My Mother was unique and fiesty, but she was a great Mother. She wasn't much on hugs and stuff but we always knew she loved us and that I was her favorite of her five children? Maybe I felt that way because one of the last times I was with her she communicated to me how she felt about me. One evening I got a call that they had rushed her to the hospital and that I had better get there as fast as I could. When I arrived at the emergency room the doctor took me out into the hall and told me that Mom was bleeding internally and they were going to do a rectal exam to see where the blood was coming from. I asked if that uncomfortable procedure was necessary. At this point my Mother weighed less that 60 pounds and didn't speak or even give any indication she knew what was going on. She just laid on the gurney staring up at the ceiling with her arms crossed on her chest and covered by a hospital sheet. But the doctor said it was important to find out if she was in any pain. So I decided to tell her what was going to happen in case by some chance she could hear me. I went back into her room and stood beside her and across from the nurse and said, "Mom...I have arranged for an early birthday present for you"...there was no response so I went on..."I have arranged for you to have a rectal exam. Happy Birthday"....... There were no signs that she understood what I said, but then there was a little movement under the sheet and the nurse surprised by any movement pulled back the sheet and observed my sweet Mother with arms still laying on her chest flipping me the BIRD with both hands. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for her to summon the strength to let me know that I was #1. I love you Mom!
