The BEST Grandma

Grandma passed away at 8:15 am (on my clock) on December 31, 2009 (New Years Eve morning) at 93 years old. After cracking her pelvis in August, Grandma had been on Hospice care and 24/7 family care because she was bed ridden at Home. She wanted to go so badly and be with Grandpa and her other family again. She would always ask.. "Why am I still here?" It was so sad to see her this way. She would contstantly have rags from Grandpa's garments in her hand or by her shoulder.

I was glad I had the opportunity to take a shift with Grandma that saturday before. I hadn't been able to take shifts much because of having small children and a new baby, and teaching music. But, I took Baby Adler with me and Grandma was sleeping most of the time by this time. I sat by her bedside and she opened her eyes a few times. I always asked if she needed anything, she said no. One time she opened her eyes and I gave her a little drink of water from a medicine syringe. She opened her eyes another time and said "I wish somebody would stay in here with me." I said "I'll be right here Grandma sitting next to you in the Rocking Chair, let me know if you need anything." And she went back to sleep. I was writing in her notebook that everything had been recorded in about her care and I wrote this poem while sitting there next to her:

***

Grandma we love you & I think you are the best!

I'll remember how you once were, not only like this, just at rest.

I'll remember how you love us & you want us all to be well,

always caring & worrying- never just for yourself.

I love your sense of humor & your funny charm.

You always telling people what you think & not giving a darn. =)

We know your strong testimony and we will remember, what's important

& what we should do to be a Family Forever!

We will be with you again someday Grandma,

there's nothing for you to now worry about.

It's okay to be with Grandpa now,

He's waiting with open arms and a big welcome shout!

We know that's where you want to be so we will just have to accept.

We know you will be in heaven and happy again, in our hearts you will always be kept!

***

Her voice was only a whisper by this time and as I kissed her head and said "I love You" she would always mouth the words back. It was by the next Tuesday that she was then pretty much comotose & we knew her time was closer than ever. She kept hanging on to something though, until the very end. That Tuesday & Wednesday I couldn't make myself leave. I wanted to be there every second although it was very hard to see her this way. She would only take a breath about every 30 to 40 seconds, sometimes longer and as we watched her it's like you held your breath just waiting fo the next one and then you'd take a deep breath too in relief. You could see the life being sucked out of her and it was sooo very hard. It's almost like we were all just praying that she could go and not be like this anymore and be where she wanted to be. How sad for us & how happy for her it would be. I stayed there every second I could and when I had to go home I wish I had stayed. I would go crazy until I could go back to her home and be there with everybody and her. I stayed all night long on Wednesday night, not getting much sleep...we watched her and did anything we could for her. She was in a coma, but we thought she could hear us because sometimes how she would move. You could feel the spirit in the room, you could feel how close to the veil she was, you could not deny what we know is true, that we will be together again someday!! I had to leave at 5 am so I could be with the kids when Artie had to leave for work. I watched Grandma take a couple breaths before I left and I knew it would be the last time I saw her breathing. When I got home I crashed for a while until the kids woke up. It was New Years Eve Morning. I called over to Grandma's to see how it was going and as I talked to my mom on the phone in tears at 8:15 am she said that Grandma was at that very moment taking her last breath. I asked "are you sure," because you have to wait at least a minute because she may take another breath. But, she knew that was it. She said, "yes, she's gone." I wish I was there and I knew it was coming, but I still couldn't believe it. I can't imagine Grandma not being there next door to my mom and dad anymore. She & Grandpa had been there all my life and to not have him there anymore and now her is going to be so different. She was such an awesome lady and so funny and just fun to be with. Such an example always and always standing up for right. Treating each and every one of us like WE were the favorite grandchid and always wanting to know what's going on in our life and making sure we are okay. She was caring, fiesty, funny, sporty, the best cook, the best gardner, the best everything, THE BEST GRANDMA! She makes me want to be a better person, a better wife & mother, sister and daughter and friend. I will miss you so much Grandma, and I'm glad my kids got to know you even for the short time that they did! Grandma & I (2001)I love this picture of Grandma on the far rightAlley & Grandma (2003)Ashlyn & Grandma (2005)Ammon & Grandma (92 b-day party Sept 2008) 4th of July 2008, Ammon kept getting mad when I tried to take him off Grandma's lap.Adler & Grandma (Oct 2009)

The Happy Young couple Together Again!

He was also the Best Grandpa! Grandpa passed away in 1999, 10 years ago