The death of one of my heroes...
I have been blessed in my life to have such a wonderful and loving family around me. I grew up in Connecticut for the first eleven years of my life, and was able to have a strong relationship with my grandparents. While I don't have a "favorite" grandparent, I seemed to have a stronger bond with one of my grandfather's over the other. I loved them both the same. In 1997, I lost my Poppa Slavick to cancer. He died September 11, 1997. I believe he is in heaven with Jesus and that one day I will be reunited with him. His death took me a while to overcome and to this day I still cry when I think about him and his unconditional love for me.
Fast forward twelve years later and on September 11. 2009, I lost my grandfather Pistey. He was such a patriarch in my life. He touched a part of my heart that no other person on earth will ever be able to do again. His death has left such a hole in my life. I was so close to him. Every Sunday, we would call my Grandmother and Grandfather to see how they were doing. My grandfather always had a joke to tell. He loved me so much, he prayed for me all the time. I loved him more than he will ever know. His death was tragic and a shock to all. He was such a healthy and vibrant 85 year old. Stubborn as could be and very proud!
Three weeks prior to September 11 my grandfather was piddling around in his yard as he usually did, and loved to do at that. He was cutting weeds over near the brook on his property. Some how he slipped and fell into the brook, about 12 or more feet. The area where he fell was rocky. Some how he amazingly, climbed out of the brook and laid on the lawn yelling for my grandmother. She found him on the ground soaking wet and complaining of pain. She called 911 and while she was standing down there a man who happened to be driving by stopped to comfort and see if there was anything he could do to help.
Once he arrived at the hospital, they soon realized that he was bleeding internally and he started to fade. The hospital staff administered pain medication and placed him in a medically induced coma. there goal was to find where the bleeding was coming from. Long story short they found him hemorrhaging from arteries near his spine. He was immediately rushed into surgery where they closed the arteries where the blood was coming out. By this time my grandfather was so swollen from the blood pooling inside of his body that I was told you could not see his eyes or ears. He had blown up like a balloon. They continued to administer pain meds and blood transfusions. This went on for days. They found another place along his spine where he was still bleeding. He ended up having nine surgeries, over 30 blood transfusions and multiple other blood derivatives. The ICU doctors and nurses were amazed at how resilant he was for his age. Make no mistake, even though my grandfather was 85 years old, the man acted like he was in his 50's. All of his doctors visits were always positive. He didn't have to take any medications, he was healthier than a horse! LOL, that was Frank, I thought he would live forever.
Fast forward twelve years later and on September 11. 2009, I lost my grandfather Pistey. He was such a patriarch in my life. He touched a part of my heart that no other person on earth will ever be able to do again. His death has left such a hole in my life. I was so close to him. Every Sunday, we would call my Grandmother and Grandfather to see how they were doing. My grandfather always had a joke to tell. He loved me so much, he prayed for me all the time. I loved him more than he will ever know. His death was tragic and a shock to all. He was such a healthy and vibrant 85 year old. Stubborn as could be and very proud!
Three weeks prior to September 11 my grandfather was piddling around in his yard as he usually did, and loved to do at that. He was cutting weeds over near the brook on his property. Some how he slipped and fell into the brook, about 12 or more feet. The area where he fell was rocky. Some how he amazingly, climbed out of the brook and laid on the lawn yelling for my grandmother. She found him on the ground soaking wet and complaining of pain. She called 911 and while she was standing down there a man who happened to be driving by stopped to comfort and see if there was anything he could do to help.
Once he arrived at the hospital, they soon realized that he was bleeding internally and he started to fade. The hospital staff administered pain medication and placed him in a medically induced coma. there goal was to find where the bleeding was coming from. Long story short they found him hemorrhaging from arteries near his spine. He was immediately rushed into surgery where they closed the arteries where the blood was coming out. By this time my grandfather was so swollen from the blood pooling inside of his body that I was told you could not see his eyes or ears. He had blown up like a balloon. They continued to administer pain meds and blood transfusions. This went on for days. They found another place along his spine where he was still bleeding. He ended up having nine surgeries, over 30 blood transfusions and multiple other blood derivatives. The ICU doctors and nurses were amazed at how resilant he was for his age. Make no mistake, even though my grandfather was 85 years old, the man acted like he was in his 50's. All of his doctors visits were always positive. He didn't have to take any medications, he was healthier than a horse! LOL, that was Frank, I thought he would live forever.
Fast forward three weeks. I was on a business trip to Florida and had plans to fly up to Connecticut after my trip to help my grandmother out and visit with my grandfather in ICU. I had pictures and stories I planned to read to him every day. He was recovering and the doctors planned to take him out of the medically induced coma that weekend. On September 11, 2009, as I was preparing for meetings I got a phone call from my brother to tell me that my grandfather had taken a turn for the worse over night. His body had gone septic. Turns out there was an infection that had spiked his temperature and his heart rate. Three hours later, I got a call that he had died. The infection was in his blood. I felt my world crash around me. Nothing mattered! I stepped out of my meetings and fell apart in another conference room. Thankfully, I had once worked in this office so I was surrounded by people who knew me and care for me. They were an amazing support system that helped me get through that day.
That afternoon, I headed to the aiport to fly up to Connecticut as planned. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through the flight and then walking into their house that evening. All I can say is that the love and prayers of my friends and family is what gave me strength. I am thankful for my relationship with God. For the strength that he gives, especially when you need it the most. Anyone that knows me, knows I am a very emotional person. I feel EVERYTHING, sometimes too sensitive. I knew this day would come that he would die and I wasn't sure how I would handle it. My husband, Brian, had even expressed his concern about how I needed to prepare myself for that day I would get a call. He knew that I was too fragile about this relationship. This man, my grandfather, meant more than the world to me. He was my biggest supporter through all the ups and downs in my life. He loved me unconditionally, I don't think anyone else on this earth, besides Jesus, will ever love me in that way.
[placeholder for other funeral stuff]
After the funeral was done and it was time for me to return home, I had to find a way to deal with my loss. In the past I would have probably starved myself. This time I realized that I had to work through the pain. I was in the middle of training for the NYC marathon and that is where I decided to put my energies. So, when I started to hurt and feel frustrated I went for a run. It is so amazing to me that four years ago, I could barely run a tenth of a mile and HATED IT. Now I run for fun...sick huh? But somehow I can't help but wonder if me taking up running four years ago, helped to give me another way to deal with my emotions. Any who, I decided that any time I felt that my run was hard or I didn't feel like getting up to do a 21 mile run, I would remember by grandfather, lying helplessly, painfully and pitifully in that ICU bed. I would tell myself that if my 85 year old grandfather could endure that, I can get my sorry ass out of bed and go for a run.
I ran the NYC marathon in memory of my grandfather.
There have been a lot of emotional breakdowns since his death in September. Some happen in the most inconvenient places, where silly things remind me of him. I understand the grieving process can take a long time. I am prepared to face those emotions. But most of all I am excited that one day I will see my grandfather again in heaven! Pain free! No suffering!
Only joy!
I celebrate my grandfather's life, the inspiration he was to me. His willingness to put others first, even it if meant him doing without. His love for God and his devotion to knowing about him more and more every day!
Here's to you grandfather and I love you so much more than you ever knew!
I ran the NYC marathon in memory of my grandfather.
There have been a lot of emotional breakdowns since his death in September. Some happen in the most inconvenient places, where silly things remind me of him. I understand the grieving process can take a long time. I am prepared to face those emotions. But most of all I am excited that one day I will see my grandfather again in heaven! Pain free! No suffering!
Only joy!
I celebrate my grandfather's life, the inspiration he was to me. His willingness to put others first, even it if meant him doing without. His love for God and his devotion to knowing about him more and more every day!
Here's to you grandfather and I love you so much more than you ever knew!
9:16 AM
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