Blog Break/More Sad News

Could you add another prayer to the list? My grandpa is dying. We've decided to take the kids out of school tomorrow to make sure we see him.

He's actually not biologically related to me, but I was and am closer to him than any of my other grandparents. My mom was good friends with one of their ten children. As a single parent, my mom relied on them often throughout my childhood. Since the age of four, I spent at least a month every Summer on their farm. My grandma's brother, a priest, co-officiated at our wedding and baptized L. I've never called him or his wife anything other than 'Grandpa' and 'Grandma.' My husband and all the kids call them 'Grandma' and 'Grandpa.'

When I was in junior high, my Grandpa entered residential treatment for alcoholism. Alcohol had become his escape after one of their sons was killed in a construction accident. I carry an incredibly clear memory of the moment I discovered Grandpa was in treatment. I was at basketball practice and my mom told me. I cried, thinking he must be so lonely. My grandpa typically never wrote letters or cards. When he was in treatment, he wrote to me. Only me. And only when he was in treatment. I cherish the words and the pictures he drew for me, his "Dearest OM (OK, he didn't actually call me that)."

Grandpa went to the hospital Sunday morning, against his wishes. In the wee morning hours leading up to his trip to the hospital, he told Grandma he thought he was dying. He didn't want to go to the hospital because he wanted to die at home. Grandma pleaded with him to go and after one of their sons convinced Grandpa that he could go back home if nothing could be done at the hospital, Grandpa gave into their wishes.

At the hospital, they discovered a lot of fluid in his lungs. They gave him oxygen, IV fluids, and antibiotics. He greatly improved within hours at the hospital. He underwent a series of tests on Monday. Today, we learned Grandpa has lung cancer. Grandpa returned to his home today and will not undergo medical treatment. Hospice will come to his house tomorrow. Grandma has chosen to not tell Grandpa he has cancer unless he specifically asks. We are honoring her wishes as we know Grandpa would prefer it this way. He is 92.

Tomorrow, we will travel two hours and pick up Grandpa and Grandma's daughter, R. We'll bring her to their house, another hour away, because her car is making funny noises. I'm not sure what we'll do after that. It's possible we'll just stay the day or perhaps a few days. We'll just take it as it comes. I am humbled that he asked for me. I would have come anyway as I would do anything for this man. He is the reason I've remained Catholic because he's lived an exemplary life to which I aspire.

I know this is ridiculously lengthy, but I couldn't simply write one sentence about my Grandpa. Thank you for your prayers.

Sincerely,
OM