Why I may be attending another funeral soon.

[Fenris]

***My medical knowledge is limited so please excuse the confusing diagnoses***

A week ago, I was a pallbearer at my grandfather's funeral. My brother called me yesterday morning to tell me that my grandmother - still reeling from the loss of her husband - had gone into the hospital. About a week before my grandfather died, my grandmother was rushed to the hospital because of severe headaches. The doctors told her it was stress. It turns out, she actually was undergoing a series of mini strokes. They brought her back to the hospital on Tuesday, when she became unable to move her left hand or finish a complete sentence. The doctors, in addition to finding out about the strokes, also discovered that she had an infection in her heart. That was all I knew as of yesterday.

Today, her doctors ran more tests. The first tests returned a diagnosis of endocarditis. The test showed a 1.75cm infected area on her heart's mitral valve. She also could not recognize my mother, although she could recognize my other grandmother (who has become her unofficial caregiver since granddad died). The infected matter is breaking loose and affecting her brain.

I received another email from my dad tonight saying that the hematologist who said that her red platelets had decreased from 99k to 44k since she's been in the hospital. According to him, the infection has spread to her blood and her kidneys.

Please hold my Nan in your thoughts and prayers. I fear with the death of her husband she lacks the will to pull through.

[flamingyouth]

1. I just can't believe this.

I am so sorry for all of you. :cry:

[Fenris]

12. Thanks for your support, love.

You're such a good person. :hug:

[JimmyJazz]

2. You know I think the world of you. Of course, you and your family

will be in my thoughts. I am so sorry. :hug:

Love ya,

Donna

[Fenris]

13. Thanks Donna. I appreciate it.

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

3. I will keep her and your family in my thoughts.

[Fenris]

14. Thank you, David.

[grannylib]

4. Fenris, what a burden to be bearing. Our thoughts and prayers will be

with her, with you, and with all who love you both.
God be with you and give you strength to deal with whatever comes your way.

[Fenris]

15. I appreciate that grannylib.

Thank you very much.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

5. I'm so sorry, Fenris

I didn't even know about the loss of your grandfather. My heart goes out to you and your family.

[Fenris]

16. Thanks, DTBK.

I didn't really post about granddad's death. It happened on a Saturday, so there weren't many people around. Flamingyouth started a thread.

[knowbody0]

6. my gran died 7 days after my gramp

the way it is sometimes. holding you and yours

[Fenris]

17. I know. Thank you.

We've come to realize how dependent she was on granddad. It's really illuminated their relationship for us.

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. Fenris, I am so sorry....

Hugs to you and your family. You need them right now.

[Fenris]

18. Thanks, greatauntoftriplets.

[bigwillq]

8. My thoughts will be with you

and your family.:hug:

[Fenris]

19. Thank you, bigwillq.

:hug:

[demnan]

9. I have been through this

it is so heartbreaking to see your grandparents suffer. When a couple has been married a long time sometimes the other will go fairly quickly after.

I think that if your grandmother passes it will be for the best, I hope I'm not insensitive to say this, but older people who do survive those kinds of strokes don't have very much quality of life left for them.

My heart goes out to you, no matter what their infermities, or their age, we just are heartbroken to see them fade from us. I give you my love and support. :hug:

[Fenris]

20. I certainly don't disagree with you that it might be better.

She is suffering so much. I just wish she wasn't going now. But I understand why.

Thank you.

[wtmusic]

10. That sucks

and unfortunately is common.

Best wishes for Nan.

[Fenris]

21. Thank you very much, wtmusic.

[u4ic]

11. I'm so sorry

{{{sending healing vibes}}} :hug:

[Fenris]

22. Thank you, u4ic.

It's sad that I just got what your screen name means. :D

[CrownPrinceBandar]

23. Sorry Fen...............

My thoughts are with your Nan.

[Fenris]

25. Thank you, CPB.

Love the avatar.:)

[RFKHumphreyObama]

24. My thoughts, prayers and best wishes for your grandmother

:hug: And my sincere and heartfelt thoughts, prayers, condolences and sympathies are with you and all your family on the loss of your grandfather -I've lost both my grandfathers now and I have some idea of what you must be going through :hug:

[Fenris]

26. I still have one left.

Unfortunately, it's the one that I don't particularly care for or have a lot of respect for. The two saintly grandfather's I had have passed on.

[BikeWriter]

27. Sometimes this world totally sucks! *Lighting a candle for your Nan.*

[Fenris]

30. Thanks, BikeWriter

[asthmaticeog]

28. I'm so sorry, Fen.

Your grandmother will be in my thoughts. I hope she makes it through this.

[Fenris]

29. Thanks, man.

[roguevalley]

31. this is so sad but strokes take time to overcome. she will remember

again. I will pray for your Nan and hold good thoughts. She is sad and weak right now but each day is another chance. Take care too, sweetie.

[Fenris]

35. Thank you, roguevalley.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

32. Oh jeez, Fenris, I'm sorry

I'll keep your grandmother in my thoughts, and you and your family also. :hug:

[Fenris]

36. Thanks, Kathy.

:hug:

[LynzM]

33. Fenris, I'm so sorry

Love and hugs to you and your family, and strength and good wishes to your grandmother :hug:

[Fenris]

37. Thanks, LynzM.

:hug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. It could also be that she would much rather be with him and believes

she will be again if she dies.

I am keeping you and your Nan in my prayers...but she may actually WANT to die. My father did. I had to accept that. It's hard.

Hugs, Neil...sorry for all the heartache. :hug:

[Fenris]

38. Oh, I'm pretty sure she wants to die.

She's made that quite clear. She is about as devout a Christian as one can be without being a fundie. She wants to go so she can be with him. I can't say I blame her, but those of us on Earth who love her want her to stay around for a little while.

Thanks Teena :hug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. I know you do..but it would mean everything in the world to her

if you tell her that you love her, you will miss her, she made a huge difference in your life..but it's OK with you if she wants to let go.

The three things a dying person wants to know is that they are loved - they will be missed and that their life mattered.

Even if you think she can't understand, she can.

:hug:

[Fenris]

46. Thanks, Teena.

:hug:

[bleedingheart]

40. I am so sorry to hear this

my great grandparents were so much in love. Their love endured even an 11 year separation while my great grandfather was earning enough money here in the US to send for her and their daughters.

When she died suddenly he was so despondent that a week later he died....it was heartbreaking but it was the completion of a great love story.

I do hope she pulls through and she is lucky to have family that cares for her so much.

[Fenris]

43. That is a tragic and beautiful story, bleedingheart.

Thanks for sharing it.

[jonnyblitz]

41. sigh. hang in there fenris some more.

:hug:

[Fenris]

44. Thanks, jonny.

:hug:

[blondeatlast]

42. Prayers for your family. I hope for the best outcome possible.

Take care, my friend. :hug:

[Fenris]

45. Thank you, blondeatlast.

:hug:

[eyesroll]

47. I'm so sorry, Fen.

I hope whatever happens, she's not suffering.
I'll be keeping your nan and family in my thoughts.

[Fenris]

49. Thanks, Stacie.

[Love Bug]

48. So sorry to hear that

Your poor grandma -- losing her husband and now dealing with all this illness. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. This has to be rough on all of you.

[Fenris]

50. Thank you, Love Bug.

[terrya]

51. I'm sorry, Fenris

My thoughts are with Nan...and you.

:hug:

Terry

[GreenPartyVoter]

52. I am sorry *hugs and prayers*

[XNASA]

53. Sorry to hear about that, Fen.

My thoughts are with you and your family.

[Misunderestimator]

54. My thoughts are with you fenris...

:hug:

My grandparents on my dad's side died within a short time of eachother. He died from a stroke and weeks later she had a stroke as well. I truly believe that she wanted to go with him.

I hope your grandmother pulls through this, but being "with" him again may be what she wants.

(I hope that doesn't sound weird or defeatest... I always remember my grandmother's death poignantly, because it seemed that she wanted to be with her husband in death.) :hug:

[supernova]

55. So sorry for your heartache, Fenris

As a survivor of endocarditis, I know how serious this illness can be.

You all are in my thoughts and prayers. It's really sweet to see that you care about both your grandparents so much. :hug:

[LeftyMom]

56. Sorry you're going through this

My thoughts are with you and your family in this difficult time.

My Grandmother went into a decline after the death of her husband, too. I think with older women sometimes they feel lost when they don't have anyone to care for anymore.

[ProfessorGAC]

57. Good Vibes To You & Your Family, Fenris

Bummer!
The Professor

[Midlodemocrat]

58. Oh, Fenris, I am so very, very sorry.

Loss is difficult enough when it doesn't come in pairs.

:hug: