Last summer, we learned Gran had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Gran stayed true to her spirit and began planning ways to cherish the days she affectionately referred to as, "borrowed time." We often met the requests for road trips and lunch dates with exaggerated eye rolls and satiric sighs, but she always responded to our playful jests with her own. Gran was adamant not to leave this world until she made memories for us to cherish once her borrowed time had passed.
Recently, Gran had been struggling with not feeling well and was not quite keeping up her usual pace. On March 7th we took her to the dentist, and on her way home she had unfortunate fall. She was taken to the hospital where we held out hope for recovery. Unfortunately, over the next four weeks Gran and our family struggled to accept what felt like a never ending barrage of bad news.
On Thursday, March 31st, Gran reached a point where her lungs were no longer able to provide her body with the oxygen she needed. She affably accepted her time on this earth was coming to an end. The time at the hospital was difficult for everyone. Yet, now that we have reached the end, it is the moments of peace we shared with her which shine brightly over it all.
In her final days, Gran had many unexpected moments of physical strength and mental clarity. As always, she embraced each borrowed moment. She took the time to share words of wisdom, concede to April Fool's antics, and even enjoyed a few last rounds of spider solitaire. Gran was moved from the hospital to a hospice home, where a kind and gracious staff worked to keep her and our family as comfortable as possible.
When my mom called to tell me Gran had passed, I think we both were hoping the other would know what to say. Even when you have spent a week preparing to lose a loved one, there still is no way to prepare to lose a loved one. Even when trying to focus on the moments of joy and peace, it is difficult to shake the doubts, questions, and confusion that acompany loss. Our faith reminds us that our loss is Heaven's gain. The comfort of knowing Gran is home with the Father sheds a light on each tear; giving us glimmers of hope and happiness as we reflect on our time together.
In lieu of flowers, our family is accepting contributions to help off-set the cost of a headstone for Gran. We want to celebrate her life in a way which exemplifies who she was to her family and friends, and appreciate all your support as we go through this time. Contribute to "In Memory of Sandy Nelson"
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