Grandma passed away on 7/11. It happened fast. The Tuesday after I came back from New York, she was walking around like normal. Complaining, arguing, making no sense, being her usual self. But she insisted Mom take her to the hospital. After a whole day of tests, she was admitted. She argued, she said, let's make an appointment and come back tomorrow. But no, the doctor said she wasn't going anywhere. We knew she was in Stage 4 of her breast cancer. But no one could tell us what would happen next, or how long it would take. We hurried to try and get her affairs in order. I bought a living will kit, but we never had time to use it. Wednesday night the hospital released her and sent her to a hospice. Mom rode with her in the medical transport. I followed in my car. It was a nice place, she had a big private room. Upon arrival, she was already giving the nurses her demented version of her treatment. She wanted antibiotics, but didn't get them. Or she got them, but they were the wrong ones. Or the doctor tried telling her what her problem was, when she knew it was something else. Just an infection. He was overreacting. She wasn't in her right mind. I felt like apologizing to the nursing staff. She does that, babbles on about stuff that's not true, etc. But it was unnecessary. They knew exactly what was going on. They see it every day.
I took Mom home. It was late by then, so I got to bed. Went to work the next day. When I got home, Mom and Dad said the doctor at the hospice saw her, and finally gave a prognosis. It would be four weeks at most, he said. She could only stay in the hospice for the first 5 days. That's all Medicare would pay for. Mom fretted about what to do next. Where would she go after Tuesday? Would she come home? Go to another home?
The next day was my moving day. I went about it as planned. Dad and I did the heavy lifting until Annette could come with Ryan and Kira. After loading up from the storage and the house, we were on our way. We got to my new place and the five of us made quick work of unloading. I just had them leave everything, with the exception of the more valuable items, in the garage. I could organize and move stuff around later. We headed back home, returned the truck and called it a day. I slept in George's old room, and Saturday got up early to get started on Day 2. I picked up the truck and met George and Heather at their storage. We loaded up the furniture. George and I headed for my place and I had him text/call Nancy and Pedro to see if they could help unload. Me and George actually got most everything off and into the house before anyone else got there. We had to take the couch around through the front door.
Nancy arrived, and then John (Pedro had his violin lesson). They were super helpful in getting stuff upstairs, especially the mattress and box spring. Slowly we took other furniture up, taking dressers and tables without the drawers. We got the dining table put back together. Then we sat down to have some cold drinks and chat. George talked to John about his police work, since John has cops in his family. Then we headed back with the truck. We got caught in a downpour on the freeway and ended up being a bit late returning the truck which annoyed the lady at the storage. But oh well, we were done now. George and I got something to eat and then headed back to Mom & Dad's. I picked up a few more things, including my bed linens, stuffed them in the car and then went off to spend my first night in the new place. Sunday I got up early and cleared out the rest of the storage unit. I didn't look like much was left, but after getting it into the car, we were fully loaded. After unloading and hauling more stuff in from the garage, and starting to unpack the kitchen, Mom called and said she and Dad were on their way. They stopped by for a half hour and then they were off to get back to grandma. I followed a little while later.
When I got to the hospice, Heather and George were there, and we sat there watching Grandma sleep, and sneaking glances at the TV where the Mets were on ESPN. Dad noted she had really gone downhill and it probably wouldn't be much longer.
Monday I meant to go to work, but I was exhausted from the weekend. I called in to let Theresa know, and that things didn't look great with Grandma. Also, I had to wait for the plumber. The toilet had overflowed Sunday night and flooded my bathroom. I had to use every towel I had to soak it up and keep it from seeping into the carpet of my room and the closet. The plumber came quickly though and took care of it. So I used the rest of the day to get some things organized, bring more stuff in, etc. Around 5:30, George called me to tell me Grandma had passed. It happened after Mom had spent the night, and stayed at her side, but had momentarily stepped out of the room. She felt terrible that she wasn't there at the last moment. But Grandma was never alone. Not like when Grandpa died. When I arrived, I told her I was sorry, but that she did everything she could do. Mom, Dad, Heather, George and I sat in the room for a while, waiting for the mortuary guy to come. We each said our goodbyes. Then we headed home.
We ordered a pizza and then George and Heather went home. I slept upstairs with Mom. I had a fitful night and woke up with a weird numbness in my hands. I hadn't been prepared to stay over. I didn't have my meds and I slept in a dress that was still in my closet. After getting up, and watching TV for a while after breakfast, I was still sleepy. Mom and Dad had to go meet the mortuary guy again to make arrangements, but they told me to go back to bed since I was still tired. I think I slept until 2 p.m.
After dinner, I headed back to my place. I needed my meds to sleep and a change of clothes. I took off Wednesday too, but Mom ended up not needing me for anything. I went back to work Thursday.
I'm still slowly unpacking and getting things set up. In the meantime, Mom & Dad are selling the house. They wasted no time, once me and Grandma were gone. They have a realtor and people have already come to look at it. They want to build a new house a few exits away, all on one floor, which is what they've been wanting for a while now.
I'm still slowly unpacking and getting things set up. In the meantime, Mom & Dad are selling the house. They wasted no time, once me and Grandma were gone. They have a realtor and people have already come to look at it. They want to build a new house a few exits away, all on one floor, which is what they've been wanting for a while now.
Next, Miracle will be gone. Dad says he's not ready to lose her yet. And frankly, neither am I. She does have a bunch of health problems. But like Grandma, she's still walking around the house, living like normal. Slower, but just as barky. Whenever I stop by the house, I'm relieved to see she's still there. But sometime soon, she won't be.
And I'll be back at my place. Surrounded by the quietness of space.
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