~Henry Van Dyke
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sometimes it is a hospital where we nurse and take care of those we love." ~Elder Jeffrey Holland, Ensign, Nov. 1997 |
Grandpa has been in the Nursing Home trying to get his strength
back after a minor surgical procedure.
He has gone downhill the last month and was released from
physical therapy which automatically put him into the long-term
care facility. He was moved to a very shabby small room on
the 23rd of December. I didn't sleep all night thinking of him
laying in that cold mean room.
The morning of Christmas Eve my brother called me. Evidently
he had had the same sleepless night. He told me he couldn't
stand to think of our dad living in those conditions and
would I call and see what we had to do to get him released
to our care. I called the Nursing Home at 10:00 in the morning
and they made the arrangements for us. At 1:30 in the afternoon
eight of Grandpa Gus' family members were standing by his bed
ready to take him home. The sight of his son and four of his
big grandsons standing by his bed telling him that he was going
home for good made this fine man very happy. Since he couldn't
talk he just made the sign for okay with his hand and gave us
a big smile.
Grandpa is completely bedridden and requires much care, but
his family is ready to care for him. We are each of us taking
time from our jobs and duties until his granddaughter, Sheila,
gets here from Texas to take care of him for two months.
Sheila's husband, Victor, is sending her and her family to care
for Grandpa for two months. He already misses them, but it was
his suggestion that she come up to care for him.
We feel very lucky to have enough people in our family
willing to give of their time to be able to do this for him.
And these people are his children, grandchildren,
great-grandchildren and their spouses and families. Everyone has
rallied around to support this grandpa that they love.
This is a very special Christmas for all of us, and
the true meaning of Christmas.
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empathy, openness and honesty are key characteristics of a person's history. If people are full of anger or guilt or hate, and not interested in looking at themselves to find out why, there is little a physician can do. Negative mind-sets are powerful and are perhaps more destructive to one's health than smoking, alcohol, or drug abuse (any or all of which may be symptoms of self-hate). ~Jesse A. Stoff, M.D., and Charles R. Pellegrino, Ph.D. CFS, revised edition. |
Mary Alice Glenn Graff
July 5, 1909 - March 7, 1998
There is a new star in the heaven tonight. Our dear Aunt Alice with the red hair has gone home to be with her husband, mother, father, sisters and brothers. Some people just fit into your heart and stay there. So it is with Aunt Alice. Fond memories of family outings will always be with us. She was a nurse, expert candy maker, excellent home maker and dear friend. Have you ever know anyone whose cupboards were spotless and everything in its place - that is Aunt Alice. She could knit, crochet, make porcelein dolls, and she loved to travel. She has been to the Passion Play in Germany twice, to Australia, Israel, China, Alaska and other various places. And all this after she was in her seventies. She thought nothing of jumping in her car and driving 200 miles or so to visit her relatives.
Tonight our hearts are empty, but somewhere there is much joy and happiness. She is a person that everyone loves to be around, and has gone to be with her other loved ones.
Condolences to Barbara Ann, Jay, Robin and their families.
