News...

I wanted to share some news...

My grandpa Harlan died on Thursday. He fought Multiple Myeloma for several years and was very strong through the end. From what I understand Multiple Myeloma is a cancer that decalcifies the bones and creates bone lesions. My grandpa had a lot of pain in his legs. There wasn't a lot they could do to treat the cancer. I think they just focused on keeping him comfortable, especially at the end with a lot of pain medication.

It was a blessing from God that Sarah, Craig, Mom and I went to visit him the Saturday before he died. He was a fraction of his size with his arms looking long and his hands looked too big for his body. He could no longer eat due to his organs shutting down. The kidneys are one of the places that the calcium was deposited. His pain was pretty well managed on the day that we saw him. Mom told him that we were there to see him, but he was pretty out of it. I held his hand for a second before he moved it. Sarah bent down to talk to him and told him "goodbye" and "I love you" and he repeated it! Those are the only words we heard him speak that day and those are the last words that we heard him say. It was a very special and moving moment.

My mom went to see him on Thursday. They had arranged for a CD player to be set up in his room and my mom brought her piano hymn cds. My mom was with him for about a hour and a half. The hymn "It is Well" came on and my mom was praying. She heard his breathing pause and her prayer was answered. Grandpa peacefully passed away. I am so grateful that my mom could be there at that moment that Grandpa went to heaven.

I have many memories of enjoying time on the farm with Harlan and Wilma. It was a very peaceful place to enjoy the pond and nature. Grandpa was always very sweet to Sarah, Abby, Mom, and me. Grandpa served God in many ways and I know he touched many lives.

So while I am sad, I am glad that Grandpa is no longer in pain and is in heaven!