She was supposed to write about a specific event in her life that she will always remember. This is what she wrote........

Jessica Lipscomb
Block 4
Mr. Simmons
January 30, 2008

We Lost the Battle, but Won the War to the End of the Suffering
What seemed like an average day ended up turning into terror. We had a two-hour delay yesterday morning, which made me happy. When I woke up the two Hospice women were arriving to do their weekly routine. I got dressed and said a few words to them about school before I went out the door. My mom lay still in the hospital bed located in the living room.
When I arrived at school nothing seemed to go right. Matt was lying and encouraging Shayne and Shannon to be mad at me about lies to he had told them. I knew it wasn’t the day for him to be starting random fights. I kept begging for people to just stop all the arguing and the lies.
Around fourth block I decided to find either Shayne or Shannon to hang out with after school since I didn’t have work. When the bell rang I couldn’t find either one of them anywhere. I was pretty upset about the whole situation so I went to my vehicle and drove straight home.
When I walked through the door I said, “Hi, mom. We got report cards today.” and I handed it to her. I was walking towards my bedroom and yelled to her, “Oh yeah, look at my GPA, it’s a 4.2.” and she told me how proud of me she is. She rarely ever bragged on my superior grades before. Then I said, “Yeah, it’s pretty bad I’m being accused of being on drugs when I have the highest GPA now than ever.” That’s when she said, “I know, but you shouldn’t listen to what other people say.” Then I froze because she believed all the rumors about me just a few days before. Then I said, “Yeah, but it still pisses me off.” “I know, but just don’t start anything with me right now, okay?” Then she moved the blanket from her body and she lay there in a pool of blood. I yelled at her and said, “When the hell did that happen?” She told me it’s been about two hours. I asked her if she wanted me to call anyone and she kept saying no. Then she got to the point she told me to go in my room and leave her alone. So I listened to her. When I went to my room I just sat there thinking about my situation. I ran out to her once again and said, “Mom, do you want me to call someone?” That’s when she turned on her side, clinched the side of the bed and let out a painful, “Yes.”
I grabbed the phone, it was covered in blood, but I dialed my dad’s work. Angela Miller answered and I said, “Let me speak to Carl Lipscomb, this is an emergency.” I informed him mom was bleeding really bad, and then told him to come home right away. I hung up the phone and I told my mom he is on his way. She said, “I hope he calls an ambulance.” And I said, “Mom, why didn’t you tell me?” I never once panicked during these events. I asked her if she wanted me to call the hospital, and she just slurred her words. So I asked her the number and never received a clear answer. I looked through the caller-ID and found Grant Memorial Hospital and called right away. I asked to be transferred to Hospice, so they did. I told them I am calling regarding Brenda Lipscomb and they asked me who was calling. I informed them I am her daughter and they immediately knew who I was. I told them the situation, then said my mom requests an ambulance. They told me to gather up all of her medications, along with the black box which contains lethal amounts of liquid morphine, which we all knew what that meant.
During this time she kept having me find cold, wet rags and wash her face and arms, she complained about being extremely hot. She put her arm out and said, “Feel my hand.” Her fingers were ice cold but her face was like putting your hand into fire. Still, I thought everything was going to be alright. I knew help was coming and that meant she would be okay.
My dad called from a pay phone and told me traffic is really bad and it would take awhile for him to get home. He told me to call my grandma who lives next door. When she arrived she helped me care for my mom and clean up all the blood. My dad arrived behind the ambulance. They acted like the situation wasn’t very good. I still kept a good heart.
All I could do was stand and watch my mom, helpless, as they lifted her to the gurney. It took a while to transfer her to it since there was so much blood. When they finally transferred her she started to panic and scream about not being able to breathe. When they were taking her out the door she looked at my dad and whispered, “Help me.” My grandma began to cry hysterically, which made me cry. She told me to call my sister so I did. We called several people, then about 20 minutes later we left for the hospital. It seemed like the longest ride of my life. When we arrived we asked what room she was in. As we were walking we saw my sister and Joanne Emswhiler walking towards us. My sister was crying really hard, so my dad asked, “What’s wrong?” and she replied “We lost her!” My dad grabbed her by her shoulders and yelled, “No we didn’t! I have to see for myself!”
She grabbed my hand and began leading the way. When we got to the room I was completely terrified. They opened the door and there she lay with her eyes slightly open and her mouth as if she was grasping for her last breath. It was the most horrifying thing I have ever witnessed in my entire life. I grabbed my sister and screamed out, “I tried!” They informed me they know I tried and did everything I could have possibly done. We spent the next four hours in the hospital with family shedding tears. Most of the time was spent in silence with only the sounds of sniffling in the air.
I cried so much that night I began puking nonstop. The events that led up to my mother’s death kept racing through my mind. When they said she had bled to death I felt as if it were my fault. I should have thought faster about everything quicker than I had. They informed me the tumor attached to her main artery had burst and there wasn’t anything anyone could have done. The hemorrhaging came unexpectedly and would have come eventually.
I tried to be a hero but failed. I tried to save a life but lost a mother. In the end we knew these events were meant to be. The suffering of my mother is no more. We lost the battle towards cancer, but won the war to the end of my mother’s suffering.
RIP Mom – January 29th 2008 – 5:15PM