Sorry I've been absent lately, my Grandpa's not doing well

[MQAAord]

I've been a bit absent from the forums lately, and will be so for a while, my Grandpa is expected to lose his battle with Alzheimer's by the end of the week. It's been a long fight, and nobody thought he'd even make it this far. He's had heart trouble and issues with seizures, and we though we would lose him to another medical problem before the Alzheimers would get bad enough to take him. But, he's a fighter and decided to spend a few more years with us! He hasn't recognized me since Christmas, and when my mom and I went to see him Saturday he didn't know her either. The nurses at the nursing home were unable to wake him yesterday, and he has not been awake at all today. His organs are shutting down, and he's not expected to make it to the weekend. I feel awful saying this, but I'm almost relieved it's finally over, he has been 'gone' for a long time now. It's been over a year since I've been able to have a conversation with him, and he's only even recognized me once in the past 6 months. It's been heartbreaking to see him go from the jolly, happy grandpa I remember to a robotic body sitting in a wheelchair. I hope when he goes he'll get his memories back, and he'll remember all of us again
Bill and I were married on my Grandma & Grandpa's 62nd anniversary, and they were our matron of honor & best man. He will be missed, but he'll finally have peace, and be 'himself' again.
Anyway, I'll be going back and forth up home and back several times, so I probably won't be able to check in much.

This is Bill (far left), my grandparents, me, and my parents (far right) at our wedding in March of 2002.




One of the last trips they took, summer 1993, on the beach in Florida.

[FL270]

My prayers are with you and your family. It is tough to watch one you love and admire so much fade from vibrance to the end of this life. Even as you mourn his passing, I hope you'll find some comfort in the knowledge that his suffering will end.

God Bless ...

Russ

[SteveC]

Thoughts and prayers with you all. We'll be thinking of you during the coming days and weeks.

[Mustang17c]

I wish you and your family the best during these tough times. I understand what you are going through, My grandmother has Alzheimer's. I see her when I am home from school (I live with my gp's). It is a truly heartbreaking disease.

[ready2fly]

So sorry to hear about your Grandpa! I just lost my grandmother three weeks ago. She was my last grandparent.

You and your family will be in my prayers!

Check your PM's. I have an unrelated question.

Stan

[MQAAord]

Thanks everyone! I just got the word, he died today just past noon. It's sad, but I'm just so glad to know he's himself again.

R2F-Check your messages, I sent you a reply.

[jtrain609]

Amber,


Very sorry to hear about your loss. My prayers go out to you and your family.

[Doug Taylor]

Our condolences for your grandfather, Amber. It helps a lot to realize that once they've passed, their upstairs jumping around like they did when they were 12, ya know?

[Mr_Creepy]

In our prayers too.

[Tim06]

So sorry to hear that Amber....I only have one grandparent left now

[EatSleepFly]

Sorry to hear about your grandfather.

I'm pretty close to losing a family member to alzheimers too, I'm afraid.

[SUSPilot]

Sorry to hear Amber. My grandmother has alzheimers and trust me I know what your family was going through seeing this horrible disease just destroy a strong person.

[TheWife]

I'm sorry Amber-I was wondering if you'd just been busy lately. I hope you are feeling peaceful and I'll be thinking of your family!!

[Kristie]

Very sorry to hear about your grandfather Amber... but i know how you feel when you say "relieved", i have the same feeling everyday when i think about my mom and brother chompin down on some pizza and beer above and not worrying about the next chemo treatment...

your grandpa's doing the same thing.. whoopin it up like he did years ago!

My thoughts are with you... you know if you need anything, to let us know!

[flygirl813126]

You're in my prayers. I lost my grandpa to alzheimers this year.

[donttouchanything]

I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. My Grandfather was the world to me, he’s been gone 25 years and I still find myself searching for him in crowds.

God bless, my prayers are with you.

Keith

[ready2fly]

DTA, not to make light of your post - seriously... but, a few years after my grandfather passed in TN, I was crossing the street here in front of the building where I work in Tampa.

A rust clored Mercury Cougar (Early 80's model), pulled up to the light. That car was EXACTLY like the one my grandfather drove right up until he died.

As I walked in front of the car, I noticed the elderly gentleman inside was smiling. I looked directly at him and I SWEAR that it was my grandfather!!

I got to the curb and looked back and - from the side - it didn't look like him at all.... but just for that split second.... it was him.

I kind of get the feeling that is how we come to grips with our lost loved ones. We "see" them occasionally - just for a split second - then they are gone. Just their way of saying that they are okay.

Just my $0.02.

R2F

[MQAAord]

Hey everyone, thank you all so much for the sympathies! I just got home from the farm this morning. The funeral was Saturday, is was a really long day.......visitation, the funeral service, cemetery service, then back to the church for the dinner. I was very suprised to hear that it was going to be open casket, he was not looking well at all. Mom and I were the last people to see him awake, and I'm ashamed to admit it, but I didn't recognize him. If my mom hadn't waked up to him and started talking to him, I never would have known it was him. Anyway, the open casket turned out to actually be a good thing, because the funeral home had done an amazing job with him. He looked better than he'd looked in years. He looked like himself ! So it was really sad, but it was 'time'. He was laid to rest in the family cemetery next to his parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and his brothers & sister.

On a happy note, the baby handled it all very well! He was happy & smiling throughout everything, and was very patient while being man-handled and passed around by all my cousins & aunts. I felt a bit like a single mother, as I had to deal with him myself all day (Bill was at recurrent, and it takes an act of Congress to reschedule recurrent...) but the baby really was a trooper!

So thanks again for all your thoughts & prayers.
-Amber & Family

[Kristie]

[ QUOTE ]
DTA, not to make light of your post - seriously... but, a few years after my grandfather passed in TN, I was crossing the street here in front of the building where I work in Tampa.

A rust clored Mercury Cougar (Early 80's model), pulled up to the light. That car was EXACTLY like the one my grandfather drove right up until he died.

As I walked in front of the car, I noticed the elderly gentleman inside was smiling. I looked directly at him and I SWEAR that it was my grandfather!!

I got to the curb and looked back and - from the side - it didn't look like him at all.... but just for that split second.... it was him.

I kind of get the feeling that is how we come to grips with our lost loved ones. We "see" them occasionally - just for a split second - then they are gone. Just their way of saying that they are okay.

Just my $0.02.

R2F

[/ QUOTE ]yup, I think your right cuz I have a story similar to that, but it was in my dreams that I saw it... my mom had cancer and before she died, chemo/radiation had taken all her hair.. but the night after she died, I had a dream (or a vision?) that my mom and my favorite grandma (who passed away from cancer bout 8 months previous) were walking, talking, laughing and each had brushes in their hands and hair just as I had remembered before cancer came into the mix... it was really surreal but very peaceful for me and for me to tell my family - it was her way of saying "she was ok"...

I've always heard that after a loved one leaves, they usually leave behind a message for everyone and give that message to someone that was a positive factor in their lives...some say its typically the first born that gets it.. but when my brother died, it was my sisters best girlfriend that had the dream/vision and spread my brothers message around to us (she said it was the most moving & unexpected experience she'd ever had)...

and the neat thing - is that after a loved one passes away, usually someone you know or someone close to you (even by acquaintence) has a child come into this world (like windchill's nephew) or gets pregnant (like my sister)...THAT in itself makes it even more surreal & awe inspiring...

you could say that i'm now a big believer in those messages (but i still don't believe in psychics! haha )...

/endsentimentalkristie

[donttouchanything]

[ QUOTE ]

I kind of get the feeling that is how we come to grips with our lost loved ones. We "see" them occasionally - just for a split second - then they are gone. Just their way of saying that they are okay.

Just my $0.02.

R2F

[/ QUOTE ]
My Grandparents are buried in Detroit. One day while I was working there I ‘saw’ my grandfather standing at a bus stop. Older gentleman wearing a dark blue suit and Fedora, he had a small bouquet of flowers in his hand and was just waiting patiently . I knew it was my grandfather, there was no way I could be wrong. My heart skipped a beat. I got out of my car at the light and walked up to him, and he just smiled at me. Then like you say, in an instant it wasn’t him. But around the corner was the cemetery where he and my grandmother are resting. For the first year after her death he took the bus to the cemetery every day to visit her. I had a good cry for most of my commute home that day.

[TheWife]

All these storeis are really neat! I have never had an experience like that, but I haven't lost any one close to me either. But thank you for sharing!!