63 Pulse was 91/m11:16 p.m. The family doctor arrived. Temperature was 36.1℃ Blood pressure was 146 over 73 Pulse was 92/m ST Oxygen was 99% (by Oxygen inhaler 4l/h)11:45 p.m. The doctor absorbed phlegm, but secretions and urine were very small. The doctor said that the inside mouth and the tracheas dry up, and injected her medicines. Taking the medicine alleviated her conditions. Pulse was 99/m ST Oxygen was 100% (by Oxygen inhaler 4l/h)30th March0:05 a.m. The doctor went back to his home.0:10 a.m. Amount of urine a day were 600ml. Amount of waste fluid a day were 75ml. (Amount of all ingested water of the day were 1,750ml)0:15 a.m. Following the doctor's instruction injected 150ml water for athlete After that, I checked the diary of nursingand began to prepare my bed for a nap beside my mother's ill bedAnd I happened to look back to her She seemed to stop breathing.Instantly I listened the sound of her lungsNever!I listened the sound of her heartNever!I pushed her heart, pushed, pushed-----I call the doctor, "her heart stopped, now" said,back to her, pushed her heart again and againHer heart was stopping, never movedNever!The doctor arrived, and he pushed her heart in place of meNever aliveI call my younger brothers,said that our mother died now"At 1:25 a.m., she died of decrepitude "said the doctor, "I regret her death""I greatly appreciate your kindness" I said.He call the trained nurse of my family,And he took off several tubes from the body.I purified her body.About 2:00 a.m., The nurse arrived.The doctor, the nurse and I changed her clothesfor her last journey.I'm undecided about what to put on her for a while.My mother always dressed Japanese traditional clothes "kimono" So I took dozens of "kimono" from her double chest of drawersdisregarding the doctor and the nurse's astonishmentA set of "kimono" which I decided was-----an exclusive pongee which was woven ofblack, deep green and golden silk threadswith a complicated pattern of bamboo hedges, andthe sushi "obi" which was woven of silver pink and golden silk threadslike the sky of spring's dawn in which a golden cloud threads its way,and a crested half coat "haori" was black figured satin which was embroidered the family crest and figures of bamboo leaves in gold,and Japanese-style socks "tabi" in white.2:30 a.m.My mother changed her appearance for her last journey,The doctor went back to the hospital to write the death certificate The nurse went back too, leaving a few wordI call a funeral parlor to ask dry ice to bring my houseAbout 3:00 a.m.My younger brother's family arrived The funeral parlor arrived,and made previous arrangements on funeral rites5:00 a.m.After my younger brother's family went back their home,I was alone. I brought a sketchbook from my studio, made a sketch of the death mask of my mother