Vivion  102

I mentioned Vivion last week. Let me tell you just a little bit more of her story in the years that I knew her.

 

A Sad Turn of Events

Care at an Assisted Living is expensive. Vivion ran out of money. It was a very sad day when we learned that Vivion was going to have to leave Appletree Court. We had celebrated her 100th birthday with her. She was approaching 101 and still just as fisty and full of life as ever. We joined her family and ours to have a going away party at Appletree. Vivion is brave. I know she had faced many other disappointments in her long life. My mom doesn’t easily show emotion, but I knew she felt like she was losing a dear friend.

The bus arrived from the McKinney Nursing Home. They graciously helped her out and onto the bus. Mom waved goodbye from the porch as the bus pulled out.

Over the next two years we did take Mom over to visit Vivion on several occasions. Vivion was continuing her Bingo games. She now had a tiny room and a roommate. It wasn’t the same as Appletree. Vivion was always so very glad to see us and so happy to talk with Mom (although Mom can’t hear well anymore.) Each time she hated to see us leave and followed us to the front door and waved through the window as we drove off.

While at Appletree I did get to talk to Vivion about the Lord Jesus. She prayed to receive Him as her personal Savior. At the age of 102, Vivion went on to be with the Lord. We miss her very much. Her son, Wayne, graciously writes a letter to Mom each Christmas with a card.

The Only Centenarian I have Personally Known

Vivion is the only Centenarian I have known so far. She was a charming example of what old age can be like. She never complained. She was filled with enthusiasm and hope. She laughed a bunch. Often she talked to me about being concerned about my mom and that she was uneasy that Mom might not be doing as well as she used to be.  What a caring person she was. She had had a very exciting life loving golf as she did and staying active. Her later years were a challenge with the paralysis on one side, but she kept right on going, dressing herself, putting on her own hose and selecting her jewelry and beautiful shoes each day.

My mom, Doris Capps, may well become the next Centenarian I have known. She is 97. She has begun to miss my dad more and more in these last years. She is still strong and healthy, but now needs a wheelchair. In 2016 we found a wonderful residence care home with only 6 residents and 3 caregivers. Mom has her own room with big windows to enable her to enjoy the outside happenings and to allow the sunshine to come in. Mom is happy there and we are only five minutes away.

I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts about living a very long time.  For John and I, we pray we will never ever ever have to go to a nursing home. We also pray we can stay in our own home strong and healthy all of our years. Others have done so; why not us and why not you?