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Grandma

I don't know if I've mentioned this or not but my Grandma is going to die in my mom's house. Several years ago my mom and her husband remodeled their house so my great-grandparents could come to live with them. They sectioned off their house and installed a fourth bathroom. Since the day they moved in they've had their own space: a bedroom, a bathroom, and a living room. Within the last year and a half my mom and her husband also installed a "Michigan Room" for them.

When my grandparents became too old and it became too dangerous to allow them to live on their own, they were moved into separate nursing homes. Why separate ones, you ask? Well, Grandpa had some serious health issues and dementia, whereas Grandma had her health but not her eyesight. They couldn't stay at the same place because their needs were so very different. Grandpa went into a nursing home and Grandma into assisted living quarters.

Being separated was so very hard on the two of them. It broke their hearts and it broke my mom's heart to see them so sad. With a little finesse and a lot of love my mom began caring for them in her home. It wasn't easy, especially when Grandpa was still alive. He was quite the character. Grumpy. Bossy. Particular. And sick. Eventually he went into the hospital and came home to my mom's house with hospice, much as my Grandma has.

It's been a couple of years since his death and I know Grandma never stopped missing him. When she was still in the hospital she asked my aunt, "Do you think if I die here Pa will know where to find me?" Coming home eased that worry from her mind. She is ready to go but lingers on. I think it's because she's waiting for her oldest son to arrive, which will be today. I'm not sure how long she'll be with us after that.

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