Maria,

The only comfort I can possibly provide is that your mother and father are blissfully reunited eternally in spirit.  I lost my wife to cancer over 18 months ago.  We were together since age 16 and would had celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary this December 3rd.  In 1982, I had what I called an OBE (out of body experience) which was published on the NDERF (near death experience research foundation).  They classified it as an NDE.  I was hit and thrown by a truck, felt nothing and found my self like an invisible cloud floating above my body.  It was blissful like I could stay there forever.  I saw things that I shouldn't had been able to see because of the position of my body.  A thought of my pregnant wife suddenly flashed through my consciousness and thought to myself, no, I can't go yet.  I dove back into my body seeing myself getting closer to it as I dove inside, yet it was so fast.  That experience never left me as I can remember it like it just happened.  Why am I telling you this?  Because my spirit separated from my body.  True, I didn't go all the way but it is enough to believe that there is conscious life after death.  My wife and I had true love for each other as though we were one.  We often talked about the fact that we will be together forever when we pass on throughout the years.  When I held her in my arms the final hours, we spoke about the love we have for each other.  It was nice that our grown children got there before she passed so she could see them.  She smiled up at them and said she was sorry, feeling sad they were crying.  She even told me not to cry and I said I can't help it, I love you with all my heart and soul.  I gave her a final kiss.  I asked if she believes that we will be together forever someday and she said yes.  That was her final thought.  Then she took her final breath.  My first thought was that I have to go where she just went and I pray each night is my last.  I have a few health issues that I hope will take me out soon.  That's my only "till then", and will be my last thought when I go.  My children knew our love and they actually pray for me to go to her.  I tell them that when I go, don't mourn, Celebrate!  Celebrate knowing that we are reunited where we belong, together.  Yes, there are times when I wonder, but my OBE reinforces me.

The worst part is missing her physical presence, sharing our love for one another here.  It's torturous at times and I'm sure it's the same for you.  Missing their presence in your life.

My only suggestion is for you to think about how happy they are together right now.  There are cases where seconds before the death of a person with Alzheimer's, regained all memory and recognition of those around them.  These were reported by hospice caretakers.  Their love will live on together as will their spirits as ONE.

God Bless, Joe