Skip to main content

My Grandpa

My grandpa is in the ICU following a fall yesterday which resulted in a large subdural hematoma.  It is inoperable due to his age (80) and the size of the bleed.  The neurosurgeon didn't give us any hope since so much damage has already been done.

This is a man who had his first heart attack at the age of 41 (so 49 years ago).  He has had multiple heart bypass surgeries, coded several times in the hospital, and defied strict dietary orders by eating his nightly bowl of ice cream before bed.  With chocolate sauce.

He has a wonderful belly laugh, ornery smile, and hugs you like he hasn't seen you in ages.  He loves raising chickens of various types and his dogs which are great pyrenees.  He and Grandma still spend late nights at the local casino (playing blackjack, but mostly making friends), love to shop at Sam's, and he still works with my uncle part-time. 

I need some prayers and kind comments.  Maybe a funny story or two.  Because this is one of my very favorite people to have ever walked this earth.  And this may literally tear my large, dysfunctional family apart. 

Grandpa with Paisley on Thanksgiving

Comments

  1. EmilyJuly 19, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    My thoughts and prayers are with you and your grandpa.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnnaJuly 19, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    So sorry to hear this. :(

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 19, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    First the serious, my thoughts and prayers are with you and especially for your Grandpa. I'm praying for a complete miracle healing for him!

    Second, Hope this makes you smile: I am a nurse. My mom has a lady that works with her who, every time she hears of someone's ailment, she's either had it, got it or knows someone who has it 10 times worse. Also, she is very-shall we say-dumb.
    This is a true story. I told my mom to bring up in conversation that (me) her daughter just found out that she has a subdural hematoma on her duodenum. If you know anything about human anatomy-for this to happen your intestines would literally have to be wrapped around your brain.
    Would you believe that this girl's aunt has had this condition for years?
    I swear this is a true story.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CaseyJuly 19, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    My prayers and thoughts are with your grandpa, you and your family. I wish I could come up with a funny story for you... but I'm not so funny on the spot. Instead, can I give you a bloggy friend hug? :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. JulieJuly 19, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    I'm so, so sorry to hear about your Grandpa. I'm sending happy thoughts your way today. And...because you asked. Here goes.
    "One morning a local highway department crew reaches their job-site and realizes they have forgotten all their shovels.

    The crew's foreman radios the office and tells his supervisor the situation.

    The supervisor radios back and says, "Don't worry, we'll send some shovels...just lean on each other until they arrive."

    Hope you can find a smile today. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnnieJuly 19, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    So sorry to hear your family is facing a tragic situation with your grandpa. No matter how long and wonderful a life a person has lived, it's hard to think of it ending. And I understand how every difficult situation is so much worse when there's family dysfunction involved!

    ReplyDelete
  7. FaithJuly 19, 2011 at 1:18 PM

    Oh so sorry, Amber! Your family will miss him if this is his time to go...but what a blessing that you had him for so long. I always get a little sad when I hear stories like this because I never had a grandparent like this - one who I had this connection with. I will be thinking of you as you pray for your grandpa.

    ReplyDelete
  8. basebell6July 19, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    praying for your grandpa to get a miracle and praying for your family to stay strong and stick together for his sake. :(

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meet Our Little Miracle, Paisley Kate

The post I have been waiting 2 years to write is finally here and I can't really believe it. On Saturday, I woke up at 8:30 a.m. with BAD contractions. By the 2nd one, I knew I was in "real" labor. They were SO different than the braxton-hicks. I got out of bed and decided that I'd take a bath, until water ran down both legs. The pain after that got pretty unbearable immediately and I was having contractions every 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. So, I called Aaron at work to tell him it was "the big day". He decided I was kidding until I nearly leapt through the phone to wring his neck. :) We got to the hospital an hour later and I was dilated to a 4 and having very active contractions. They quickly got me moved to an L&D room. I got my epidural ( AMAZING - we'll talk about this in its own post soon) at a 6 and then my doctor broke my water. (Apparently at home, it had just leaked a pocket of fluid). After he broke my water, labor started picking up ...
42 comments
Read more

The Resurrection

 So here we are.  It's now a blog graveyard.  The followers have long since moved on and infertility is something that I've somewhat put in the past (only considering I don't want any more kids).  So why am I here and writing again?  What's the purpose?   This was my safe place.  It was where I came when everything seemed much too hard and I needed to feel comfort.  I wanted to express myself in a venue that others would reassure me and even understand me.  I still love and have always loved this blog.  It guided me during some of the hardest years of my life, dealing with infertility and miscarriage. And you know... I guess it will help me again now.  Because life is freaking TOUGH.  You know the phrase "I've went through Hell and back"?  Yeah, I feel that in my soul now.  I could have a blowout in the middle lane of the highway during rush hour traffic, manage to pull over my car on the side and call for roadsi...
1 comment
Read more

Santa Claus

I miss blogging.  It's just that I'm trying to minimalize the busy-ness in my life right now because the holidays always make me overwhelmed.  Like I get a bit crazy.  All the gift-giving, shopping, parties, family, friends, drama, food, etc.  Sounds fun to most people but I just do better with simple.   And that word hasn't described my life since giving birth 3 years ago.  Sooo, I go missing from time to time, but I keep up with everyone else's blogs!   This was my mom's attempt at a Christmas card with the kids.  It looks like they were decently enjoying it but the truth is both kids were having fits for absolutely no reason.  She used it anyways. My ornery little stud-muffin playing on the stairs. Graham having a VERY rare fit.  I had to capture the moment. Sweet sibling time in pajamas.  Times like this one melt my heart and make me feel good about my decision to have two kids. Graham was tota...
2 comments
Read more