The Other Side of Heaven (14 page)

Name:
Emma Thomas

Name of loved one
: Bonnie Jean Moore

Age
: 54

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Sickness

A little about the one who passed:
My mother adopted me in
Germany when I was 1 year and 7 months old. She and my daddy divorced when I
was 7 years old. My mother worked hard 10-16 hour days to support my sister and
me. We never lacked for anything. We were never hungry and we always were aware
of where we stood with her.

How would one moment change your life?
I moved along long ago. I
had faith mama was in the Hands of our Creator. Seeing her for just one moment
would be a reaffirmation to me that we truly do go on.

What would you want to say:
I would tell mama how much I’ve
missed her physical presence in my life. I would tell her I loved her with all
my heart and soul. I would then tell her she was right about life all along,

Name:
Linda

Name of loved one
: Lloyd Hester II

Age
: 16

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Accident

A little about the one who passed:
My oldest played football,
girls loved him, handsome, hated his curly hair, so loving and generous
especially to his brothers

How would one moment change your life?
To be able to know he is
alright and how much we all miss him and love him, one last kiss and hug, we
never got to say goodbye.

What would you want to say:
how much I love and miss you. Are
you happy?

Name:
Miss N.

Name of loved one
: Gill

Age
: 65

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Accident

A little about the one who passed:
My mom was my best friend and
at times worst enemy. She was alcohol dependant and it was a struggle growing
up in a household with two parents like this. When sober she was the best mom
and would do anything but when on a binge, you would meet no-one nastier. I
still loved her, even though at times we didn’t speak for up to a year. She
loved going on holiday but for me, I worried until her and my dad got home to
check they were still in one piece!

How would one moment change your life?
I could say goodbye -
having fallen down the stairs under the influence I never got to say goodbye. I
want to know she didn’t suffer and that I’m in a good place now and settled.

What would you want to say:
How much I love and miss her. How I
pick up the phone so often to speak to her and then remember she’s gone.

Name:
Michael Leon

Name of loved one
:
Patricia Leon

Age
: 53

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Sickness

A little about the one who passed:
She was courageous and loved
me without regret.

How would one moment change your life?
I quit talking to my
whole family because of issues. I chose to ignore them. But recently I
reconciled with my dad after 10 years, and he died 5 months after that. I
realize I will never be able to say I am sorry to my mother, and that I really
do love her with all my heart. Because she died before I was able to move
beyond my grudge and just be her son again. Who knows how she felt when she
died. I will regret this and it will haunt me until I die.

What would you want to say:
I am sorry I turned my back on you.

Name:
Carol S.

Name of loved one
: Shirley B.

Age
: 75

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Sickness

A little about the one who passed:
Best Mom in the world, we didn’t
get to be together too much because my Mother-in-law lived in same town and
demanded more attention.

How would one moment change your life?
I would feel closer to my
Mom and feel like I didn’t let her down.

What would you want to say:
I am sorry, I love you.

Name:
Artie Williams

Name of loved one
: Choicie Green

Age
: 65

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Sickness

A little about the one who passed:
She was my absolute best
friend and always had my back. Being an only child, she was also the closest
thing I had to a sister. I could talk to her about anything. She was
intelligent and a lover of learning. She taught me that I could do anything I
set my mind to.

How would one moment change your life?
I would be able to rest with
the satisfaction that she knows that I am alright.

What would you want to say:
You taught me well and I’ve handled
things in my life in a way that I think you would be proud of.

Name:
Paula

Name of loved one
:
Connie

Age
: 64

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Sickness

A little about the one who passed:
My father died when I was 9
and my mom raised me and my 2 siblings alone, she never remarried. She worked
so hard all her life to make sure we had what we needed and then some. Her life
as a single mom was so hard but she never complained. She was always at every
soccer game, dance recital and school function. I never realized how much she
sacrificed until I became a parent.

How would one moment change your life?
I feel incomplete. So
many unanswered questions and things unsaid

What would you want to say:
Thank you

Name:
Shona McLaren

Name of loved one
: June McLaren

Age
: 54

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Natural Causes

A little about the one who passed:

How would one moment change your life?
She died suddenly and
unexpectedly I didn’t get to say goodbye or tell her how much I loved her. It
would resolve the guilt I have of us not talking for 8 years. P.s. I’m doing
this from my phone but if you would like a picture I’ll gladly send it.

What would you want to say:
Thank you for being my mom, for
bringing me up to be the strong independent woman I am. Sorry I’ was such a
shit teenager and I love you so much and never told you.

Name:
Christl Howze

Name of loved one
:
Frances Nelson

Age
: 70

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Sickness

A little about the one who passed:
My mom raised 4 girls alone.
She was witty, supportive and quietly inspiring.

How would one moment change your life?
When my mother died, I
honestly think I stopped living. And it’s funny in a way because I never
thought about it until answering this question. I used to be a more vibrant
outgoing person. I think I need her to tell me to start living again. To hear
her voice, feel her hug. To feel her gentle inspiration for the rest of my
life. She left too soon and too suddenly. I would also want her to give me a
message for my grandson. They absolutely loved each other. He was 8 when she
died, he’s 18 now. He recently told me when she died he felt he lost his
champion. She cheered him on in everything he did. He says he felt angry and
lost after she died. I would love to carry a personal message back to him so he
could refocus and be the best man he can be.

What would you want to say:
I miss you so much.

Name:
Debbie J.

Name of loved one
: Dorothy R.

Age
: 58

Relationship:
Mother

How they died:  
Sickness

A little about the one who passed:
I was very close to my mom. I
stayed at the hospital every night. On her final night, she was too weak to
swallow her meds. So they crushed them and put them in applesauce and I fed
them to her. A couple hours later she went into cardiac arrest. They got her
back, but she never woke up again. I believe I murdered her.

How would one moment change your life?
If she said no, I could
forgive myself. If she said yes, then I would know the guilt is exactly where
it belongs...on me

What would you want to say:
Did I Kill You?