In April of 2006, my mother in-law, Lucille Lupole, was wheeled from her hospital room, down the hall, to the operating room. There, they let her tell her family any last words she had to say, before she underwent the operation to remove one of her legs. Her husband of 63 years, Robert Lupole, had tears running down his face, as he tried to say any last words to his best friend and love of his life. It was the only time she shed tears over the ordeal she was about to face, but not for herself, for her husband.

As her family members all reached out to say their good byes before she was wheeled through the intimidating operating suite doors, her daughter, Pat Noyes, showed the surgeon her other leg, trying to get him to take that one off too. As it looked worse, than the one she was presently having removed. He reassured us, that the one he was taking off was worse, even if it did not look it. He wanted to give the other one a chance. I think, in all realty, he thought, she might not make it through the one operation, let alone two.

My husband, Larry, her son, did not believe she would survive this operation. She suffers from Diabetes, congested heart failure, has a pacemaker in, kidney failure and goes to dialysis three times a week. Bad arthritis has also hindered her movement in many ways. Not to mention, her age of 82 years old.

The hospital employees led us to a waiting room that was in a corner away from the regular operating room, as we would have filled that room to capacity! We had many people stopping by all day to see how she was making out. She made it through the operation, and afterwards we all donned hospital gowns to go in, and say a few words to her. Everybody taking turns.

In May, she was back for the second operation, to take her other leg. But this day, as we sat in her hospital room waiting for the surgeon, with the pastor of the church she was the organist at, she was sick. We felt the surgeon could not get there fast enough. She had gangre, and it appeared to be affecting her whole system. When the surgeon finally came, we felt like running her down the hall ourselves!

I was not brought up in a religious home myself. My parents, both were. But when they had children, they both worked, and I guess it wasn't something they felt was important for us. They were good parents, and I am not faulting them for this. But that's just how it was when I was growing up.

When I married my husband, Larry, I knew his family was very religious. Though he wasn't as much, as the rest of his family. His mother, would really grind on me many times about going to church, about accepting Christ as my savior, about reading the Bible, etc. All it did, was to turn me off from it. I was never against it, and I did believe in God, and did pray to him when someone was sick, or needed help. But I did not understand there was more to it than that.

Lucille Lupole is well known around the Binghamton, New York, and surrounding area, as she is a very talented musician. Playing a slew of musical instruments, including the musical saw and the cowbells, and having played them for many years in the area nursing homes and churches. Every year she would win the talent show at the county fair, playing her musical saw, until they asked her not to enter, and give others a chance! When I say she can play a musical saw, I mean, she can really play it beautifully. It is a hard instrument to play, and many people do play it, but she is very critical and has a ear for music, and can tell immediately when someone is playing out of tune.

One of the hardest parts for her, has been the fact that she can no longer play her musical instruments. In fact, she had to send her beloved piano and organ to her daughter, Pat's house, so she could come home, and use her dining room for her bedroom. She thought she'd be able to come home, and do all the knitting, crocheting and embroidery she wanted, but her finger on her right hand has arthritis so badly, that she can't even do that. She has to be satisfied sewing on her sewing machine and reading.

Her son, Ken, who lives with his parents, has taken over most of the care of their home and his mother. He keeps the house running smoothly! Wouldn't you think she would be very depressed? I mean, she was a woman on the go. She used to go places and do things all the time. Now, she can only go to church rarely, as it is so much work to get her ready to go somewhere. The answer to that question, is no, she is not depressed at all. I asked her recently, if she has depressing moments, and she said no, she does not.

I believe her. You see, her husband, Bob, her close knit family, and her faith in God has seen her through this. She has a real enthusiasm for life and the Lord. I found myself, seeing her as an inspiration to me. She made me question myself on where I stand with God, and what I want my life to be. I started reading the books written by Norman Vincent Peale, and reading them to my husband. Larry's aunt and uncle, Lois and Bernard Lupole also, gave us much insight into the Bible and the way the Lord works.

We went to church for the first time together on Easter Sunday this year. And we read the Bible every day together now. I have accepted the Lord as my savior, and want to live my life by the guidelines set up in the Bible. We have also found that other areas of our life have improved so much since doing this, yet, none of that, had anything to do with us changing our spiritual outlook.

I feel that my mother in-law, Lucille Lupole, was instrumental in bringing me to becoming a real Christian, and wanting to learn more. I now, feel that same enthusiasm that she has always had!

As I am writing this now, she is in a hospital room waiting for her 84^th birthday on January 13^th, 2008, hoping to live to share that final birthday with her beloved husband, Bob. Yesterday, as my husband and I went to visit her there, she was surrounded by her family, and even though on heavy pain mediciation she shared a happy day with us all. Her granddaughter was there with her family, her husband and their eight children, and they sang the most beautiful song to her. I know that made her so happy, as her heart is in music. She listened intently to their singing, as the oldest was only 8! Not one was off key, as my husband mentioned to me later.

On January 17^th, 2008, she went home to be with the Lord. Her death was a very profound experience for me. I have worked in the health care field and am very familar with death and the dying process. But her death was like no other. She was watching someone or something on the ceiling. Her eyes were moving back and forth quite a bit. She even looked clearly toward the window, as if watching something. I do not think she could see the snowflakes coming down....but she was seeing something or someone.

Everyone seemed to think she was in pain, but I do not think that was the case. I think she was in the transition period. I mean, here is a woman who had no strength to lift her hand to scratch her face, yet she was raising both of her arms up, as if toward someone up above!

Even as she died, she was a testimony to her strong faith and love of God. I will never forget her or the wonderful things she taught me.....or tried to teach me.