Oh, Grandma
you are so strong.
You raised your children to be
who they are today.

You’ve been successful,
and you’ve been happy.
You’ve lived a full, good life--
but it’s so hard to let go.

First Grandpa and his diagnosis
and now you’ve followed in his path--
His illness has taught us
and you--but will yours?

You’ll become forgetful,
you’ll be confused,
but you’ll always be the Grandma
I know and love.

You’ll never stop being
your sweet self
who loves to give and receive hugs,
and is full of wisdom.

You’ll never change
as much as we fear
because you’ll live through our hearts
and through our memories.

Your loving legacy
will live on.
We’ll tell our children about
the amazing grandmother we had.

And though you’ll be different,
you’ll still be there.
You and Grandpa are the
strongest people I’ve ever met.

Our family will make it,
though it will change.
Tears will be shed,
and hearts will break.

Throats will close up,
eyes will turn red,
but we’ll make it.
How could we not--with a grandma like you?

We’ve made it through Grandpa’s illness
so far,
and with good humor and love,
we’ll make it through yours.

We all love you
so much
and will miss you forever.
But oh, grandma…

You’ll still be you.
The loving, amazing, beautiful,
strong grandma
that we know.
----------------------------------------------------------
Author’s Note: This poem is mediocre and faulty, I know. I had to write my thoughts down, and I decided to post it in hopes that it would keep me strong.
My grandfather was diagnosed with the terminal illness ALS (or Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in 2004. (That was the inspiration for ‘Missing’, another poem of mine.) My grandmother was diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer’s just this week. Neither disease has a cure. Our family has been through so much--it doesn’t seem fair. But life is never fair.
This poem is for any person who’s ever loved someone with a terminal illness.
Thanks for reading.
~Lola Lily~