Death in Family or Family Emergency While at WDW

JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Lilofan said:
I don't agree with " how individuals were treated over the years " swaying on the decision to leave and attend services. I grew up in a tough love environment which made me into a very resilient member of society and regardless of how I feel I will still respect the fact that they are family and I will attend .
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And that certainly is your choice to make. But how you were treated and how you came out of your circumstances is your individual story. I applaud your strength and ability to make your life what it became and is now. But that does not make your decision right for everyone else. Every family is what it is and each differs from others. As harsh as it sounds we can’t judge anothers call to attend or not. Unless we lived that life they lived we can’t know how their relationships were.
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
My dear MIL unexpectedly took a turn for the worse last week. Her situation turned critical as we went into the 4th of July. We had to scramble to get her assessed and admitted to hospice care on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday afternoon DW was called and told that her mother's condition altered again and she went into an actively dying state. Her and DS were able to spend the entire day at the bedside. Hospice nurse at 11pm said evaluating her showed her state changed for the better and DW and DS could return home expecting her to go into the next day. We got a call at 2:22 a.m. informing us that she had passed away. Her breathing and state of body showed none of the usual signs that the end would be coming that fast. They were totally taken aback. All we can think of is that she wanted my DW to not be present at the moment death came. At least there was no prolonged suffering or pain.
Now its detail after detail gathering information and setting arrangements in place.
 
L

Lilofan

Well-Known Member
JIMINYCR said:
My dear MIL unexpectedly took a turn for the worse last week. Her situation turned critical as we went into the 4th of July. We had to scramble to get her assessed and admitted to hospice care on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday afternoon DW was called and told that her mother's condition altered again and she went into an actively dying state. Her and DS were able to spend the entire day at the bedside. Hospice nurse at 11pm said evaluating her showed her state changed for the better and DW and DS could return home expecting her to go into the next day. We got a call at 2:22 a.m. informing us that she had passed away. Her breathing and state of body showed none of the usual signs that the end would be coming that fast. They were totally taken aback. All we can think of is that she wanted my DW to not be present at the moment death came. At least there was no prolonged suffering or pain.
Now its detail after detail gathering information and setting arrangements in place.
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Very sorry for your loss. May she RIP🙏
 
L

Lilofan

Well-Known Member
JIMINYCR said:
Thank you. She was 85 and lived a life filled with success and accomplishments that anyone would envy. She was a great mother to DW and me, grammie to our DS and we have a life of wonderful moments to cherish.
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Hospice staff were incredible medical professionals to help us through our family matter during and post passing. They even gave us the morphine injections and gave us a show and tell on when to use it which we did. Several days prior to passing we met with the funeral home director and arrangements were pre made which made our days after the fact a little less stressful but not by much.
 
Ayla

Ayla

Well-Known Member
JIMINYCR said:
My dear MIL unexpectedly took a turn for the worse last week. Her situation turned critical as we went into the 4th of July. We had to scramble to get her assessed and admitted to hospice care on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday afternoon DW was called and told that her mother's condition altered again and she went into an actively dying state. Her and DS were able to spend the entire day at the bedside. Hospice nurse at 11pm said evaluating her showed her state changed for the better and DW and DS could return home expecting her to go into the next day. We got a call at 2:22 a.m. informing us that she had passed away. Her breathing and state of body showed none of the usual signs that the end would be coming that fast. They were totally taken aback. All we can think of is that she wanted my DW to not be present at the moment death came. At least there was no prolonged suffering or pain.
Now its detail after detail gathering information and setting arrangements in place.
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I'm so sorry for you, your wife and your family. Losing a loved one is hard, no matter their age.

I lost both my parents within 5 months almost 2 years ago and I can say from experience, she will need you the most in the upcoming weeks and months. 😔
 
C

cbarry26

Member
My dad passed away back home while we were at the Contemporary for a 4-5 day long weekend. My mom was actually with us! Dad was in no shape to go but insisted that my mom go on this trip instead of staying home and worrying about him. It had been a rough couple years on her and she needed time away from it all with her family.

The cast at the Contemporary was extraordinary. They did everything possible to make it easier on us. Full disclosure, my sons were in the DCP at the time and staying with us, so I can’t say if they were just taking care of their own? I don’t think so, but it’s possible.

We found out mid morning. Got the phone call from my brother while we were in France about to go on Ratatouille! Made up an excuse to leave. Did NOT want to tell my mom in Epcot. Uber from Beach Club back to Contemporary. Spent time crying and making calls home in the room.

Couldn’t get a flight out that day/night. Had to stay until morning. Told the front desk and manager what happened. They canceled the remainder of my mom’s reservation - 2 nights - said she would not be charged. Were about to do the same with my room, but my sons were not going to fly right home with us right away so I asked if they could stay and finish out the remaining two nights since they were already off work and we thought they should be together instead of back in their apartments separate. They took the one sons name off my moms room and moved him into my room with his brother. The room was paid for already and they might as well use it.

They got us Mears vouchers for our trip to the airport. And they put 2 day park hoppers in everyone’s account good for 10 years.

That evening, we decided that we would go out on the water since my dad was a sailor. We took the boats around the lagoon and Bay Lake. We had the most incredible sunset over 7 Seas Lagoon that we’ve ever seen. We even kept our dining reservations at Kona. My mom insisted. My dad loved to dine out.

It’s weird to say but that was a truly magical Disney night. We were stuck there and it was like Disney World opened its arms and took care of us and without even knowing, softened the blow a little. The cast- boat captains, waitress, front desk- all were exemplary, even the ones that didn’t know what we were going through, which was most of them. Disney, as an entity, took care of us when we needed it most that night. We all felt it. It was my wife who spearheaded it all, “We could sit in this room all night or we could go out and do things that he loved to do and be together.” It was rough, but it was the right thing for us. It certainly wasn’t a "let’s go to the parks" night but the boat rides and the beach at Poly were perfect considering who he was.

Once again, I don’t know if the room canceling, tickets, car vouchers are standard operating procedure. But we felt like we had nothing to worry about at all, and that was all the front desk’s doing. They were amazing. We asked for nothing, just advice on what to do.
 
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JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Lilofan said:
Hospice staff were incredible medical professionals to help us through our family matter during and post passing. They even gave us the morphine injections and gave us a show and tell on when to use it which we did. Several days prior to passing we met with the funeral home director and arrangements were pre made which made our days after the fact a little less stressful but not by much.
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Yes, although she was only in the hospice for Sat and Sun, passing away on Mon early a.m. they were fantastic. They assured my DW that someone was with her mother as she went, listening to music. She had been given morphine when they suspected she was having pain to help ease her way through.
DW has been in contact with the funeral director who also cared for her father when he died, its a small community so he knows the family well.
Ayla said:
I'm so sorry for you, your wife and your family. Losing a loved one is hard, no matter their age.

I lost both my parents within 5 months almost 2 years ago and I can say from experience, she will need you the most in the upcoming weeks and months. 😔
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Thank you, and today is our 41st anniversary so fortunately she passed away before today.
Trying to do as much as I can but because her mother didnt leave us much info we are muddling our way through trying to put pieces together and handle all the details on how to proceed. For ex. her attorney had died 2 years ago and we are trying to track down where things went from his office. We have the will but need to go through probate in another jurisdiction.
 
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Raineman

Raineman

Well-Known Member
JIMINYCR said:
DW and I are discussing that situation now. My MIL was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer about 2 years ago and has gone through experimental treatments that have extended her life, but follow up tests now shows progression of her cancer. Her time looks to be running out. Our trip is scheduled for mid Oct. We have trip insurance.
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I was in the exact same position back in 2017. My MIL had Stage 4 cancer, and was permanently in the hospital in October 2017. We normally drive to WDW, but we flew there and back to reduce the amount of time we would be spending away from her. We were ready to leave for home at a moment's notice if we needed to. Sadly, she passed away the following March.
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Cariad said:
What if the cat dies? Far more upsetting to me than if a family member died.
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Not unrealistic in some cases. Some of my customers tell how they have a closer/ better relationship with their pets than they ever had with family. Its sad to think how bad to that extent families can be but it happens.
 
Cariad

Cariad

Active Member
JIMINYCR said:
Not unrealistic in some cases. Some of my customers tell how they have a closer/ better relationship with their pets than they ever had with family. Its sad to think how bad to that extent families can be but it happens.
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Thank you. We can pick our friends and pets, but not our families. I suffered unspeakable cruelty from my family until I realised they would never change and moved on. On the other hand my cats showed me more love in one day than my family has in my entire life.
 
Santa Raccoon 77

Santa Raccoon 77

Thank you sir. You were an inspiration.
Premium Member
Cariad said:
Take a moment to realise we are not all blessed with wonderful families.
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And please take a moment to realise how your comment could have been interpreted by someone who has just lost a family member.
Your feelings on the matter are just as valid as any other poster but , may read differently to others.
 
Cariad

Cariad

Active Member
King Capybara 77 said:
And please take a moment to realise how your comment could have been interpreted by someone who has just lost a family member.
Your feelings on the matter are just as valid as any other poster but , may read differently to others.
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With respect, but I have suffered loss and I did not expect everyone to walk on eggshells for me at the time I was dealing with these losses.
For the record my beloved cat, the brother of Loki (pictured) died suddenly and unexpectedly, my neighbours knew what he meant to me and gave me sympathy cards and one even gave me flowers. The vets office sent me a card and the lady who looked after him when I went away cried too because, despite being 'just a cat' he was a loving beautiful soul who charmed everyone who knew him.
Has anyone asked any newly bereaved person here if they are offended by my comment or are you just presuming they will be.
 

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