Old

While I was out at my Dad's he had us go through my step-mom's clothes to get rid of them. Her best friend Claudia was there helping me and my sisters. She is a little ball of fire and it was so much fun to be around her.

After we got through all her clothes Claudia brought out a ziploc bag full of vintage sunglasses. I am not a glasses type of girl but both my sisters are. They had fun trying them on and seeing which ones worked for them. Although a lot of them were prescription glasses or readers so they wouldn't work too well for them.

We had fun reminiscing though. My step-mom was a great lady with an awesome sense of humor.

Off and Running

I am supposed to be in bed. Because I have to get up at 4 a.m. to drive 8 hours to pick up my siblings so we can head to Oregon for my Step-Mom's funeral.

But I wanted to come in here and say goodbye first. If we have wireless I will try to pop in at the hotel. Otherwise I will see you all in a week.

Be good while I am gone.

Gone

My Step-Mom passed away last night. Thankfully she was peaceful and with my Dad.

I will be driving to Oregon with my siblings on Thursday. I am excited to have a four day weekend with no one but adults. Should be fun. Too bad we are going for a funeral.

Faking

For most of my life, memories of my Mom involve her being in pain. She always was complaining of some ache or pain. When I was 12 or 13 I remember it getting really severe.

She went to her doctor. She told us he diagnosed her with fibromyalgia. She began treatment for the pain including new medicines.

A few years later she informed us all that she had been diagnosed with Chrones too.

And then my Mom got the internet. And suddenly every few months she was self-diagnosing herself with everything from post-polio to cancer.

Now after she has passed away, my sisters were going through her paperwork and have found countless doctors letters informing her that nothing is wrong with her. They basically told her it was all in her head. This is something the doctors have been telling her for years but she would not accept it. One doctor recently diagnosed her with Munchausen syndrome. That is basically where they invent illnesses to get attention.

That doctor couldn't have been more accurate.

The scary thing is my Mom had us all convinced for years that everything she had was genetic and we all could look forward to years of pain and misery. It is only in the last few years that we have come to realize it really was all in her head and there is nothing wrong with any of us. Finding those letters really helped us all feel better about our futures.

Again

I just found out my Step-Mom is dying from the cancer she was diagnosed with.

I cannot even begin to imagine what my Dad is going through. Losing my Mom was tough. But she wasn't my spouse.

Please keep my step-mom in your prayers. She will likely be gone in the next 24 hours.

Frustrating

We finally got the verdict on my Mom's death. After all the testing and autopsy they said she died of an accidental overdose of prescription medicines. That means she took too many of the wrong mix of medicines.

We are not surprised as she was having this problem two years ago when we had to have her committed. I had hoped she would have gotten it under control but it seems her desire for mediciations won in the end. She died on February 21st, 5 days before she was found. That part breaks my heart.

I wish we would have had time to get her into a drug and alcohol rehab facility before it came to this. At least we can say we tried. She just needed to do the same.

My Mom in Pictures

My Wedding, 1993
As a teenager

In Hawaii

In Wyoming, I am on the left.

Sunbathing in Alaska.

Pre 1986

Don't know the year. I am on the right in green.

About 1987ish

My Mom

Kathryn Jo Broyles

Tuesday, March 04, 2008 Hot Springs Star

December 29, 1949 - February 21, 2008
Kathryn Jo Broyles passed away February 21, 2008 at her residence in Hot Springs.

She was 58 years old.
Kathy was born on December 29, 1949, to Clair and Ann (Teeman) Eckholt in Yankton. She attended and graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls, and moved to Hot Springs shortly thereafter where she met and married Gordon Forbord on December 19, 1970. Together they had 4 children. As a family, they lived in many different states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Kathy's love of Hawaii stayed with her even after they returned to South Dakota in 1986.
In 1990 Kathy remarried. On June 2nd of that year she and Steve Broyles were wed at a Hot Springs park. This marriage added two new step-children to the family. Steve and Kathy loved spending time with their kids, especially at the lake waterskiing and boating.
Kathy worked at the VA in Hot Springs for more than 10 years, before she retired with a disability. Since then she has been spending her time with friends, playing on her computer, and doing various crafts and activities at home.
Survivors include one son, James (Pam) Forbord of Hot Springs, three daughters; Angie (Steve) Romey of Hot Springs, Jodi (Billy III) Sides of Brandt, and Yvonne (Shannon) Clyde of Hot Springs, a step-son, Luke (Bethany) Broyles of Hot Springs and one step-daughter, Lacey Broyles of Rapid City, two brothers, Gary Eckholt of Mason City, Iowa and Jeff (Becky) Eckholt of Hartford and fourteen grandchildren.
Memorial services were held Monday, March 3, 2008 at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs with Pastor Mark Crossman officiating.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs. Condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.