Update On My Grandfather

You may recall last week I spoke about my grandfather taking ill while he was vacationing in Florida with his wife. He’s been in hospital until yesterday at which time he took a 14-hour road trip to Virginia for treatment at home.

However, this morning he had to go back into the hospital instead of waiting until tomorrow for scheduled testing.

From my mom:

…he remains tonight in Intensive Care. We learned from the cardiologist on duty that, not only does he have the blocked arteries, aneurysm and kidney problems, but he also has a leaking heart valve.

So, after a very brief discussion with Denis, it was decided that I’ll be heading to Virginia very early on Tuesday morning in order to visit my grandfather, and will return home on Wednesday morning. I may take CootieGirl with me if she’s feeling better since I think it would be nice for Gdad to see at least ONE of his two great-grandchildren before he passes away. It will depend on if she has recovered from her virus (we think she has since she hasn’t gotten sick since this morning and is currently running around downstairs with her brother).

I’m not one for posting about my emotions and feelings and all that garbage, but I will say that it’s sad. I love my Granddad. When he was younger he looked just like Danny Kaye, which was great since I loved the movie “Hans Christian Andersen”. He was always kind, always sweet, and just a very nice man. A lifelong Army man, he served admirably in WWII, including participating in the liberation of a concentration camp. He loved his first wife (my grandmother) with such dedication and unadulterated passion that upon her death to cancer in the mid-90s she knew she was well-loved by her man. He had the charm and charisma to marry again years later (in his 80s, mind you!) and couldn’t have picked a more perfect 2nd wife to be at his side.

Since I don’t live in Virginia I don’t see him more than a couple times a year. Even when I lived in Virginia I only saw him on special occasions. But you kind of take for granted that they’ll always be around. We have longevity on our side – his mother lived to 101 years old! But it looks like that is not to be for him.

So pray for him, that he has peace about his illness, and that his wife also has peace about it. Right now it seems they might both be in denial about the seriousness of his situation. Pray that the doctors can help him feel no pain as his health continues to deteriorate. Pray that our family can deal with the sorrow of losing him even as we rejoice at his being in heaven with God.