Rest in Peace Grandmother

My grandmother, Clarice Miller, died this morning. She was 80 years old. She was a great woman. Her husband was an alcoholic who committed suicide and she raised her two children independently. She was the first of three women to be telephone operators in a male-dominated workplace. She led a great life, lived long enough to see her two great-grandchildren grow up (ages 8 and 5).

grandmothers obituary.png

She was diagnosed with liver cancer on the 15th of March. After running tests they also found cancer in her stomach. She was admitted into the hospital 5 days later due to dehydration and they did a liver biopsy. Four days later they found out that it was not the primary source of cancer.

On tuesday she was readmitted into the hospital due to uncontrollable vomiting. It was then that she was told that she had an aggressive, untreatable cancer in her gastric-intestinal area. It was also the day my father called me and told me he had plane tickets for me to be on a plane wednesday evening. I spent all day yesterday in her hospital room and watched the grossly inadequate treatment the hospital was providing.

At one point the doctor ordered the nurse to turn off the pain pump. 1/2 hour later my grandmother opened her eyes and began moaning in agony. I called her name and she saw me, which was what I was afraid she wasnt going to do. She couldnt talk, couldnt close her mouth, and soon went back to sleep. My uncle and mom immediately called the hospice to move her from the hospital to her room there. They came and took over, my grandmother was transferred to her hospice bed, and she opened her eyes briefly, but there was nothing in them. Vacant.

This morning my dad told me that she had died. The hospice nurse had stayed all night and washed my grandmother's hair and changed her into her own nightgown. I stood there and held her hand.

I feel so guilty because I havent seen her in nearly six years. I only have a few pictures of her, but none that are here in Oregon with me. This is what is imprinted in my mind and the last picture I have of her still alive in the hospital:

P040512008.jpg

It is of my mom, my uncle, and my cousin praying for her suffering to end.

[tarnoch]

i-miss-you-poems-858.gif

[GradySizematters]

Sorry for your loss. May she R.I.P.

[the demon]

My respects to your grandma and my condolences to you and your family Dwencl. No reason to feel guilty, i'm sure she'd tell you the same. She's done with this world and she's done her part. I thought about my own grandma while reading that. Wish I could have her back just one day or even an hour. Long enough to listen to what she has to say. Always words of wisdom.

Rip.

[dad61]

My condolence for your loss D

RIP Clarice

[Hollrobb]

I am truly sorry for your loss.
I like to think that when people pass away they go to heaven and are restored a point in their life when they was the happiest and healthiest.


Rest in Peace.