R.I.P.

It’s been one week since Claymama’s dad passed away. He died in his sleep (isn’t that how we all want to go?)

When Ruby2001 came downstairs, I approached her to tell her. Before I could say it she whispered “I already know”. At first her eyes darted around everywhere in the living room BUT at her dead granddad. Eventually she did look at him and she seemed to relax.

I told her Grandad is no longer in pain. She replied “Yay! The pain medication worked!” She knew he was on numerous pain medications by the end. Caz1996 seemed VERY comfortable with the situation.

I’m glad my kids saw his transition. While waiting for the hospice nurse to come and flush the narcotics and make the official declaration & such, the kids were sitting in their recently deceased grandad’s recliner watching cartoons about 5 feet from his dead body. Out of context it would seem really weird and creepy. But it was a very natural step.

The other thought I had is that how much each of the next stages were actually easier (or even welcome, considering the circumstances) than the previous one. When Claymama and the kids moved in with Grandad for the rest of the summer, an hour away from home, it was not good, but better than Grandad being by himself and Claymama trying to coordinate doctor visits & such from OUR home. When Grandad moved in with us for daily care, it wasn’t great, but it was better than 3/4ths of our family living in his house or him being in a hospital/nursing home. And when he died, it was not a good day, but it was better than him suffering any longer, being confused, knowing that the end was near.