Watching Our Loved Ones Age

Growing up, I was very fortunate to avoid the experience of death in my family. All of my grandparents lived in Gold Beach (my hometown), and so we probably took the fact that they were so close for granted. I must say that it is only in the last year and a half that I have really thought about what it means to grow old and to suffer loss. Last May, we lost my maternal grandfather after he had spent several years in a nursing home facility, gradually fading farther and farther into what the medical field refers to as dementia. At least I always was able to feel that he was happy to see me when we visited, even if he could no longer retrieve my name from his failing memory.

In January of this year, we came close to losing my father...too close for comfort. While traveling for work in Hawthorne, Nevada, his heart (damaged from a previous heart attack) stopped, and he collapsed, immediately unconscious and unresponsive. God's hand was definitely over this situation. He was in a hospital emergency room setting up cataract surgery equipment, so he was able to receive immediate treatment and CPR. My mom and sister happened to be at our place that evening due to the fact that my sister was heading back to school the following day, placing all of us close to an airport. My dad, mom, and all of us kids flew to Reno, not knowing what to anticipate. My dad has been given a pace maker, and is doing very well. So far, it has not had to kick into gear. This certainly was a bit of a wake up call to all of us to think about how precious life really is and how we need to treasure the time we have with our loved ones.

Since the death of my grandfather, my grandmother has continuously declined in spirit and health. Following several falls, a dramatic slowing of her speech, and other processing difficulties, an MRI showed signs of minor strokes and an "aging brain." Her most recent fall resulted in a fracture in her neck and orders from the doctor that she should not live alone any longer. My parents are currently attempting to take care of her within the walls of their home. Tim and I decided that it was important to make a trip down there over the 4th of July to help out if we could and, at the least, visit with them all. It is difficult to see the pains and trials of aging. My faith prompts me to believe that we have so many greater things awaiting us after death. There is comfort in keeping this in the forefront of my mind, and even though it is difficult to suffer loss, I consider myself blessed to have such a wonderful Christian family who has the promise of greater things beyond our current understanding.