January 03, 2004

Happy New Year Grandma

I'm back from visiting the in-laws. It was a very good visit, though depressing. Tree's maternal grandmother, Grandma P, has cancer pretty much everywhere. We spent a good portion of our time in CA hanging out with her, taking her in for radiation treatments, and listening to her stories. Time well spent.

It is extraordinarily difficult to imagine that she is dreadfully sick. She has always been fiesty and full of life and though it was muted during our visit, her trademark vitality was still quite evident. The cancer and the associated drugs have killed her vision and have filled her with pain, but she was relentlessly joyful and loving.

During our vacation, we did one of the smartest things we've ever done: we bought a camcorder, sat Grandma P in front of it and had her tell her life-story to us. Pure gold. This woman has done and seen everything.

When we rang in the new year, I though to myself (just as Cobb did regarding his ailing grandfather), "2003 Won't Get Her". Given her energy and spirit, I figured January wouldn't get her either. Even as we left her to come home saying "Goodbye" for likely the last time, she still managed to put a smile on our faces.

Today we got a phone call from Tree's mother. Grandma P is semi-comatose and the doctors don't think that she'll last a week.

- wink [January 3, 2004 12:56 AM]
Comments

syndromes says:

Eek :/ Sorry to hear about Tree's grandma is sick... I am going through almost exactly the same scenario with my Uncle who has cancer all over his body as well. Freaky stuff for sure.

I don't know what to say about that stuff other than I can relate. It's great to hear about someone who has come to terms with their life (and death I suppose) in such a way that they can be joyous, regardless of occassion.

Inspiring.

I wish you both nothing but the best.

PS - Much thanks for the aikido links!

- syndromes [January 3, 2004 03:15 AM]