Thanks, guys.
Charlie died suddenly, unexpectedly and medicated to be pain and worry-free after collapsing while visiting our son Evan's family and meeting a new grandson. Her underlying disease was only diagnosed two days before her death -- a rare and deadly form of an auto immune disease I'd never heard of before called scleroderma. It had previously manifested itself as rapidly advancing dementia and increasing joint pain. In its last manifestation it showed up as total kidney failure and then internal bleeding.
It may sound like a cliche, but I've now come to believe that her sudden passing was one of God's blessings. Both of our future lives would have been hellish if she had survived that last battle. She's now in a better place. I'm coming to grips with things and think I am back on the mend. If my rapid recovery and acceptance appears unseemly to you, please keep in mind that I have been grieving the loss of the wonderful woman I married for a few years now as this horrible disease ravaged her brain and her body.
She was a registered nurse and took unusually good care of her health. All of my retirement planning was based on the assumption she would outlive me by 20+ years. Adjusting to life without her is very strange.
In the interest of passing on some of my learning from this experience, please make sure you have prepared for your time by having all of the necessary documents in place:
*Recently updated will (I've learned only 30% of people have them.)
*Medical directive for end of life decisions. (File a copy with your PCP doctor.)
*Medical Power of Attorney.
*Financial power of attorney. (In case you become unable to make financial transactions/decisions before death.)
*HIPAA medical information release forms. (A relatively new development you really need.)
*A document stating your wishes for final arrangements of your remains, ceremonies, etc.
It is best to have a lawyer do these for you but, if you want to avoid the cost of that now, there is software called WillMaker that we used, will do a very adequate job for you and is easy to update as your life situation changes.
Please, folks, do your family a big favor and get these documents completed!
Brad
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