Passing

I have been avoiding this topic for a while now because, well, unfortunately I have not wanted to discuss it.

My grandmother went to Heaven on May 20th. I was told that it was very peaceful and she is no longer agitated or hurting. I am so thankful for that.

Everything went fast. Too fast if you ask me. She had her first apt with her doctor because she was having a hard time breathing. He then ordered a chest x-ray and told her that he wanted a CT scan done. That was 5 weeks before she passed. Too fast but I guess it was better that way than watching her struggle like I have with relatives in the past. Granny was always very efficient. We wouldn’t have expected less than that in her passing.

Unfortunately the pathology report confirmed our suspicions and she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. One part of her lung was 50% blocked and the other was 30% blocked. No wonder she was having a hard time breathing. A few weeks later she had a biopsy and the doctor that performed the procedure said that he couldn’t diagnose her until the pathology reports got back but that he hadn’t seen anything look like that that wasn’t cancerous. Due to its location, it was inoperable.

When we told my granny this, her response was, “Well, I guess we better call in hospice.” She didn’t even think for a second that she was going to fight this. You see, she was the primary care taker of my grandpa for 2 ½ years when he had cancer. She saw all the pain, struggle and eventual death that happened with him and she did not want that for herself or her children and grandchildren. Granny then went in the hospital on May 2nd and had 1 round (3 days) of chemo. Then three days after her last bag of chemo, decided that she wanted to go home and be on hospice.

Eight days later she passed peacefully. I am so happy that she was able to see all of her children and a lot of her grandchildren before she passed.

The funeral was quite elegant and nice. The priest did a great job and she would have been happy. She is missed very much and I don't really think that it has sunk into my head yet that she is gone. I wish this were easy but it isn't. God didn't say that life or death would be easy but that it would be worth it.