Martha Kay Staggs Watson

Martha K. Watson, 54, died at 8:34 am Thursday May 12, 2005 at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her loving family. Born Nov.25,1950 in Pine Bluff, AR. Daughter of John and Martha Staggs. Lived in the Rockford area since she was a teenager coming from AR. Her family was the center of her life.

Survived by her longtime significant other Loren Olson; mother Martha Staggs; children Richelle (Kenneth) Varble, Cresta (John) McMahon, Misty (Andy) Houser and Chuck (Danielle) Watson; brother Larry Staggs; sisters Shirley (George) Mason and Beverly Hughes; grandchildren Zach, Dylan, Taylor, Kalli, Alyssa, Jake, Bailey and Wyatt; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father.

Funeral services Saturday May 14 at 2:00 pm in the chapel of Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd. Rev. Dr. William Richard Kerr, Sr. of Riverside Community Church will officiate. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.

On January 29, 2004 my mom went into the hospital with all of her family by her side. She was in hopes of making a better life for herself and to watch her grandchildren grow (Her most prized possesion were her grandchildren) with all of the risks they warn you of, she decided to go ahead with the gastric bypass surgery. We were all very scared and anxious (everyone had been crying) but when the surgeon came out and said everything was a success, we all sighed with relief. The only problem was her breathing was very hard, so she was put in the intensive care unit. Everyone was exhausted as it had been a very long day so everyone decided to drive the 2 1/2 hours home to get some rest. I decided I was going to stay and stayed in the ICU waiting room. At around 3:00 a.m. a nurse came and got me and said the doctor wanted to speak to me. He then explained that my moms kidneys had failed during the surgery and he needed to take her to surgery so he could start dialysis immediately I gave the "go ahead" to perform the surgery for the dialysis catheter. I called my two sisters, brother and Loren (my moms significant other of 16 years) and by 8:00 a.m. we were all there again, waiting.

Over a period of time my mom had five surgeries for a fistula (what they run dialysis out of) but before they were even able to sew her arm back the fistula would stop working. Her body would reject foreign objects. In the mean time she became very weak and needed 24 hour care. She was never able to eat anything and no matter what she tried she would become very sick. Thank god my sister was able to care for her and do the things my mother was no longer able to do. She was such a proud person and did not want to ask anyone for help and now things that most people take for granted she was no longer able to do. So many times my mom had said if she could only go back she would have never done the surgery. Something now everyone has grown to regret.

On April 12, 2005 my mom again went into the hospital. This time she had a stroke. The stroke did not affect any of her limbs nor did we see the common signs as by this point she was already so weak she was unable to walk from the bathroom to the livingroom. The doctors also found that she had an infection which they started IV antiobiotics. She was on the antiobiotics for three weeks when the doctors said they were not treating the infection and it had caused vegetation on her heart. Again we were all gathered at the hospital with the news that the doctor had told us. My mom had approximately 30 days to live before she would die from heart failure. As to our surprise her nephrologist came in and said the catheter site was also very infected and he would need to remove it but he had no other place to put one and with out dialysis she had 7-10 days to live. With that we took our mother to my sisters house where we all gathered day in and day out for eight days to watch her die.

My mom was the best person in this world, she was my best friend. She brought the good out in everyone and never said a bad word about anyone. She gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. She held our family together so tight. Everyone tells me she is in a better place now but I guess I am pretty selfish for wanting her here. I will not say good-bye to her because I know I will see her again.

I do know that my mom is not alone, she is my “angel” watching over all of us from Heaven above and someday we will be together again. My mom was truly a remarkable person here on earth & I know she is truly a remarkable angel in Heaven with God above.

MY FAVORITE VERSE~

IF TEARS COULD BUILD A STAIRWAY, AND MEMORIES A LANE. I'D WALK RIGHT UP TO HEAVEN AND BRING YOU HOME AGAIN