Evie Nazor-Comer, at left, and Tilleigh Nazor-Comer, spent quality time with their great-grandmother, Evelyn
Lancaster, during her month-long stay at Erlanger hospital, Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, and St. Barnabas Healthcare Center prior to her death on July 9.My mother died on Wednesday afternoon, July 9, surrounded by family and friends. Evelyn Lancaster took her last breath hearing us tell her how much we loved her. It was beautifully peaceful, albeit painful, knowing that we would never again hear her voice, see her smile or feel her embrace.
But we will forever feel her love.
Mother had experienced a steady decline since entering Erlanger hospital on June 8 after multiple unexplained falls. Diagnosed with eight inoperable brain tumors, Mother fought hard to live. Doctors had given us some encouragement, saying radiation treatments could offer a 50 percent chance of shrinking the tumors, thus giving her more time on earth. But fate had different plans. Mother never made it to her first treatment.
My mom’s final journey was a roller-coaster ride. Some days she’d make progress and other days regress. Still, we never gave up. Our goal was to get her to radiation treatments for that chance to survive.
In late May, when I realized Mother’s health was declining, I opted to take medical leave of absence from the newspaper in order to take care of her in my home and, as it turned out, by her side throughout her care at Erlanger, Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation and St. Barnabas Healthcare Center. And, though this sounds crazy, it was a pleasant experience, thanks to incredibly nice people.