Today, I said my goodbyes to GG….
I have never experienced someone’s last breath on Earth until today. It was by far the most
powerful experience I have ever had.
My grandmother embodied hope, faith, laughter, trust and so much more. The relationships
she created with people were forever. Every moment, big or small, I had her by my side. She
was pivotal for so many people, leading them down a path of goodness and faith. One of my all time favorite places to visit on the web are sites sponsored by The Greater Good, a company dedicated to always giving back to populations or causes in need. One that grandma would support is The Hunger Site, donating proceeds to kids in need of food.
The moments leading up to her death changed dramatically with the progression of her
Alzheimer's. When my mom and I were with her, she had moments of knowing who we
were and not knowing who we were. One thing that did not change was how she felt when
we were around. We would laugh. We would cry. We would joke. We would recite the Lord’s
prayer, which she could recite word for word until the last moment. My grandma named a
few people hours before dying. A major moment was when she lifted her arms and out
came the words, “Hey good lookin” which I know in my heart of hearts was her meeting
my grandpa in Heaven. It was a magical moment. Minutes later she took two more
breaths and she was gone.
This is a season of mourning and remembrance. I cherish my memories with this wonderful
person and try to live as she did; with humility. I will begin working on how we will celebrate
her life through images, song, and story. Images from Deposit Photos is a great place to find pictures and paintings to capture such a life. I know my heavy heart will continue to heal with time. As my grandma would say, “This too shall pass.”
