My grandpa was one of the most incredible people I have ever known. He passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at age 92 after a tiring battle of Parkinson's Disease. It's been quite the last few months with this man. (Read his obituary here.)
Near the end of May this year, my grandpa had a traumatic fall in his home, which left him with chest pain some hours later. He was taken to the hospital that day where test after test was run on him, though the cause of the fall was never truly found. My mother and I sat in the hospital with him for hours that day while the doctors made us aware of how bad his Parkinson's disease had actually become. He was losing his ability to swallow, obviously a serious concern. While tests were continuing to be run, he was admitted to the hospital as a patient where he stayed for about a week before being moved to a rehabilitation center. When I left to go abroad for two months this summer, I was afraid I would never see my grandpa again and frequently thought about how much a plane ticket would cost on about four day notice from Tanzania. The night before I left, I spent a couple of hours in my grandpa's rehab room with him, talking about England and the Queen, two of his biggest prides. I remember him telling me the day before I left for England to tell the Queen hello and that he still polishes his medals.
Thankfully, when I came home, I was relieved to hear that he had improved and was back in his own home. I spent an hour or two every couple of days sitting with my grandpa and talking about England, the war, his life and his loves (family, England, dogs). I will never forget those conversations or the night he told my brothers and me that he was proud of us. I will never forget the last time I went to say goodbye to him and how much effort it took him just to say, "I love you, too."
My grandpa was a tall, strong man and seeing him lie in his hospital bed in his living room was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. As sad as I am, I know that he is much more comfortable where he is now, and he will always continue to look down on his posterity and guide us through our daily lives and trials. I'm so glad I went to England when I did so I could talk to him about all the people and places that he loved back there, back home. I proudly wear my sweatshirt with COLEBY on my back, and I will forever remember that I am a Coleby.
My three siblings and our cousins gathered together tonight to tell stories and memories of our grandpa. We spent a lot of time connecting the dots we each had about his stories fighting as a Desert Rat in Egypt during World War II for the British Army. My oldest cousin (age 35) and I (age 21) had so many different stories and memories, and it was really fun to hear each grandchild's account of our grandpa. He has been through so much in his life from enlisting in the war and nearly losing his life, losing a wife during the London Bombing, emigrating to the United States twice with his wife and two daughters, etc. Though he was a little bit stubborn, he was always optimistic, wise, loving and supportive. He was a fighter. He loved life and thoroughly enjoyed it. He never complained about anything or spoke ill of anyone. He was dedicated to his family and his church. He had the best sense of humor. I loved my grandpa while he was alive, but after learning everything I know now, I realize just how incredible he was. He has touched the lives of so many people near and far. I hope one day to raise boys as good as him. He is my hero.
Grandpa, it is a good life.
I love you.
