Grandma!

I got a call Friday, October 12th from Adam while I was sitting at dance waiting for Sadie. He said that my mom and dad had been looking for me, that my grandma wasn't doing well and to call them. I called my dad, he told me that my grandma had been unconscious for a couple hours now and was not responsive. I left right then and headed to the care center she was at. My mom had checked her in a week prior because she had fallen again and broke her pelvis.  I walked in to find my mom, dad, Terry and Grandma. It was so weird seeing her like that because my entire life, even being blind she has always been so active. I walked over to the bed and held her hand and started talking to her and instantly she groaned. My mom looked shocked and told me to keep talking. That was the most she had done for the past few hours.  She didn't respond to me after that. For the next few hours we just watched and waited. We had the nurses, and hospice coming in and out all night checking on her. My dad was busy on the phone calling relatives to let them know. I was on the phone with Stacy, Kevin and Brandon as they decided whether to head down that night or wait to see what morning brought. There was a lot of talk that maybe it was just the morphine they had given her and kept giving us times that it should be wearing off, but as each time approached there was still no change. Also, within this time she kept having seizures which were incredibly scary for me to watch. We were also getting other reports that she was on her way out.  Adam, Terry and my dad gave my mom a blessing and also a blessing to my grandma releasing her to Heavenly Father.  After a few hours Terry and his family went home to eat dinner and then would come back later. They took Sadie and Gentry with them for a couple hours. (Calli was at team night) Adam and I decided to run a grab a bite as well. When we returned to the care center we found my cousins, Brian, Jonathon and Sheri with their families from Vegas along with Uncle Harold (my mom's only sibling) from Logan.  We all visited, watched and waited. By around 11pm with no change we all headed home and to hotels to get some sleep.  We woke up early Saturday morning and headed in again. Still no change.  Soon another cousin Russell showed up and Stacy, Kevin and Brandon got on the road.  Another one of my cousins Justin got on a flight from Georgia. It was so great to see everyone and enjoyed visiting, just wish it were under different circumstances. We spent the rest of the day there at the care center waiting, watching, laughing and crying.

Jaicelyn, Calli and Sadie at their great-grandma's bedside. 

Calli leaning on Brandon as everyone stands around and waits.

The girls being with grandma. 

Some of the grand kids keeping busy playing football in the lobby. We spent so many hours just hanging out there that we kinda just took over the place.  They brought out games for kids, they would hang out in the lobby playing games, watching movies and then would go outside and hang out in the courtyard, and then come back in and check on grandma. This went on all weekend. 

My mom and Harold talking and making some final decisions. 

My little brother Brandon and my cousin Russ. I think these two look so much alike. Russ is a producer and does a lot of work for the church. He played Brigham Young in the Emma and Joseph Smith stories. He was involved in the movie of Charly as well. It was filmed in his home and he had a few cameo parts. He is also the producer of shows like "The Food Nanny" and "The song that changed my life." Anyway, as it got later  some of the cousins needed to head back to their homes. They said goodbye to grandma wondering if this would be the last time to see her alive.

 Before everyone left we all gathered in her room. We sang as a family "Families can be together forever" and had a family prayer. It was very powerful and such a sweet moment. Just as we were finishing up the hospice nurse walked in. Seeing us all gathered around her bed and crying she thought that she had already passed. It was kinda funny.  

After they left my mom called my grandmas home nurse Stephanie to come and sit with her and we all ran to Golden Corral for a late night dinner. My entire family was there. After dinner it was 11pm. Some went back to the care center while some went home to bed.  I went home to bed but those that stayed, I hear it was pretty eventful. At one point they watched as they thought she took her last breath and my uncle said she was gone but then she took another. During their long night they discussed funeral arrangements and just waited. Sometime in the early morning hours my grandma woke up after 2 and half days of being unconscious without food and water. 

She said she was hungry and wanted Cream of Wheat.  As the phone calls started coming in that she was awake we all headed back over and the cousins that had left and went back to Vegas turned around and came back. After she ate she felt around for her yarn and started to crochet.  (Clearly she wasn't quite herself yet because it was Sunday and she NEVER crochets on Sunday.) We all just stood around shaking our heads in awe. Over the next day she kept eating and would respond when talked to.    

With the recent news everyone that had traveled decided to head back home. Being a Sunday, we invited  them all over for a BBQ before they left. Over the next few days she would slip back and forth into her deep sleeps and be unresponsive but then would wake up again. The family and doctors were stunned. Some said they've never seen this before while others said it's normal. Her doctor came in and did a complete physical stating that she would never make it through surgery and said she has anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 days...that was a week ago. Today she is up dressed and sitting in her chair.  I called and talked to her on the phone and she was very responsive.  We always knew she was stubborn but this is a side we've never seen before. It's been two weeks now and she is still kicking and we are still in awe. Love you Grandma!