The Unwanted Bed Wedge and Donations

Today in 2014 I wrote that my parents decided to delay the arrival of the hospital bed, because that decision seems so final. Mom chose, instead, to obtain a wedge for the bed she shared with dad so she could sleep with her chest elevated to help her breate better. What a mistake that decision turned out to be. That wedge was huge, she used it once, and it stayed with us until my father died. 

The wedge was blue to match the bedroom walls, removeable fabric-covered foam, about 27° angle, and it took up more than 1/2 of my parents' queen-sized bed. When mom used it, she said the bottom of her spine hurt. I knew what she meant, and that position wasn't the best for her, or for anyone for that matter. But, since hospice ordered it and my parents didn't pay for it, they kept it.

Since that wedge stayed past dad's demise, it was up to me to decide what to do with that durn thing. I donated it. I hope it found a good home.

Speaking of donations, plan now to decide what you want to pass on to your friends, family, children, etc. and which things need to be donated. I had to make those decitions alone for both parents, as my siblings live out west and weren't part of the day-to-day plans and outcomes regarding either parents' deaths. My parents didn't say a word about most of their items, and I didn't know to ask. I wish I did. My life would be so much easier.

Even now, many of my parents' belongings are sitting quietly down in my basement, waiting for me to decide what to do with them.