Sadly we had to say goodbye to a driving force in our lives. A women who was in reality before her time. Someone whom we loved dearly even though our visits were few and far between. Her name, Micheline Madigan, her title, Michael's grandma, second Mom to Merrill and I, adopted grandma to all of our children. Oh how we shall miss her.
We got the call about a month ago. One that we have dreaded and one that we knew in time would come. Micheline had cancer, liver and lung. She was given 4 to 5 months to live. She was not seeking treatment. Like I said, she was a brave and feisty lady. She was from France originally. We called Michael, talked with Mom and set the date. We went to Dallas. Cancer had taken over. She was going faster than anyone ever thought. I believe she held on to see us but more than that to see her beloved first grandchild. She passed away while we were in Texas. We could not go back for her funeral. This has been a hard week. I understand the cycle of life, but that does not mean that I like it when we must travel the road.
This past week I have thought back on how we actually met Micheline. We were afraid to meet her really. Her daughter, Michael's birth mom had painted such a wicked picture of her. In the end, it was not true at all. When Michael was left with us, Micheline fought to find him. She went with us when the time to adopt him came. She told the judge that if she never saw her grandson again, she was begging the courts to allow us to adopt him so that his birth mom would never get him back. She loved him so very much, she was willing to loose him rather than see him go through the things he had already gone through in his short little life.
In today's world she would have been able to get Grand Parents rights, but back then she just had to let go. We always loved her for that. We never tried to let her down. For the most part we have never lived close to her, but she has always been a part of our lives, our children lives and Michael life.
I wish I was done with her heroics, but I am not. Michael's birth mom had no trouble having children, in the end, she had a total of seven. Her problems came from she just could not be a mom. She totally lost four of them. She place them to adopt or the state took them away. Again and again Micheline's heart would be broken. Then she had her last two children. Micheline did everything she knew how to help her. This included a home to live in, financial help, food, anything and everything.
Well, when Micheline went to France for her 6 weeks each summer, the children were taken to Waco Children's home and given up. Once again, Micheline fought to get the children back. It took some doing but she did it. Then she found another adoptive family for them. This time closer and she loved them and kept her grandma eye on them.
Her husband passed away, then her son and then a year ago Michael's birth mom. Micheline saw a lot of pain, but she was strong. She kept on keeping on. She was a fighter.
Yes, we have now said our goodbyes and we are sad. Our lives are far better for knowing her and for knowing she loved us as we loved her. When my Mom died so long ago she was there. In her own quiet and yet strong way. I am so thankful that we got to tell her thank you one more time for Michael, our first, the reason we began adopting in the first place.
Good Bye Mom.
We got the call about a month ago. One that we have dreaded and one that we knew in time would come. Micheline had cancer, liver and lung. She was given 4 to 5 months to live. She was not seeking treatment. Like I said, she was a brave and feisty lady. She was from France originally. We called Michael, talked with Mom and set the date. We went to Dallas. Cancer had taken over. She was going faster than anyone ever thought. I believe she held on to see us but more than that to see her beloved first grandchild. She passed away while we were in Texas. We could not go back for her funeral. This has been a hard week. I understand the cycle of life, but that does not mean that I like it when we must travel the road.
This past week I have thought back on how we actually met Micheline. We were afraid to meet her really. Her daughter, Michael's birth mom had painted such a wicked picture of her. In the end, it was not true at all. When Michael was left with us, Micheline fought to find him. She went with us when the time to adopt him came. She told the judge that if she never saw her grandson again, she was begging the courts to allow us to adopt him so that his birth mom would never get him back. She loved him so very much, she was willing to loose him rather than see him go through the things he had already gone through in his short little life.
In today's world she would have been able to get Grand Parents rights, but back then she just had to let go. We always loved her for that. We never tried to let her down. For the most part we have never lived close to her, but she has always been a part of our lives, our children lives and Michael life.
I wish I was done with her heroics, but I am not. Michael's birth mom had no trouble having children, in the end, she had a total of seven. Her problems came from she just could not be a mom. She totally lost four of them. She place them to adopt or the state took them away. Again and again Micheline's heart would be broken. Then she had her last two children. Micheline did everything she knew how to help her. This included a home to live in, financial help, food, anything and everything.
Well, when Micheline went to France for her 6 weeks each summer, the children were taken to Waco Children's home and given up. Once again, Micheline fought to get the children back. It took some doing but she did it. Then she found another adoptive family for them. This time closer and she loved them and kept her grandma eye on them.
Her husband passed away, then her son and then a year ago Michael's birth mom. Micheline saw a lot of pain, but she was strong. She kept on keeping on. She was a fighter.
Yes, we have now said our goodbyes and we are sad. Our lives are far better for knowing her and for knowing she loved us as we loved her. When my Mom died so long ago she was there. In her own quiet and yet strong way. I am so thankful that we got to tell her thank you one more time for Michael, our first, the reason we began adopting in the first place.
Good Bye Mom.
Comments
I remember Micheline. She was such a wonderful, loving yet fiesty woman. But what I remember most was her determination to make sure that you and Merrill got Michael as your own. When his birth mom left him and never came back, she fought to make sure YOU kept him. Oh how she loved you. She had a great instinct, and she knew Michael would flourish and have a good life with you and Merrill, and she was right. Y'all made her proud. It was a two way love affair. She loved y'all as much if not more than you loved her for intrusting you with her grandson. She will be missed, but she lives on in our hearts and our minds and of course in Michael and those two beautiful little girls of his. I Love you Berta. Your Sissy, Tammy