Granny

My granny has had Alzheimer's for several years now.  I must admit that since her "loop" has become so short I have avoided spending time with her.  It makes me sad that she cannot recognize that my siblings and I are adults.  It makes me sad that she can't remember whose kids those are even though they were just introduced to her.  Bottom line: It makes me sad and uncomfortable so I avoid it.

Enter a couple weeks ago when Granny (who had been living on her own with my aunt checking up on her) entered the hospital really sick.  She has some issues with paranoia and other people (these came way before the Alzheimer's) so when she was released to the nursing home for rehabilitation, the family wanted to transition her easier so someone in the family (which is huge but the pool of people willing to stay is small) spends the night with her each night.

While visiting her the first Sunday that she was there, it came up that they needed someone to stay the next Friday.  I felt compelled to volunteer.  I just was hit with the fact that this woman had done so much for us and now she needed us so we each needed to do our part to help her feel safe and loved in this part of her life.  So I said, yeah I can come next Friday night and stay the night.  (This is easier for me because Josh works seconds and because I don't have kids to worry about childcare).  However, after the thought came to my mind, but before I said yes the idea that something would go wrong and I couldn't handle it came into my mind.  I still said yes.  The worry still plagued me all week.  I asked for prayers at work and bible study and small group about it.

So I went and she was fine.  She didn't ever get agitated which was my biggest fear.  My dad's cousin had said that while you're there you get no sleep, and I definitely agree with that since when they brought her meds at 5:00am she was ready to be up for the day.  She was great Friday night.  I had brought her a picture from this Christmas of her and her 6 adult children.  She would study it and tell me how old they looked.  And how bald my dad is, and how that is just like his dad.  I brought her flowers and we would look at them and talk about how beautiful they are.  I tried to get her to tell me about my dad as a kid.  The only thing I got was that he was the quiet, studious one (not really surprising there).  It was a good visit.

Saturday morning was harder.  She was obsessed with going back home... but not to the home she had been in since I was born but the one that she raised her kids in.  It made her mopey.  (remember how I hate when she's sad).  My mom and aunt were both texting me about how things were going and suggested a change of location.  We walked down the hall and saw the aviary there.  That broke the mopey spell.  After lunch my sister and her kids, then my cousin, then my uncle came and finally my shift was done.

I was so blessed by all who prayed for me.  I feel like they did shelter me.  While I'm sure that Granny was comforted by my presence (she asked me not to leave), I think it was so good for ME for me to go and spend the night.  Like I said, I've just been ignoring the issue.  Which never helps an issue.  But it was good to go and spend that time with my Granny.  Although I'm sure she didn't remember it once I was gone it was good that for the time I was there I could be a comfort to her.  It was good that she knew that she could trust me and that I loved her.  I'm glad I got the opportunity to be with her.

Genesis 17:7

“I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.