Final Homecoming

Grandma went home to be with the Lord this morning around 4:45. She will be greatly missed, but I am grateful that she is finally in heaven instead of suffering in her mortal body here on earth. It is hard to believe that it has been about a year since we discovered that she was sick. It all started with a fall that landed her in the hospital. Her body had started stiffening up and she was receiving physical therapy but not making much progress. She went on from the hospital to the nursing home to continue her therapy. Grandpa finally made the decision to bring her home and she continued to make a slow but steady decrease in her ability to function on her own. We went down to Huntsville to see her when she came home. She was having a hard time getting around and feeding herself. Her hands wanted to sieze up at times which made it difficult for her. At that time she could still communicate with us.

I can't remember for sure, but I don't think the doctor's were sure of what her condition was. She had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia years ago and had struggled off and on with depression from it. It wasn't until they got her medication regulated that she did much better. I can remember times of going down to see them that she would have to go back to the bedroom to take a nap. I guess all of the people around got to her at times. When she went into the hospital the doctor thought that she might have Parkinson's disease. This seemed to make sense at the time because some of the symptoms can be similar. Later on they realized that it probably wasn't Parkinson's but some kind of Parkinsonism. They finally diagnosed her with Lewy Body Dimentia. This caused her to gradually lose her memory and her muscles to stiffen.

About a month ago I took a trip to Chattanooga and my parents and I took Taylor down to see my grandparents. I am so glad that we made that trip. It was hard to see Grandma declining like she had, but I know that she could understand what we said to her. She coudn't hold Taylor or really interact with her, but at lunch she was really watching her and I think she got some enjoyment out of her. I am glad that Taylor got to meet her great-grandparents. I want to make more of a point on taking her up for visits to see Grandpa. We don't do that often enough - even if it is 7 hours away. It will be harder with a new baby, but I think it is important.

So far, everyone in the family is doing really well. My sister is probably taking it the hardest right now, but we all grieve in different ways and in our own time. I think that Grandpa and Daddy and the rest of the family did a lot of grieving this week while they have been down there watching her and waiting for her to pass. I am sure that they are all exhausted. I have heard that the weeks to follow are the hardest - when it all sinks in and life changes. So much of his time for the past year has been taking care of Grandma, so it will be difficult for him at fist. He has already mentioned that he wants to get involved with the senior's group at his church (he recently joined a new church closer to home) and he wants to do some more woodworking which has been a hobby of his for some time. He is a very determined man and I know that he won't be idle.

The funeral is scheduled for Saturday morning, so we will be leaving Thursday evening after Daniel gets off of work to drive up to Chattanooga and spend the night before going on to Huntsville on Friday for the receiving of friends. Grandpa requested a closed casket. I think that he doesn't want the family remembering Grandma in her current state and he is mostly worried about the great-grandkids. Rebekah, my 4-year old niece, would be most affected by it. Taylor and Joshua are too young to understand.

Some prayer requests that I have are to remember the family as we go through the grieving process. Also, pray for the little ones as we travel. My sister's family doesn't have far to drive, but we have a little further to go. Also pray that they would do well at the funeral. We didn't have to take Taylor into the last funeral. God was so faithful and worked out all the details for that and I know that He will do it again. We will be staying in a hotel room in Huntsville on Friday night - which we have not done with Taylor before - so I am hoping and praying that she will sleep well. I know that those of you who have small children (or who have been in a similar situation) will understand what I am talking about. We have stayed in the same room with her before, but it was always a situation where we could put her down, leave the room, and then come back after she was asleep. We may just have to sit in the hallway until she goes to sleep. I know that again, God will work out all the details. I just have to trust Him. Thanks for your prayers.

My sister posted some memories of Grandma. Click this link to see her blog post.