If you have been reading for a long time, you may remember when I posted about my mums partner in crime, Grant, having being diagnosed with Liver Cancer. This was back in September 2010 so I will forgive you if you don't remember.
At the time, the doctors told him that he had 6 months to live and that now would be the time to travel and fulfill his bucket list.
Mum and Grant traveled extensively, and included in their travels was driving the Route 66 in the US in a Mustang and Thunderbird, using an RV to commandeer the rugged snowy hillsides of Scotland, accosted a leprechaun in Ireland, watched the light show in Hong Kong and so much more.
Needless to say, Grant outlived his 6 month time frame and I am sure was driven mad by my mum in the mean time (just kidding caro). He was so happy to have been at my wedding and his latest concern was that I looked after the wee one in my belly.
In October of this year he announced that his doctors had said he had probably four months to live, and this time they were sure of it.
I refused to believe it, after all, this is one cat who had more than 9 lives. From motorbike accidents to outliving his cancer sentence, if anybody could survive it would be him.
At the time, the doctors told him that he had 6 months to live and that now would be the time to travel and fulfill his bucket list.
Mum and Grant traveled extensively, and included in their travels was driving the Route 66 in the US in a Mustang and Thunderbird, using an RV to commandeer the rugged snowy hillsides of Scotland, accosted a leprechaun in Ireland, watched the light show in Hong Kong and so much more.
Needless to say, Grant outlived his 6 month time frame and I am sure was driven mad by my mum in the mean time (just kidding caro). He was so happy to have been at my wedding and his latest concern was that I looked after the wee one in my belly.
In October of this year he announced that his doctors had said he had probably four months to live, and this time they were sure of it.
I refused to believe it, after all, this is one cat who had more than 9 lives. From motorbike accidents to outliving his cancer sentence, if anybody could survive it would be him.
I think that when you see someone who is apparently so sick, yet they look so healthy you just think that the doctors have it wrong and if anyone can beat the odds, why wont it be them?
I saw Grant in hospital (actually, he was sitting outside in the sun, smoking, because he didn't want me to see him in his hospital bed) on the 21 November as he was being treated for dehydration among other things and whilst he was pale, he still looked the same as usual.
He told me he had lost heaps of weight, he was now down to 100kg and it was a record! I laughed and told him that maybe this was the diet he needed in his life if he considered 100kg skinny.
A week back, my mums brother Johnny suffered a stroke and all of her siblings flew to Perth to be with him. Mum was in Ireland visiting my sister and surprising my brother who had leave from Afghanistan at the time and of course the last thing she needed was to be on the other side of the world so my sister and brother in law flew her back to be by his side. He was in a very critical condition and nobody thought he would make it.
It was then that we got the news that Grant was back in hospital and being moved to palliative care, this time it was serious.
When it rains, it pours.
The Husband and I went to say our goodbyes to Grant on Friday morning and I almost wish I hadn't.
I think it is purely for selfish reasons, such as the fact that now the image I have of him in my head is a terrible image and I know he wouldn't have wanted me to see him like that, but I had to do the right thing and say goodbye properly.
Not just goodbye from me, but also my mum, brother and sister who could not be there. My other brother Joseph sat with him for 3 hours Friday afternoon and then we got the news that he had passed away Friday evening.
The decline happened so rapidly, but I am glad it happened that way. Nobody should need to struggle and feel pain.
The first time I met Grant, I woke up on a school morning and there was a strange man, who looked suspiciously like a bikie, sitting at my kitchen bench drinking Jack Daniels at 7am.
My first question was not 'who are you?' but rather 'Why are you drinking so early? What is wrong with you?' and he told me "I'm starting my day right, love".
I can't remember how old I was, maybe 12 but I do remember telling him that my name was Jen and he called me Jen for years, long after he found out my real name.
Our whole family has lots of brilliant memories of the ol' Grunta but I am most grateful to him for always being by my mums side, no matter what happened. He always looked after her and had her best interests at heart even if she didn't want his help.
The last words I told him was that we all love him very much and that we would carry on his job and look after my mum.
It just goes to show that no matter how invincible you think someone is, if God has other plans, he will let it be known.
I guess that's the end old cobber.
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