My Grandpa McKneely is the last of my 9 great grandparents(one was a step grandmother) alive. Over the past couple of months my wonderful grandpa has been losing his memory and kept disappearing because he had to "pick up someone". He's been recently place in a nursing home and he only remembers a few of my family members (unfortunately he doesn't remember me ). Last night his blood pressure dropped a lot and began to aspirate. He did made it through the night . Sometimes his breathing is labored, but his blood pressure has come up from 50/36 to about 101/55. He is still in bad condition and he his running his last leg of his life. He has led a wonderful life.
Since he married my step grandmother who introduced him to LDS church his life has been blessed and I as well as the rest of my LARGE(we have a 7th son of a 7th son in my family) family benefit from his choice of becoming a member of the restored Church. The doctors doubt he'll make it through this month( )and he will always hold a scared place in my heart even he does pass away.
This is a poem written my my Me ma that sums up the past few weeks pretty much.(I cried reading it)
He Is Safe
I promised him—never a nursing home.
That promise stalks me with guilt,
but he is safe.
An episode scared me
into this decision I’ve made--
his disappearance one cold winter day.
He was found in a large city
hours away.
He drove in circles
all day long, into the dark
lost, discouraged, and distraught.
He glimpsed the blinking signs
on the freeways of a Silver Alert--
his name flashing before him.
He confided in me later,
“I knew you had done that.”
Finally found,
we wept with joy, bowed
our heads, thanked the Lord.
I visit Dad each day, hug
him, hold him, cry with him.
He packs up his room each night
for a trip he plans to take . . .
unpack and re-decorate, my new task.
I promised him—never a nursing home.
That promise stalks me with guilt,
but he is safe.
Since he married my step grandmother who introduced him to LDS church his life has been blessed and I as well as the rest of my LARGE(we have a 7th son of a 7th son in my family) family benefit from his choice of becoming a member of the restored Church. The doctors doubt he'll make it through this month( )and he will always hold a scared place in my heart even he does pass away.
This is a poem written my my Me ma that sums up the past few weeks pretty much.(I cried reading it)
He Is Safe
I promised him—never a nursing home.
That promise stalks me with guilt,
but he is safe.
An episode scared me
into this decision I’ve made--
his disappearance one cold winter day.
He was found in a large city
hours away.
He drove in circles
all day long, into the dark
lost, discouraged, and distraught.
He glimpsed the blinking signs
on the freeways of a Silver Alert--
his name flashing before him.
He confided in me later,
“I knew you had done that.”
Finally found,
we wept with joy, bowed
our heads, thanked the Lord.
I visit Dad each day, hug
him, hold him, cry with him.
He packs up his room each night
for a trip he plans to take . . .
unpack and re-decorate, my new task.
I promised him—never a nursing home.
That promise stalks me with guilt,
but he is safe.