My Last Grandma
This past week has been a rough one for me and my kids. We drove to Alabama to visit with my Grandmother who had just recently been diagnosed with Lung Cancer. I had been told things were bad, but not really how bad they were.
When we arrived at the hospital to visit Grandma, I could not believe what I was seeing. My Grandmother was lying in the hospital bed, she looked like she had lost too much weight. As a child she was always a big woman, she did have 4 kids. It’s just what happens. After Grandpa had died, I knew she lost some wait and had trimmed down nicely. But, here she was and you could hardly see her legs under the hospital blankets.
At this point in our visit, she was still able to talk with us. The only things on her mind was who she wanted to have certain things out of her house. This conversation killed me. I told her we did not have to talk about this now, her reply was “I need to tell you why it is in my mind.” So we let her talk about anything she needed to say. Besides dividing her possessions, she told us that she “just wanted to go home.” Which the Doctors said we would be able to do the next day.
Her trip home was not a good one and at this time, I will not write about it. That story is for another day.
We had been told by her cancer Dr that it could be in just a few days that she would pass on and be with those who went before her. She had told us that her “Mommy had been chasing” her and was going to whoop her when she was caught. Not only was her Mommy chasing her, but she was also talking about seeing my Grandpa who had passed in 2000. The Dr.’s said that with her already doing this it would be a day or two before she goes.
Hospice said that she was doing well and they though she would have at least a week or so before her time would come. Little did we know that we would say good-bye so soon. She passed on 31 Dec 2009 at 5:38pm. We were not ready for this, but I am glad to have spent her final moments with her.
17 Mar 1933 – 31 Dec 2009
Zedith Richmond
My condolences on the passing of your grandmother (and what a wonderful first name – Zedith!). It isn’t easy losing the last grandparent – sort of the closing of a chapter in a family’s history.
I am sorry for your great loss. Take comfort in the fact that she is home, and you will see her again as we, too, pass on to the other side. I am glad you got to spend time with her before she departed. You and yours are in my prayers.
Thomas, thanks for your condolences. It is the ending of this chapter in my
family ‘s history.
My Grandma also lost a sister 6 weeks prior to the day of her death. She has 2 remaining and hope they will continue to share the great stories of their lives with us.
My prayers are with your family. You have written a great thing here, memorializing her YOUR way! I hope that you will find the writing and the memorializing soothing to your soul. May you soon have only good and happy memories of your dear grandma.
So sorry to hear of your loss. Cherish the memories of better times with your Grandmother and may you find comfort in those memories.
I am so very sorry for your loss – her personality shines through in the picture. Will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers, they are greatly appreciated.
“… but I am glad to have spent her final moments with her…” I see you speak too soon my dear. God’s work is not sequential, remember ? God doesn’t need to wait a person to die before re-creating him/her and let them meet their loved ones. All young, all beautiful and all beautifully dressed.