First of all, thank you for all of the kind words and T&P you've sent my way over the last week. They were very much appreciated and mean more to me than you know

I just got back to MD last night after a week and 1/2 of being in Upstate NY with my family. Thanksgiving weekend, H and I were really struggling to make a decision as to whether I should go home to be with my family. On Monday, Dec 1, I talked to my grandmother and it sounded like she really wanted me home. That coupled with the fact that all weekend long I could hear my grandfather moaning in pain made the decision to fly back to NY very easy. I booked a flight around noon on Monday and H drove me to the airport when he got home from work. After a few flight delays, I was back with my mom and grandmother by midnight.
Last week was the longest week of my life. My grandfather was a very strong, muscular man. It was very difficult for me to see him look so thin and in so much pain. Alzheimer's disease took his ability to swallow over the Thanksgiving weekend, and it was in his wishes that he not have a feeding tube. My grandfather also had the biggest pain tolerance of anyone I know, so for him to be moaning in pain I knew it was really bad. I had a huge argument with one of his nurses (he was in a nursing home for the last 8 years). The Dr had written an order for Morphine every 2 hours, but when i walked in his room on Wed he hadn't had morphine for almost 10 hours! That was completely unacceptable! I don't know what the nurse's problem was, but he certainly got his morphine ever 2 hours when I was done with her.
My grandfather fought until the very end. He just didn't want to leave his family. It was so hard to watch him in pain and struggling to breathe. We kept telling him that it was ok to let go, but he was a fighter. On Thursday evening, I thought that maybe he wouldn't let go if my family was in the room. I suggested to my mom and grandmother that maybe we should step out of the room. My grandmother asked him if he wanted us to go, and we saw a tear in his eye. It was all too much for my mom, so she went to sit in the hall. I bounced back and forth between my mom and my grandmother who stayed with my grandfather until the very end. I think the tear in my grandfather's eye was the moment he finally let go because he passed soon after.
We had the wake on Sunday and the funeral on Monday. There was an outpouring of kindness shown to my family, and it was very much appreciated. I know my grandfather is finally at peace, and that gives me a great amount of comfort. Heaven has a new angel

Re: Update on Me
Glad you have a new angel to look after you.
I’m sorry to hear about your grandfathers passing
. Sending prayers and hugs your way!
teedaalee0712