It's been a tough weekend

[swatkat]

I had been visiting my grandfather. He suffered a cerebral stroke yesterday - his second - and is quite ill. I'm not sure if he'll make it this time; and even if he does, it won't really amount to much. He's very old, and while I know that we've been lucky to have him with us all this while in the first place, it's still horrible to see him suffer like this. I came back, because there's no point in my staying - my dad's still there, handling things.

The kittens though, are brilliant. *g*

Comments

Oh, Swati!

[jaybee65.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear this.

It's a terrible thing to deal with, even when it's expected.

If it helps at all to talk here, we're here for you. If it feels better to lay low for a while, we understand that, too.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. *g* Not lying low, though. Entertainment is a very good thing.

Swatkat

{{{Hugs}}}

[debbiebiv.livejournal.com]

I know how hard it is to lose a grandparent. Doesn't matter how old they are.

All I can send is {{{hugs}}}

Hugs to you too...

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Hard is right. I've lost grandparents at an younger age, so I know, but still...

Swatkat

[delle.livejournal.com]

Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. It's ridiculous to ask, these many miles away, but is there anything I can do for you?

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

It's the thought that counts, sweetie. *g* Well, maybe you could don your fandom bitch garb and bitchslap these few people who could do with some...

Swatkat

[mincot.livejournal.com]

(((((((((((((((Swat KAt))))))))))))))))) It is never easy, and even when things like this are expected, you still can worry.

Thank you so much...

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

You're so right when you say it's never easy. *sigh*

Swatkat

Adding my voice

[sk56.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that you're all facing this right now. Despite the logic of it all, it's still very, very hard to lose a part of your life, especially an older relative. Ditto to what JayBee said -- we're happy to listen if you need to talk, but we can do the distraction thing too, if that's more helpful.

Thank you so much. *g*

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Distraction? Does this mean everyone will write me stories? I could do with some distraction like that.

Swatkat

[msgenevieve.livejournal.com]

Oh, Swati, I'm so very sorry, and I wish there was something I could do or say to make you feel better. Just remember that you can call on us anytime, okay? We might all be a long way away but it doesn't have to feel that way. Hang in there, sweetie!

Hugs
Jen

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Talking to you guys is enough to make me feel better. Thanks so much. *g*

Swatkat

Thanks, guys...

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Whining always helps. *g* The latest bulletin says that he's still hanging in there and that he had been talking. That's a good sign, right? Or maybe not, because the doctors aren't saying much (they probably don't have anything to say).

Swatkat

[nell65.livejournal.com]

They boys and I just visited my one remaining grandparent, my mother's mom, in her care facility. At 90, she is now wheel-chair bound, diabetic, arthritic, and in the most basic way, disappeared from our sight long ago as she wandered down the road of senility.

I'm reasonably sure she has no idea who my mother is, much less me, though I am her eldest grandchild and was named for her - and she no longer has even the ability to understand that my sons are her great-grandsons if only for a moment.

We went up to visit her room, and she picked up a photograph of her and a few of her sisters, taken about ten years ago, and stared at it with the most amazing concentration, and I believed she was struggling hard to find a memory to place the people she saw. There are also several pictures of my grandfather in his WWII naval uniform - and I don't think she knows who he is. And they had a very good marriage, and were close friends who read and travelled together with great joy before his death almost twenty years ago.

Driving back to my folk's house, my mom and I talked about how our society has yet to get a grip on our ability to keep people's bodies alive when no person seeing how my grandmother and the others up in her locked, third floor 'memory impaired neighboorhood' live wants to end up there. My mother said that at this point, pneumonia would be a kindness.

Not everyone ends up this way - I had the amazing pleasure this weekend of meeting a chipper and zippy 96 year old woman who had worked for my grandfather as his secretary for 27 years, and three years for my great-grandfather before that. She still lives in her own home and gets about, albeit shakily, with only a cane for support. Should we all be so very, extraordinarily fortunate.

You and your family have my deepest sympathies, this is never, ever easy or less than very painful.

Nell

*sigh*

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Driving back to my folk's house, my mom and I talked about how our society has yet to get a grip on our ability to keep people's bodies alive when no person seeing how my grandmother and the others up in her locked, third floor 'memory impaired neighboorhood' live wants to end up there. My mother said that at this point, pneumonia would be a kindness.

I know that feeling quite well. Luckily for us, my grandfather can generally recognise us when we introduced ourselves - he's lost his eyesight. That does not make his condition any better, though.

Swatkat

Oh, my dear, I am so sorry about your grandfather.

[sing2.livejournal.com]

While we're designed as human beings to be hopeful, no one wishes for a partial-life. There are worse things than death. I hope that your grandfather can make a meaningful recovery and not remain in limbo - a dreadful place for him and his loved ones alike.

Sing

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

There are worse things than death. I hope that your grandfather can make a meaningful recovery and not remain in limbo - a dreadful place for him and his loved ones alike.

I hope so too. As much as I'd hate to lose him, the middle place is worse.

Swatkat

(((Swati)))

[catsma.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking positive thoughts for you and your family hon. Sometimes I think the worst thing about events like this is just the waiting and sitting and praying that things will get better.

Here's to you and grandpa and the kitties.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Looks like all the positive thoughts worked. They say he's been doing slightly better. Thanks so much, guys. *g*

Swatkat