Tuesday was a somewhat better day for Grandaddy. He got a hospital bed, which allowed for more adjustments to keep him more comfortable, and oxygen, which helped him breathe a little easier. We spent the afternoon there, and I had a little time alone with him, which I think I needed. Even in his distress, he was still thinking of others, and urged me to go myself some of the dinner my cousin Jonnia had brought. I told him I'd get some later, but would just sit there a while in case he needed anything.
By the time we left that day, he'd been able to eat a little and had been on the oxygen for at least an hour, so he seemed to feel a little better. Kathryn gave him a hug and kiss when we left, and didn't seem at all upset or bothered by it. When I talked to her about it later, she said it was because he seemed to feel some better; she was afraid--maybe of hurting him, or maybe just empathic to his pain--and that's why she had been resistant to go to him before then. It was sweet how much he'd light up when Kathryn or one of the other young great-grandkids came in to see him. And he loved the colorful pictures Kathryn and Cullen had drawn him; they were hanging on his door and on the wall by the window so he could see them.
Wednesday was a very thunderstormy day, so Kathryn and I were not able to walk over. My mom and my aunts were there, though, and so were a few other cousins. Tuesday night, Grandaddy started hallucenating. At least, that's what some folks would say. He asked, "Who is that man in the corner behind the chair?" My aunts believed it was an angel. Then Grandaddy kept reaching upwards and asking them to please help him open that door. They believed it was the door to heaven. All day Wednesday this went on, and by that afternoon, he told them that the man in the corner was talking to Kathryn--not my Kathryn, but his sister who died years ago. (That's who my Kathryn is named after; Grandaddy suggested the name when I was pregnant.)
Sometime after midnight, my mom called to tell me that Grandaddy had called them all in because he said he had to go and wanted to say goodbye. He told them he loved them all, he loved all his family and knew all his family loved him, and he said he had no regrets about this life. Several times he stopped breathing and they all looked at the clock, thinking he was gone, and then he'd start breathing again. It was a very rough night for everyone; by Thursday morning, he'd slipped into unconsciousness.
That day, the hospice nurse came to stay round the clock (in shifts) until the end. They said it could still be days, but that wasn't likely. That house was full of friends and family yesterday evening. And the hospice nurses were a gift from God, taking such a load off of my mom and my aunts & everyone who had been caring for him. I don't think my aunt Culline or my aunt Beckie had slept more than 2 or 3 hours at a stretch for at least the past two weeks.
This morning, just after 9AM, Grandaddy went to be with the Lord. My mom, my aunt Beckie, my aunt Culline, and my cousin Matt were all there with him. His passing was very peaceful. The nurse said she can always tell when someone is a Christian, because when they die, you can almost see them glow as they pass into heaven.
Grandaddy is dancing with the angels now, doing what he was made to do: praise the Lord.
By the time we left that day, he'd been able to eat a little and had been on the oxygen for at least an hour, so he seemed to feel a little better. Kathryn gave him a hug and kiss when we left, and didn't seem at all upset or bothered by it. When I talked to her about it later, she said it was because he seemed to feel some better; she was afraid--maybe of hurting him, or maybe just empathic to his pain--and that's why she had been resistant to go to him before then. It was sweet how much he'd light up when Kathryn or one of the other young great-grandkids came in to see him. And he loved the colorful pictures Kathryn and Cullen had drawn him; they were hanging on his door and on the wall by the window so he could see them.
Wednesday was a very thunderstormy day, so Kathryn and I were not able to walk over. My mom and my aunts were there, though, and so were a few other cousins. Tuesday night, Grandaddy started hallucenating. At least, that's what some folks would say. He asked, "Who is that man in the corner behind the chair?" My aunts believed it was an angel. Then Grandaddy kept reaching upwards and asking them to please help him open that door. They believed it was the door to heaven. All day Wednesday this went on, and by that afternoon, he told them that the man in the corner was talking to Kathryn--not my Kathryn, but his sister who died years ago. (That's who my Kathryn is named after; Grandaddy suggested the name when I was pregnant.)
Sometime after midnight, my mom called to tell me that Grandaddy had called them all in because he said he had to go and wanted to say goodbye. He told them he loved them all, he loved all his family and knew all his family loved him, and he said he had no regrets about this life. Several times he stopped breathing and they all looked at the clock, thinking he was gone, and then he'd start breathing again. It was a very rough night for everyone; by Thursday morning, he'd slipped into unconsciousness.
That day, the hospice nurse came to stay round the clock (in shifts) until the end. They said it could still be days, but that wasn't likely. That house was full of friends and family yesterday evening. And the hospice nurses were a gift from God, taking such a load off of my mom and my aunts & everyone who had been caring for him. I don't think my aunt Culline or my aunt Beckie had slept more than 2 or 3 hours at a stretch for at least the past two weeks.
This morning, just after 9AM, Grandaddy went to be with the Lord. My mom, my aunt Beckie, my aunt Culline, and my cousin Matt were all there with him. His passing was very peaceful. The nurse said she can always tell when someone is a Christian, because when they die, you can almost see them glow as they pass into heaven.
Grandaddy is dancing with the angels now, doing what he was made to do: praise the Lord.
