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So it goes.
Dec. 8th, 2010 01:45 pmMy grandfather called me just before lunch today, to tell me that my grandmother died last night from pneumonia. As is typical, he didn't say much else.
To be honest, I had anticipated this. She fell a few weeks ago, and broke seven ribs. This had landed her in the hospital, during which time she had fluid filling her lungs. They managed to remove it, but the damage was done; she came down with pneumonia a few days ago.
When I heard that, I figured it was probably coming soon. Pneumonia is deadly to older people, and my grandmother was 89 years old.
At this point, I'm worried about how my grandfather is going to take it. He's physically healthy, but his mental state has always been fragile. I don't know if he will survive long after losing his wife of 50+ years.
I'm not sure how I feel. Sad, obviously, but there's a curious sense of...I don't know...distance to it. It's not like when my mother died; I saw her every day. Plus, my grandmother was very old, and died at an age when people expect to. So, it's very sad, but I don't feel it's a tragedy. I don't know if that sounds callous, I don't mean it to, but that's how I feel.
At any rate...not much else I can think of to say, other than "So it goes."
Update: I got the numbers wrong. She was 90, and they had been married nearly 70 years. So, the worry is even more intense.
Also, my aunt told me that it was grandmother's decision to stop treatment for the pneumonia. She knew what that meant, and she opted to go when she was ready. That makes me feel better, in a way. I'm not glad she's gone, but I'm glad she went when and how she wanted to.
To be honest, I had anticipated this. She fell a few weeks ago, and broke seven ribs. This had landed her in the hospital, during which time she had fluid filling her lungs. They managed to remove it, but the damage was done; she came down with pneumonia a few days ago.
When I heard that, I figured it was probably coming soon. Pneumonia is deadly to older people, and my grandmother was 89 years old.
At this point, I'm worried about how my grandfather is going to take it. He's physically healthy, but his mental state has always been fragile. I don't know if he will survive long after losing his wife of 50+ years.
I'm not sure how I feel. Sad, obviously, but there's a curious sense of...I don't know...distance to it. It's not like when my mother died; I saw her every day. Plus, my grandmother was very old, and died at an age when people expect to. So, it's very sad, but I don't feel it's a tragedy. I don't know if that sounds callous, I don't mean it to, but that's how I feel.
At any rate...not much else I can think of to say, other than "So it goes."
Update: I got the numbers wrong. She was 90, and they had been married nearly 70 years. So, the worry is even more intense.
Also, my aunt told me that it was grandmother's decision to stop treatment for the pneumonia. She knew what that meant, and she opted to go when she was ready. That makes me feel better, in a way. I'm not glad she's gone, but I'm glad she went when and how she wanted to.
