My Grandfather could use some positive thoughts!

The week before Ceilidh's surgery, my Grandfather ended up in the hospital. He has/had pneumonia and a blood clot in his lungs. I say has/had because they have since switched him to a bigger hospital with a specialist, and he is now being tested for TB. Right now he is in the ICU and isolated. Everytime I ask my mother about him, it looks worse and worse. He's been in the ICU since he had been admitted to the hospital. If having pneumonia or TB isn't bad enough, but he only has one lung that works any amount because the other one is pretty much shot from emphysema.

I've always said I wanted to bring the kids up to Ontario to meet their family up there, but there was never the money. Now my Grandfather might not meet Zach (he's 2), and he's only met Ceilidh once and that was when she was 6 months old. I'm trying not to think that way, but it's hard when every time I get more information, it just seems to get worse. I plan on taking the kids to get pictures done, so my mother can take them to Ontario whenever she plans on going up. I have no idea when that is, but I'm assuming she'll be going up if Grandpa gets worse or even if he gets better.

He could really use some prayers or positive thoughts! I'ld really appreciate it. I've been trying not to stress with this too much (not easy tho) since I had so much on my mind with Ceilidh, but now that she's healing and doing better emotionally, I have been stressing and thinking about my Grandfather pretty much non stop. Plus there is some BS going on with one member of his extended family, that I'll probably vent about soon, but right now I've typed enough with a sleeping child on my arm.

Thanks for listening to me ramble on, and thanks in advance for the positive thoughts! They are much appreciated.

I said a prayer for him and for you. I hope that your life gets easier, because I know that it's been rough for a few weeks. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

I am saying a prayer too. I am so sorry, I know how hard it is to be away from family. ((Hugs))) and its great that she is doing better !!

I will be saying a prayer and keeping him and your family in my thoughts.

prayers, well wishes and positive thoughts heading your way and his

I hope he's doing ok!

sending positive energy your way... and his..

I will keep him and your family in my prayers.

Dawn, you can upload pictures and your family that is nearer to him could print them out for him. Or order pictures through one of the companies that let you pick them up in the store, and tell them to let someone pick them up in one of the Ontario branches.

ohhh thats a good idea!! Is there any wy to send a video? that is almost as good as being there. I cant imagine how hard this is. I hope you have some better news today.

That's a great idea! I'll have to do that. With him in isolation, I'm sure he would love some pictures to look at. I just don't know who can get them for him. I'm sure all his kids aren't up there anymore with him in isolation. I'm sure his wife will pick them up for him. I'm sure she would love to see the pictures as well. I'll have to talk to my mother and get her to find out if she's in Goderich (sp??) or London (the hospital where Grandpa is) so I know where to send the pictures to be picked up.

sending prayers and blessings to you and your grandfather.

Another idea is to have relatives and friends make a cassette tape. Have kids sing a song, everyone join in. Also have the children make pictures to put on the walls, greeting cards, balloons, to make his stay more cheerful. It is also fun for the patient to receive mail.

Thinking of you.

That's another good idea. I'll have to get Ceilidh to do that. She loves drawing pictures for people!

Thanks for the idea!

Thanks again everyone for the positive thoughts and prayers! I'll update when I know more.

Prayers sent Aurora!!! I hope you have some positive news soon!

It must be Grampa Time. On the regular websites I visit, everyone is talking about their Grampa.

I'm praying and I put in a prayer request at my church for your Grandfather, you and your whole family

keep strong

Thanks everyone! I haven't heard anything new yet. I called my mother and she didn't tell me anything, so I don't know if she knows anything new yet either.

I'll be talking to her again tomorrow about finding out where to send things. If I mail something to the hosptial, will it be delivered to my Grandfather, or would the safest thing to do be mail it to his house (or where ever his wife is staying) and have her bring it to him. Hopefully Mom can find out something.

Just wanted to give a quick update on my Grandfather. My mother hasn't heard much in the last 2 days, but what she did hear was that he's doing better. They didn't have the test results back from the TB test, but apparently he's doing better.

Now just to get my butt in gear and mail the picture that Ceilidh coloured and actual pictures of the kids. My little sister is going to try to convince my mother to pay for us all to go to Ontario to visit. LOL. I can't see her doing that (there are 3 of us if DH doesn't go and both kids will need seats on the plane). But I can still hope. LOL

I hear the drive here isn't too bad if you take turns and drive through the night! LOL! Glad to hear he's doing better.

I hope you can go!! that would be so wonderful!!

Rebecca - The last time we went up (8 years ago), we drove. I don't mind the drive. Actually, I've only flown to Ontario twice I think. The rest of the times we drove up. It's 24 hours (roughly) driving straight through (which is what we always did) to Hamilton (not sure how much further it is to Goderich or London). My mother will not drive once we hit Montreal, and she will not drive with anyone other than my father once we get to Montreal. LOL. If my father were to go up, he'ld feel obligated to visit his family, and he's just not the visiting sort. LOL. He'ld rather wait until they come down to visit their mother (2 1/2 hours away from us), then he'll make the drive up and visit them there, and leave within an hour or 2 saying he has to get back, blah blah blah. LOL. If he's up there, he has no excuses to leave.

I would LOVE if my parents rented a vehicle to drive up! I don't think they would be able to drive straight through tho since I would not want to be in the same vehicle as my kids for that long a drive. LOL. They nearly drove me insane driving the 5 hours to Halifax.

Maybe I should get my kids to work on them as well saying they want to meet their Great Grandfather and cousins. LOL. They can't say no to them.

Hamilton to London is about an hour - hour and a half. Not sure about Hamilton to Goderich. Being trapped in a car with kids for more than a couple of hours is no fun though -- that's what the roof rack is for!