On 03/12/2020 they closed TLC to all visitors due to the COVID19 virus. Up until that point I visited Connie every day since she entered TLC on 09/27/2018, for a total of 790 days. I used to bring her special fresh foods, and other things. We had lunch together every day and whenever possible we would go sit near the fountain in the large outside patio. After that we would go back to her room and watch shows and movies on my Computer until she was ready for a nap.
After they no longer allowed me into the building, we would do video phone calls to be able to see each other and talk. During this time she was hospitalized twice for UTIs and due to dehydration problems because I was not there to make her drink her liquids. As time went on, she was get getting worse. The last time she was in the hospital, for nearly 2 weeks, she was not in good health, physically or mentally. Due to all the testing of COVID-19 and the isolation periods, she really went down hill. It was getting more and more difficult to get video calls.
When she was near death, I finally "forced" my way into the building to see her. On Tuesday, 18 Aug, I got to see her physically for the first time in five months, and sit next to her at the bedside. She was on oxygen at the time. Her eyes were open, but fixed in a stare. I held her hand and caressed her forehead and cheeks, telling her how much I loved her. Even though I could feel and hear her breathing, there was no movement, no talking, no facial expression, no nothing, I could feel that she heard me. She didn't look like she was in any pain. After more than two hours, I finally left. It was only 6 hours after I left that she passed away. I can only hope that her visit and that she understood that I was there loving her and all this gave her permission to "let go".
This was on her 80th birthday this past year.
P.S. There will be no memorial or service.
