My Grandmother suffered from Dementia. She's been holding steady for awhile with regards to her memory not getting worse. She always remembered who my son was, who my Mom was, on some occasions she would mistake me for either my Mom or my Aunt.
We saw her last week. She looked a little tired, and it was the first time we had to tell her who William was, but as soon as we did she lit up like a candle.
Sunday my Mom got a call letting her know that Grandma wasn't eating or drinking. She couldn't get over because Dad had to come and collect me and William from the convention he and I attended this weekend.
However no one was declaring any doom and gloom at that point.
So this morning when the call came through from the nursing home asking us about palliative care and if we wanted to book the room to stay over night all we had to do was call etc we were all thrown for a loop. We rushed over.
She looked like a shadow of the woman we visited last week. As William aptly put it, she looked like a leaf all dried and shriveled up.
William stayed long enough to squeeze her hand and and say hi. I couldn't blame him. She didn't look much like Great Grandma. He and I went down to the Cafe area while Mom and Dad sat with Grandma.
We stayed for almost an hour and then we came home (partly because I had nothing to occupy William) and to eat, rest etc.
At 2:40pm we got the call to come, things were dire. We arrived. I set William up in the tv lounge down the hall from my grandmother's room.
A lady who works with my grandmother, also a lady I worked with for several years back when we both worked for Swiss Chalet, Karen, was sitting holding my grandmother's hand. Making sure that she wouldn't be alone if we didn't get there in time. For that, I cannot ever thank her enough.
Grandma was still with us when we arrived. We just sat and talked to her telling her we were there. It was okay. She wasn't alone and it was okay to go. We held her hands.
After a bit I kissed her on the forehead and left to go sit with William.
A little while later Grandma left to be with her family on the Other Side.
It happened that quick.
Grandma always said she didn't want to linger when the time came.
My Grandma taught me so many things over the years.
She was the one who taught me how to follow a knitting pattern, how to sew things together, shared her love of books, Coca Cola, Chocolate, window shopping, baking and gardening.
She taught me that love knows no boundaries. It's where I get my loyal to a fault and too trusting nature from.
We always looked for the best in everyone.
She loved all of us.
I can still hear her laugh. I always loved to hear her laugh.
I am so glad William was able to know her and that she was able to know him.
I am so glad that she went with most of her memory intact. She left knowing who we were and that we loved her.
We will be having a Celebration of Life in the future once Jennifer is back in the province.
Details will be posted eventually.
Don't take your loved ones for granted. You cannot assume they will always be there just because they seem healthy.
Love and Light
Olga McHugh
(Great) Gramma "Q"
March 4, 1932- April 13, 2015
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