I'll Miss You, PawPaw

My grandfather's health has been declining over the last year or so. He's had Pulmonary Fibrosis for several years, but it's really been beginning to take its toll on his body. Finally, a few weeks ago, I went to Houston to help admit him to home Hospice. My aunt and uncle moved in with him back in June, and the rest of us have taken turns visiting with him and caring for him. My mom was there and called me at work to tell me that she thought he had likely had a stroke. We decided to keep him at home, because that's what he had wanted, and I headed to Houston that night. We got him a hospital bed, and over the next 8 days my mom, uncles, siblings, cousins and I stayed in the bedroom with him. We all slept curled up in different corners of the king-size bed, layed sleeping bags on the floor, and took turns sitting by his hospital bed and holding his hand through every hour of the day and night. We read beautiful love letters between my Mimi and PawPaw from when they were engaged, we looked through old pictures, and we listened to some of his favorite old 40's music. Finally, at 4:36 this morning, with his family surrounding him, he took his last breath. He went to spend eternity with his bride, and rejoin his parents and grandson who went before him. I will miss my grandfather so much, but the last 8 days were a really beautiful and unforgettable experience. As a nurse, there is no greater joy than being able to use my knowledge and skills in caring for those I love most.
One of the things I loved most about this time was holding my PawPaw's hand and thinking about all of the things those hands have seen and done in their 86 years. They played as a child during the Great Depression, they bandaged wounded Marines during WWII as a Navy Corpsman, they wrapped around his true love as they danced at "Sock Hops" at TCU, then later held her hands as they pledged their vows to each other in marriage. These hands held 3 children and 12 grandchildren, and these hands received a folded flag at his grandson's Marine funeral. Though my grandfather was barely conscious and couldn't speak, these hands held ours for the last 8 days. One day, as he was holding my mom's hands, he knew without seeing that he was touching the wedding rings he gave his bride 60 years ago, which my mother now wears. With these same hands, which were now so weak and unsteady, he pulled those rings off my mom's hand and put them to his lips to kiss them. It was the sweetest moment I believe I've ever witnessed, my grandfather loved my grandmother so much and was the most wonderful husband to her. I will miss these strong but gentle hands.