Sour Christmas
 

Don't get me wrong, it's been a great Christmas and I've got many thing to be happy and thankful for, but today I felt something inside me that I haven't felt before. My grandfather on my Dad's side has been staying in a retirement home the past year and a half and just about 4 months ago he started to cause trouble and was sent to where he is now. I told my Dad I would go with him to see my grandfather today. When I got there, the poor guy was curled up in bed with one blanket. My dad awakened him only to find out that he couldn't move or talk. He could barely open his eyes... I felt pure sadness and my heart just sank. My grandfather was helpless and one could tell that he's going to pass away here very soon. My dad and I had brought him cookies and presents and he couldn't even seen any of it. It was terrible. My father left the room to get the nurse and I just broke down. I didn't want to see him like this because he has been so good to me the past 19 years of my life. It's a hard sight to see and I really feel as if my Christmas has been shutdown inside. So please, for Christmas... will everyone says their prayers for my grandfather? And that if he does pass on... let him pass in peace. Thanks...

Ryan

I have the utmost sympathy for you buddy. Two years ago I experienced a very similar situation. My Grandfather was my hero. A great man, a strong man, a hard man, but a very loving man. He was like a second father to me and until he was 97 years of age he was able to live on his own independantly doing his own shoping, cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, etc until he finally became weak. He fought hard but finally withered away in hospital just before his 98th Birthday. He was so independant that he neglected a lot of the help from the nurses and doctors, which put more strain on him. He stopped eating, and then stopped drinking, in which time he was on the edge and finally lost the battle. I hope you're Grandfather will either make a full recovery if possible, or if not then pass away more peacefully than my Grandfather did. I know that I will not want to experience that again ever! My thoughts are with you Ryan. :(

thats so sad Ryan, will prayers for your grandad . I spend a lot of time with patients/families and it is often worse for the family watching the person who is ill than for the person with the illness... Im sure you being there will have made a difference to him.

Dawn

Aww Ryan...hugs to you! I'll say some prayers for you and your grandfather. If you need to talk, you know where to find me.

Steph

I know how you feel. My grandmother was in a nursing home for 10 years with Alzheimer's. By the time she died, she was curled in a fetal position, hadn't spoken in years, hadn't had solid food for years, and only moved her eyes. She was on a nasal feeding tube for 11 months. I went to see her regularly, but it was still harder on holidays. She died right before Thanksgiving in 1998 and her funeral was much more joyful than sad because she was free from that shell of a body.

I had a pretty sour Christmas myself, but for completely different reasons. This year Christmas just sucked from start to finish.

Becky

That's sad, Ryan. It must have been tough.

My grandmother is 92 and was operated on of cancer last June and after that she stayed for a while then moved to a temporary home. They sort of kicked her out, and since we can't afford to pay for any and she doesn't qualify for a state one, we have her at home. She's perfectly okay, doctors are amazed at her strength and good health, but she simply refuses to see it. Every single day she makes up a new complaint. She's not happy about anything, not even the sight of her family or her greatgrandchildren. Everything bothers her, and she makes a drama out of any story we tell her. My mother's nerves are stretching too thin, and it's awful.

Reading all these stories, and knowing about my grandmother, make me shiver about old age. Can't see what's the use of living if you can't feel "alive".

Ryan, my friend, I am so very sorry. I know how hard it is to see your loved ones suffering. I was fortunate that when I lost my one Grandmother, she was in New Jersey and I did not have to see her suffering. I couldn't imagine seeing my other Grandma suffering like that...it would just kill me. I never even knew my Grandfathers at all. They either died when I was very young or before I was born. If you need to talk, I'm here. I'll say a prayer for your family.

I will say a prayer for your grandfather. I know how you feel because my grandfather hasn't been able to talk or walk in the last 6 years and it's really sad because he was a great man and I grew up with him on my side every day... Now I don't even think he recognize me and it's getting harder and harder every time I see him. Just try to be strong...

I'm sorry to hear this about your grandpa Ryan, I'll say a prayer for him and your family.

im sorry buddy i know just how u feel u have my prayers.