Friday, January 30, 2009

90 grit

So today is a little on the rough side. My Grampy (dad's dad) had a major stroke yesterday, and no longer recognizes anyone. He's talking, but it's slurred and garbled, and he doesn't seem to know where he is or why he's in the hospital. The bad part of this is that his body is just fine, it seems. He can't move much, but he isn't having any organ issues or anything. This is bad because the one thing my grandfather never wanted was to be in a state where he wasn't aware of the world, and just lived like that in a nursing home for a long time. And the family dynamic is such that dealing with potentially losing him is very difficult. He wasn't the most engaged person with his family, so there is some resentment and hostility, but duty and love as well. To top that off, my Nan (mom's mom) found out that her breast cancer is back, and she has to have a mastectomy. She's really upset about it, but sees that there's really no other choice. At the age of 31, with all four of my grandparents living, I think I just have to come to terms with the fact that the window of this being true is closing quickly. They've all lived full, long, and happy lives, so it's not like anyone is being taken in their prime - not like my step-father, for example. But, it's still hard, and it brings my own mortality into focus a bit. Sort of starts the clock ticking on lots of things I want to do. Oh well - just another step on the journey. Good thing I roughed up the bottom of my shoes, so I don't slip.

2 comments:

That Soft Distortion said...

Renee- best wishes with all this tough stuff. I am also going through this kind of stuff w/my mom's parents and aunt. It's not easy.

Renee said...

no, it isn't, but thanks for the well wishes. I know that it is inevitable, but that almost makes it harder. I'll be thinking of you as well.