Update on my grandfather

I have been busy in the past few weeks shuffling back and forth between my hometown and here. I have tried to help my Mammaw with my Pappaw. He was in the hospital for almost three weeks from December 24 until last Saturday. He has now been moved to a nursing home in a neighboring town. It is a 30 minute drive for my Mammaw each day, but she seems to be satisfied with the care he is receiving there. Unfortunately, his kidneys cannot seem to process the antibiotics they have had him one for his infection. They had to stop the antibiotics and wait to check his levels before starting them again.

He has proved to be a regular Houdini for the nurses there. They have had to put a special belt on him when he is seated in a wheelchair. It has an alarm that goes off if he tries to undo it. This is because he has already managed to undo the other belt and fall out of the wheelchair. They have to put a special pad on his bed with a similar alarm so he will not fall out of his bed.

It is so incredibly sad to watch this play out as he seems to have lost most of his mental capabilities in a matter of days. One day he was talking to us, shuffling his feet across the room and the next, he was completely unresponsive! We have been on an emotional roller coast in the past few weeks. I find myself praying to God to have mercy on him. I hope he doesn't continue to linger and loose more of his mind. He is being rather belligerent and unkind to my Mammaw. I know if he was completely lucid, he would not act this way. It breaks my heart to think she will remember these things, rather than all the good.

He could surprise us. He could rebound and actually be allowed to return home. I just don't see at this point that becoming a reality. I know my Mammaw is clinging to this hope. The rest of us seem to already understand the end is near.

What a blessing he has been to my life. He is such a picture of a servant. There is truly nothing that man cannot fix. He always knew how to make something that quit running come sputtering back to life. He was not quick to offer his opinion, but when he did, we listened! He is the epitome of hard work with no complaining. I know I have benefited from his personal sacrifice. They really don't make many like him anymore.

There are so many stories I can tell about him. I only hope my boys will remember him and I will continue to tell him stories about his life, his service here and in World War II, his family and his many talents.