Worried... :(

[AngieDoogles]

My grandfather has not been doing so well the past few months. I'm pretty worried about him. I think I'm even more worried about my brother Randy and my sister Crissy if something were to happen to him though. Randy has cerebral palsy and idolizes my grandfather and Crissy is only nine and just adores him. He has emphysema as well as heart problems and he's had several strokes. He has also been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's. Lately, he's been kind of out of it. He thinks that Crissy is at their house when she isn't and hasn't been there all day. Yesterday, he swore that Crissy was in the living room and wanted to know if my brother Bobby was there, too. He kept saying over and over, she was just in here...she was sitting in that chair. He can't be convinced otherwise and five minutes later he'll ask the same person who told him Crissy wasn't there to send her into his room so that he can talk to her "again". He thinks my niece is there when she's not (she's in DC with her family right now) and he hears people knocking on the door when no one is there. He also thinks there is a car in the driveway and describes it in great detail even though nothing is outside. I'm so worried about him... Randy has been so nervous that he just tears things up. (That's what he does when he is VERY upset because he doesn't know how to handle such strong emotions.) Please pray for my family during this difficult time. I'm not ready to lose my grandfather.

[Janet]

I'm sorry you're going through this Angie. It's hard, I know...I'll keep you and your family in my prayers.

[Tink]

I'm sorry your grandpa is sick Angie.
I know all too well how hard it is to lose grandparents and parents. My last surviving grandma passed at age 94 and I wasn't ready to give her up either.

Alzheimers is a sad thing to witness. Reality orientation really doesn't do any lasting good, and you never know from one minute to the next whether a person will be lucid or not. Sadly, it's also progressive, so while the symptoms may come and go, with time they just get worse and more frequent. I hope your family is able to find strength to cope with what has to be a very hard situation.

[judy]

I'm so sorry your family is going through this. It's a rough time when someone has Alzheimer's.

Maybe you can sit down with Randy and see what he thinks is going on. You may be able to discuss his anger and help him to understand that he can (sometimes, anyway) channel it differently. If you can help him to understand that it's probably sadness or frustration, maybe he can go tell Grandpa that he loves him instead.

Prayers and hugs to all of you,

[toodles]

Angie, I hope things get better. Keep your chin up...we will be thinking of you

[AngieDoogles]

Thank you all for your sweet comments. I had a rough day yesterday and just cried a lot. I'm so sad and scared and I feel so useless. I wish there was something I could do, but there isn't. My papaw (that's what we call him) always protected me. He protected me at times even though it would make his life completely miserable...and I can't do anything for him now...I feel so guilty for not going to see him more, but being there in that house brings back so many bad memories for me that I just couldn't make myself go...I wish I had. He was there for me when I needed him, but I was too selfish to do the same for him...

Today, my husband and I are going to try to take Randy and Crissy to a park and out to eat to get their minds off of it for a little while, especially Randy since he lives with my grandparents. I hope it helps at least a little bit.

[Gina]

Oh Ang, I am so sorry to hear this news about your grandfather. I will keep him and your family in my prayers. Sending you hugs...

[Marilyn]

Oh, Angie, so sad to hear that you and your famiily are going through this. My father passed from a heart attack and Mother from Alzheimers. Pray that he goes quickly in his sleep from a heart attack. Alzheimers is so very cruel.

You and your precious family are in my prayers.

[AngieDoogles]

I saw my grandfather again today and he was doing amazing!!! He wasn't so shaky he couldn't hold a glass like last time I saw him. He was coherent and knew I was there. He played with Marty and got lots of puppy kisses. (He adores Marty!) He told me stories and jokes and laughed about not remembering that we were there yesterday! I was so relieved!!

The main problem appears to be the medication he was on. As soon as he was taken off of it, he went back to how he was before. I truly hope this means he'll be safe now...

Crissy and Randy (as well as everyone else) are both very relieved and have had a much better day today. Crissy stayed with us until Bible School tonight and Randy is spending the night. Please pray that things continue to go smoothly. Thank you all for you prayers, thoughts, and concern...it means a lot.

[DianaB]

Angie, I'm so sorry about your grandfather. It's so hard to see someone you love get older. Hopefully the medication is what's the problem and he'll be better. Keep us posted and you'll be in my prayers.

[judy]

I'm so glad you had a good day with Pawpaw and the kids. Prayers that it continues
to be good.

[AngieDoogles]

Thank you all again! I got to see my grandfather again last night when I dropped Randy off and he was still doing well. He can't walk now at all, even with a walker, because he fell and hurt himself (EMT workers had to come and help him get up), but at least he is still talking and coherent. He has a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning so my family and I are hoping everything goes well and we get some good news. If you could keep us in your thoughts tomorrow, that would be great!

[judy]

He'll be in my prayers.

[Chandra Amaya]

I know I haven't been here at all in awhile but thank you all so much for your thoughts & concerns for our family. Papaw (like Angie mentioned) did protect all of us at times by taking the heat off of us and directing the attention to himself. I didn't see him even as much as Angie did. I always worried that my four kids would hurt more than help. His nerves were very bad which contributed to his health problems. Angie & I were working on a scrapbook for him which is nowhere near finished. I'm hoping to get it finished before the funeral and put it in the casket with him. I think it would have meant so much to him, but I'm not sure we can get it done in time. If we don't I still want to complete it but he is being put in a mosoleum (sp?) & I'm not sure what to do with it. The main things that bother me now are that I wasn't here all week while he got worse, I didn't call on father's day. I had planned on doing a dinner and giving him the scrapbook, but now its too late. I should have called. also, how my brothers, sisters & Mom really are. and lastly, if he was in pain or if it happened quickly. I worry because he was alone at home with Mamaw. Our brother was out. She is very hard of hearing. He could have screamed & she wouldn't have heard him. Again thank you all for a place we can ley emotions out & for your thoughts of our family.

[judy]

Dear Chandra,

Did Pawpaw pass? It sounds like he did.

I'm so sorry,