Saying Goodbye

Our family said goodbye to Shannon on Wednesday.  First we visited the office to deliver flowers and a candle.  Christine sat with us in the waiting area and once again explained to me that she tried to call me.  I wish I had known.  It had been a year since my appointment - I truly thought they were just staying on top of me since it had been year and we were all close.  The other women of the office stared at the kids in admiration of Dr. Moorehead's fine work.  My three miracles that she had brought into the world.  Mary Beth brought us to the back. 

We walked to hall of the office and Mary Beth showed us the pictures she hung and would not let anyone touch.  There Shannon had three pictures of each of the boys and two of Jaelyn hanging on two separate boards.  I entered an exam room and there I waited patiently as I always did for her.  Except it wasn't her that walked through the door.  It was the nurse practitioner.  She was wonderful, but it wasn't my friend who I loved and trusted.  She reviewed my chart and said, "Let's see, the last time you were here was March 30, 2011 and you saw, oh, Dr. Moorehead."  "Yes," I said and tears broke.  I didn't think I would cry.  I thought I was cried out.  But it was hard to control in a place that was so much filled with her!  I couldn't take my eyes off my chart that was filled with pages and pages of her notes and handwriting of all of our personal discussions we had.  Many I am sure were not in there, as the years went by and we became more friends and less a professional relationship.  I could ask her anything and she would be very straight forward and tell me exactly how it is.  That's probably what I miss the most about being her patient and friend.  She was so smart and I never had any doubt that what she was telling me was any less than 100% accurate.  She started at that office as an OB 10 years ago, and I was her patient for nine.  Mary Beth told me once again how special I was to her.  "She only delivered two babies while on maternity leave and Jaelyn was one of them," Mary Beth reminded me. 

I left the office with a prescription with her name on it once more - one last time before they change the prescription pads over to the new Dr. Helms.  

After we visited the office we headed to Hansen Memorial Park to visit her grave site.  There is still no head stone so I met another former patient of hers who attended her service and showed us where it was.  She had two brand new babies - twins that Dr. Moorehead delivered only one month prior to her death.  She was God's hands to so many. 

Jacob laying flowers down for her.

Josh explained to the boys, and I had not realized it until that moment, that Shannon was the VERY FIRST person to touch and hold them.

She will ever shine down from heaven upon us.

My three incredible miracles she cared for for 9 months and then brought into this world for me.

Goodbye Shannon.  We love you.  We will miss you.