I'm a little worried about my grandparents 🙁 My grandfather was diagnosed with grade 7 prostate cancer a few months ago, and starts radiation treatment tomorrow. He is going to get it 5 days a week for two months. They wanted to start it earlier, but he had to have back surgery for an unrelated issue that I don't fully understand. I know that prostate cancer is pretty common in men his age (he's 79) but it's still scary. He's always been in fantastic shape. He just stopped working full time and going to the gym 3X a week less than 6 months ago - and he still works out on his treadmill at home. I guess on some level he always seemed kind of super human. He's been through a heart attack, skin cancer -- nothing could stop -- and this is. 🙁
My grandmother is the one I'm really concerned about. She's 89 and for the past several months she's really gone downhill. She's used a cane for my entire life, so when she had to switch to a walker a few years ago after a fall and knee surgery, it wasn't a big deal. But over the past few months it's gotten to the point that she has to use a wheelchair all the time. I guess it wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact that mentally she's just not who she used to be. The diagnosed her with Alzheimer's a year or so ago, and I guess I didn't fully understand what that meant. I knew she was forgetful. She called alot and asked the same questions over and over -- or she'd tell you the same story over and over -- but damn she was almost 90!! I figured it was just her getting old. I never really acknowledged the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, because she didn't really seem any different to me. Well, now she's different. She's forgotten who some of the family is -- not my immediate family, as we're the ones who live close and are always around helping her and my pop pop out when they need something. But other family - family who has moved away to texas or to other counties - she forgets who they are, or at least how she knows them. She'll say to my cousin "Whose kid are you again?" It's sad. But I have to admit, it's nice when I call her and she doesn't even have to ask who it is. She still knows me just by my voice.
Anyway, she requires alot of care so between my sisters, mom, brother and I, we spend quite a bit of time over there because my pop pop can't do it all by himself. Plus, she can't be left alone, so if he needs to go to a doctor appt or to the store, someone has to be there. I'm not complaining - I love spending time with my grandparents. Even now that my grandmother isn't much for visiting and she sleeps most of the time - I'm happy for the conversation we do get to have - and I appreciate just being there and looking around and smelling the smell of their house. I know that it's only a matter of time before I don't have that option anymore.
I guess I'm just scared. I haven't had alot of experience with death - and the people who have died I've never been as close with as I am to my grandparents. My grandparents helped raise us. They're as much a part of my life as my parents ever were. Losing either of them is going to be very, very hard.
My grandmother is the one I'm really concerned about. She's 89 and for the past several months she's really gone downhill. She's used a cane for my entire life, so when she had to switch to a walker a few years ago after a fall and knee surgery, it wasn't a big deal. But over the past few months it's gotten to the point that she has to use a wheelchair all the time. I guess it wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact that mentally she's just not who she used to be. The diagnosed her with Alzheimer's a year or so ago, and I guess I didn't fully understand what that meant. I knew she was forgetful. She called alot and asked the same questions over and over -- or she'd tell you the same story over and over -- but damn she was almost 90!! I figured it was just her getting old. I never really acknowledged the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, because she didn't really seem any different to me. Well, now she's different. She's forgotten who some of the family is -- not my immediate family, as we're the ones who live close and are always around helping her and my pop pop out when they need something. But other family - family who has moved away to texas or to other counties - she forgets who they are, or at least how she knows them. She'll say to my cousin "Whose kid are you again?" It's sad. But I have to admit, it's nice when I call her and she doesn't even have to ask who it is. She still knows me just by my voice.
Anyway, she requires alot of care so between my sisters, mom, brother and I, we spend quite a bit of time over there because my pop pop can't do it all by himself. Plus, she can't be left alone, so if he needs to go to a doctor appt or to the store, someone has to be there. I'm not complaining - I love spending time with my grandparents. Even now that my grandmother isn't much for visiting and she sleeps most of the time - I'm happy for the conversation we do get to have - and I appreciate just being there and looking around and smelling the smell of their house. I know that it's only a matter of time before I don't have that option anymore.
I guess I'm just scared. I haven't had alot of experience with death - and the people who have died I've never been as close with as I am to my grandparents. My grandparents helped raise us. They're as much a part of my life as my parents ever were. Losing either of them is going to be very, very hard.
