I got the call yesterday afternoon.
It was my Dad. I knew something was wrong the minute he said my name. Choking on his tears he asked me to call my brother and then come to the hospital.
It was my Grandma. His mom.
She has battled cancer for over fifteen years now. The first time she was diagnosed the local doctors gave her three months to live. She wasn’t satisfied with that answer and made the haul to Minnesota to get an opinion from the doctors at the Mayo Clinic.
The Mayo Clinic doctors helped her beat the cancer. Except over the past fifteen years – more than half of my life – she’s been hit with various forms of cancer over and over. She always fights it off. She always wins.
Judging from my Dad’s phone call it wasn’t going to be a big win this time.
One of her lungs had collapsed. The other had fluid in it.
As of yesterday they gave her one to two days to live.
The last two days have been full of tears as my father, aunts, uncles, cousins, and brothers sit in a hospital room together to be my grandma’s side. The strongest woman we all know is about to lose the fight.
As I sit there in the hospital room all I can think of is the legacy this woman will leave behind. The way she’ll be remembered. The things she’s done for other people. And I can only hope that I’ll too be remembered like that.
When I was getting a divorce my Grandma was by my side. Reminding me that I’m meant to be happy. That sometimes you have to experience these type of things before finding the one person you’re meant to be with. She had been through divorce and she had also found her forever and has been with him for 30 years.
When I was young and dumb and maxed out a $1,500 credit card at 20 percent interest Grandma paid it off and wouldn’t take no for an answer. She also made me cut up the card – one of my first lessons in personal finance.
After I got divorced she insisted on giving me money for a down payment on a home of my own. Which I had to politely decline over and over.
Whenever a family member is in trouble they go to her. It seems like there is nothing you can say to shock her and she listens without judgment.
When someone needs a place to stay she opens up her home.
She’s also the founding entrepreneur in our family – owning many successful businesses over the course of her lifetime, and next to the big box stores, one of the biggest department stores in our town. She got a job in a factory right after high school. Within two weeks she decided she wasn’t meant to work for someone else. She didn’t just sit around dreaming of taking action. She did it. Started her first business with two young kids in tow.
It wasn’t just family that she was good to. She’d give the shirt off her back if she thought that it’d help a stranger.
There are so many lessons I’ve learned from her that I’ll carry forever.
Call a family member who you haven’t talked to in a while, someone you’ve held a grudge against, or someone who’s had a big impact on your life. Tell them you’re sorry, or that you love them, and miss them.
Do it today. Tomorrow might never come.
Alexa, I am so sorry for your loss. Your Grandmother sounds amazing. I would love to read more about her early years with business and kids. Listen to all the stories you will hear in the next few days as different relatives come to town. Write the stories down for your girls.
I think we forget how much of a difference that one strong woman can make.
~ Christie
This is so sad and hard. I experienced a loss of my beloved uncle in September after battling cancer since 2000. Your grandmother sounds like an amazing woman. I’m sorry for your loss, Alexa. Praying for you and your family.
I am sending my thoughts and prayers. Your Grandma is an amazing woman.
My condolences. 🙁 It sounds like she was a great woman and left an inspiring legacy!
Alexa, I can’t find any words to say how sorry I am! My heart and thoughts are with you and your family!
I’m so sorry Alexa. Please let me know if you need to talk.
Sorry for your loss Alexa. Incredible story of surviving cancer for 15 years when she was only given a few months to live.
I’m so sorry to hear that, Alexa! Cancer sucks!!!
Thanks for the reminder of how important family is, Alexa. I’m sorry that this has happened. I am going to call a family member today, thanks to your post.
I’m so sorry, Alexa. She sounds like an amazing woman. Thank you for the reminder, life is too short.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandma. I’ve been in a couple of situations like this and they’re incredibly hard. But I love the message at the end here. I know I get caught up in day to day stuff and let relationships get put on the backburner from time to time, but those are really the things that should be taking priority.
Your Grandma sounds like a great woman and this was really a beautiful tribute. I wish you and your family nothing but the best.
So sorry for your loss. Your grandma sounds like an amazing person.
I’ll be praying for your grandma and your family.
I’m so sad to hear about this one Alexa. I hate cancer, my father died of colon cancer last 7 years ago and he was only 49 when he died. 🙁
Alexa, I’m truly sorry to hear about your grandma. It sounds like she was an amazing person and a heck of an example for you.
An important lesson Alexa. It reminds me of the verse at Ecclesiastes 7:2: “Better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, for that is the end of every man, and the living should take it to heart.”
She sounds like an amazing woman and you have many qualities similar to her!
I am so sorry, Alexa! Your Grandma sounds like an incredible woman! xo
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