Staying Awake

Tom Lukenbill's book, Staying Awake, chronicles his amazing journey to the other side. The subject of death is a delicate matter, evoking a range of emotions as no one is immune from its eventuality. It could have happened to anyone-one morning, the devastating news came that my mother had suffered a massive stroke and was now paralyzed, unable to speak and was on life support at the Mayo Clinic (MN) with no hope of recovery. Being the youngest of eight, I found myself called to hold up the family during this difficult time,and act as the family representative with the doctors. What I experienced was nothing short of miraculous as I began to have such regret, grief and guilt about the choice of letting my mother go. I was shown physically what it is like to be paralyzed, unable to speak and experience exactly what my mother was subsequently experiencing at the same time as she left her body after the removal of life support. Ultimately, I have been gifted with the remarkable journey of taking my mother to the other side. My return has marked a new understanding and message of the love and compassion that is available to us all.