Leanna's grandma

In 2002 Leanna's grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer. Leanna was 4 years old, so she doesn't remember much when she was diagnosed. Every few months, she would visit her. She kept getting worse and worse. They had the hospital bed brought to her house and she stayed there. She went through all the treatments, but didn't make it through any of them. She was slowly losing her hair and she was coughing up blood. In 2005, she passed away. Two weeks before she died, she couldn't even speak. Leanna's mom didn't want her to go to the funeral, so she couldn't, but she helped set up and it was at a church. It had flowers everywhere. All bright and beautiful, just like her. They visited the burial sight alot, leaving flowers that she loved. Her grandma was a great and inspiring women, she aways knew what to say and helped themout when she could. Leanna's family cant help but hope that there will be a treatment for cancer to any unlucky souls who have it. She will be missed.

Kims Grandma

8 1/2 years ago, Kim's grandma lived in Sacramento. She was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. Lou Gehrig's disease starts in one place in the body- leg for her grandma- and weakens the muscles, then it spread through the body. 3 years later, she moved to Sheridan, Oregon cause she knew she was close to death. By then, she'd was on a cane, went to a wheelchair, and eventually had a moter scooter. A little while later, she couldn't move at all and grandpa had to get her everything. Kim's mom visited alot. The last time Kim saw her grandma was Thanksgiving in 2006, they had to have dinner without her because she couldn't move. Kim gave her something she made in school, but she had to read it to her because her grandma couldn't read and then Kim's mom had to translate cause she couldn't talk. In December, she passed away. The funeral was in a church and after the ceremony they took her up onto a hill and made cards and drew pictures for her, then they barried her.

Copper and Digger

My grandma and grandpa live up in Amity with alot of property. They had 3 dogs when i was young: Tallie, Copper, and Digger. Tallie died of old age when i was about 6, and about half a year later they got another dog named ranger ( my personal favorite ). Last summer, the mailman came. Digger started jumping on the car as usual but this time when the mailman jerked the car from him, he hit Copper. My grandpa got Copper and loaded him into the back of the truck, rushing to the vet, only to find out the next time he glances back at Copper, he had died. They barried him on the property, over by the old garden. Then, about a year later they got two golden retrievers, Jazzy and Rocky. And a this summer, they got a little miniature poodle, Oscar. So now they have Digger, Jazzy, Rocky, Ranger, and Oscar. Out of no where, Digger started shaking as he tried to move. They got him checked out and he had developed bone cancer. They helped him move from place to place, but for some reason he would walk out into the woods and sit. Just sit and stare, looking into the woods no matter if it was pouring down rain. It was his spot, his territory. It was almost his way of being peaceful and saying 'yes, i do like sitting out here, and if anyone besides someone i love comes out here i will bite' He would sit there all day, and they'd bring food out to him and bring him back before dark. They tried putting him inside for a day, but he'd get up even though he could barely stand, and try to walk outside. Me and my sister visited him on Christmas, walked out there and petted him, knowing this was the last time we'd probably see him. We told him what a good boy he was, what a great brother he was to me and Braedens old dog, Howey. Just last night, i found out they had finally put him down. They had the vet come to their house and out him down. The vet took his paw print in clay and will hopefully mail it to them soon. They barried Digger in the spot he'd always stand in in the woods, his territory.

2008

Taylor's grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. She, having fought it off, became a survivor of breast cancer. She had no cancer for a couple of years, but then the breast cancer slowly came back. She had chemo done, but in October 2008 it came back worse. On Christmas Eve, while everyone was at Taylor's house because their house was the biggest, she started getting dizzy and throwing up. They took her to the E.R and said she's okay, just that her stomach was starting to bloat. They took her back home but a couple of days later she started throwing up again, but worse. They took her back to the hospital and stayed about 4 days. When they got her back home, she had to stay in bed or in a chair the whole time. She would shake her head or point to respond to you, or she would rarely respond to someone saying,
 " Love you. Hang in there. It'll be okay" and say, "I'm fine. Don't worry about me." She had to drink through sponge sticks and didn't eat much. She got worse and stayed in bed the whole time. The grandpa knew it was about time for her to go and called Taylor's mom and two aunts up. Her grandmas eyes were closed and they all held her hand, saying goodbye. On the day of the funeral, Taylor had a championship game. They won and after she went up to grandpa and said, "That was for grandma." Her grandma was cremated and was put inside a marbled pink box - her favorite color. She was barried at a sight that was for people who served in the military because Taylor's grandpa served in Vietnam. Taylor says this was the saddest day in her life. On the plack next to Taylor's grandma is read her birthday and the day she died. Bellow those was a inscription that read: wife, mom, and grandma

Give them space

When people say they are over the fact they have lost someone, a dog, a cat, a grandma, a parent, etc, it most likely isn't true. But don't bug them for details either. If they aren't comfortable, let them be. Even if its been since they were little, don't push them because the truth is, they might not want to talk about it. Loss is a sad thing. Its a inconvenience. Its the time you mourn. Its a tragedy. You miss that someone so dearly, you ache for one last day with them. Like Em's poem, her line, 'I lay awake these long nights, wishing for just one more day' You see, even as i interview these people, they get choked up, they remember the loss, they relive the pain. Its not fair to bug them and ask them about what happened, its only fair to give them space. Otherwise, remembering just might make them feel that need, that ache, to see that person even more.

Baba

Baba, my step-moms grandma, past away March 12, 2003. Emily is my step-mom, and Baba was her dads mom. Baba had no symptoms, perfectly normal. Ems dad, Dan, and Pia, his wife at the time, were going on a vacation and asked Baba if she needed anything because she couldn't drive. Baba said yes and told them what she wanted. They went to the store and early morning Dan called, she didn't answer. He decided to drive over and drop the stuff off at her doorstep. A few hours later, about 9ish, he called again. Still no answer. He thought it was weird, considering she cant drive, has no where to go, and never sleeps in, so he went back over. The food was still on the doorstep and he rang the doorbell. no answer. He used the hide-a-key and went inside. He found her face-down in the family room, breathing but not conscious. She wouldn't wake up so he called 911. They took her to the hospital and on his way over he called Em. He told her what happened and said, "" i don't know how bad it is, but shes breathing. I'll fill you in and call you if we need you." the whole family came down and they ran some tests, she had a brain aneurysm. A brain aneurysm is when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. on the scans of her brain everything was black. that black was blood. Baba was alive, but had no function, she was breathing off tubes. If they were to un-tube her, she would die. The family decided that was best, but they wanted all the aunts and uncles there and for everyone to say bye. They all got there that night and stood around the bed, taking turns holding her hand and saying their farewells. Em held her hand last, still holding it as they took the tubes out. She kept telling her that she loved her over and over. Baba kept breathing 30 minutes after they took the tubes out and slowly past away. They planned the funeral and sorted Baba's stuff, Em did the music and since none of the grand kids wanted to speak at the funeral, she wrote a poem. Baba was cremated and after the funeral everyone went back to Ems house and celebrated her life instead of mourning that she was gone.
Em's poem:
The comfort of her hug
the power of her praise
the gentleness in all she does
in every loving way
The smile of an angel
a laugh that fills the room
a heart as pure as gold
yet taken from us too soon
She lived for every moment
for every hug and each kiss
touching all who crossed her path
with a smile- a curl of her lips
Taken from our lives
within the blink of an eye
leaving us with lost opportunity
to smile and say goodbye
I lay awake these long nights
wishing for one more day
but knowing she's with Papa
somehow makes things OK
I truly believe my grandma
is watching us today
Baba, we will cherish all you've given us
in each in every way.

The September 6, 1980 tragedy

On September 6, 1980 in Eugene Oregon three young kids passed away. Elizabeth was my moms sister, only 5 years old. Laura, one of my moms cousins, was 7 years old. And Brian, my moms other cousin, was 18 months. My mom was at her dads house, not with them on that sad night. But my moms sister and her cousins were all taking a nap at their grandpas house. Their grandpa thought he turned the stove off, but he turned it on high, as he went to go feed the cows. On the stove was a skillet with bacon grease. The fire started and Elizabeth woke up. She walked to the bedroom door and opened it. The fire rushed at her, burning her legs and arms most, she slammed the door and passed out. The grandpa saw the fire and got all the kids out with a garden hose, then the firefighters came. Elizabeth was life flighted to a manual hospital. The doctor told the family, " I don't know how long she'll live. A hour, a day, a couple of days. But i do know that she will die." Elizabeth died that night at 12:15. Our family thinks that she waited for my grandma because they told her, "hang in there, at least til grandma comes." and she did, my great grandma arrived at 12:10. As for the cousins they died in their sleep. They are now barried, three little caskets next to each other, with my great grandma only a few yards away. Their grandpa died a few months after. My mom says this is the saddest thing that has happened to her and she is lucky to be alive. She was almost there that night, and if she was, she probably wouldn't have made it either.