A few posts ago I promised to include responses from our Grandchildren to some questions I suggested.  Tonight I am keeping that promise. 

The first two below are Abigail and Ashlyn.  They are the children of our Daughter, Lisa, and her Husband. Denis.  That family moved here to spend the last two years before I retired near us so that they could help us.   Just the natural attrition over the years had begun to diminish the number Volunteers from our church available to be with Mary Ann while I was working far more than forty hours a week, including evening meetings.  A year ago, when I retired, that family moved back to their home some ten hours away.  The girls got to know Mary Ann well during that two years, since she was at their house or they were at our house two days a week.   Abigail is now 6 and will turn 7 in November.  Ashlyn will turn 5 in a few days. 

Chloe is our oldest Granddaughter.  She is the Daughter of our Son, Micah, and his Wife, Rebecca.  Chloe is 10 and will be 11 in November.  That family has lived about three hours away until moving only a little over an hour away a few years ago.  Chloe can remember Mary Ann from a time when she was much more communicative than she is now.  She has always been ready to help Mary Ann whenever there was something she could do. 

Her are the Grandchildren’s responses:

Abigail’s Notes: 

What do you like about Grandma? I like her clothes.  I think her socks look silly. 

What do you think about when Grandma stands up on her own or when she faints and Grandpa or one of your parents have to go over and hold her up?  I like bringing the wheelchair over.  I think it hurts when she hits her head.  She gets a bump on there. 

What would you like to say to Grandma?  I hope you feel better Grandma.  I wish Grandma could run and play with me.  We would go to the movies and go to the swimming pool and the park. 

If one of your friends had a Grandma that was sick like yours, what would you tell them to do to make her feel good?  Give her some medicine and do what she wants them to do.  Like get her some juice and get her wheelchair when she needs it.  Bring her food in bed.  Let her sleep in.  That’s all.

 Other comments: Grandpa, do you want some help with Grandma? 

 Ashlyn’s Notes: 

 What do you like about Grandma? She’s nice.  I love her.

 What do you think about when Grandma stands up on her own or when she faints and Grandpa or one of your parents have to go over and hold her up? I feel sad. 

 What would you like to say to Grandma? I love you Grandma.  I hope you feel better.

 If one of your friends had a Grandma that was sick like yours, what would you tell them to do to make her feel good? I would tell my friend—I’m sorry.  Tell your Grandma that you love her.

Chloe’s Comments:

grandpa,  what i like about grandma is that if she says that she is going to do something, she sticks to it and never gives up. whenever grandma fainted when i was little i would panic majorly, but now i understand her illness and now know to react in a calm manor. right now all i have to say is grandma to just keep going. if i had a friend that had a very sick relative like my grandma i would just tell them to keep there spirits high.

Needless to say, we are very proud Grandparents.   I think we and their parents would agree that while this hasn’t been easy on the girls, they have grown in understanding of the needs of others.  Hopefully, they will be better people when they grow up than they would have been if they had not had a Grandma who needed their attention and their help.  

If I live long enough to hear about it, I will be very interested in what they remember when they are young adults about these years, what they recognize to be the impact on who they have become. 

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