Most of you have heard me talk about my buddy Devin from Utah. I first met Devin 2010. He came to Nashville for his Make-A-Wish, to meet Josh Turner. I have some awesome photos of this meeting on my Facebook; you should check them out! Josh Turner turned out to be a super awesome guy and Devin had a great time in Nashville. Devin’s family is amazing! I really just fell in love with them and we kept in contact over the past year. Devin’s family left the day the “May Flood” started. We kept in contact over the next few months. Devin really enjoyed talking on the phone so he and I talked frequently. September rolled around, I’ll never forget this….I was at the Ice Cream Social for Cold Stone Creamery and I received a call from Karen, Devin’s mom. We spent about 30 minutes crying on the phone to each other about Devin’s test results, his prognosis wasn’t good. Time went by and we stayed in touch and Devin seemed to be doing okay.
Devin had wanted to return to Nashville for another visit. They actually got to come back to Nashville in May for a family vacation. I was able to take that week off for the most part and just hang out with them all week. It was great! It was odd seeing Devin with a head full of hair (I kind of missed his little bald head). Devin seemed to feel really good. We did lots of activities while they were here and everyone had a great time. We even met up with Josh Turner again at Cracker Barrel for breakfast, it was awesome. June rolled around and I got a call about Devin taking a turn for the worse. I was devastated to hear that once again, Devin was not doing well and the doctors didn’t expect him to live for very much longer. I flew out to Utah, which by the way is sooo beautiful, and was able to spend some time with Devin and his family. Devin’s new thing was to say “charm” which meant he wanted a hug. I got LOTS of “charms” during my visit. I even have a video of us “charming”; which I’ll keep forever! I left Utah on July 5th, thinking that I would never see my friend again.
Pat and I had vacation coming up in September which my birthday was September 9th and Devin’s was September 10th. We made plans to go to Utah. Even though I was just there a couple of months ago, I really wanted to go back to spend more time with Devin since he had been feeling better lately. It was a great visit and once again I got lots of “charms”. On my last night Devin asked me to have a sleep over with him (so cute!). I slept in a spare bed in his room and we literally talked about breakfast sandwiches (his choice of topic) for hours…lol. I dozed off once and I heard him say “Tan-ya, are you falling asleep?” I really enjoyed this time with him. And here I am tonight, just remembering all of the precious moments that I had with my little friend. Devin actually got his angel wings tonight. I’ve been crying for the past couple of hours since I received a text from his mom saying that he was non responsive and it wouldn’t be long……and it wasn’t. I think he passed about an hour later. I keep trying to remind myself that he was in so much pain and now he’s no longer in pain. He’s able to walk and see again and he’s in a lovely place……..but it’s still heartbreaking. Devin and I chatted on the phone the other day and I never dreamed that would have been our last phone conversation. I will keep reminding myself that he’s in a way better place than we are and I’ll see him again one day and get a great big ole “charm” from him.
Well, for even more sad news since my last post, my grandpa passed away back in August. He had Alzheimer’s and declined very rapidly. I’m really thankful that I got to spend a lot of time with him and my grandma over the past couple of years. Growing up, I didn’t really go to their house too often. Actually even as a young adult I didn’t. I guess I always thought I had more important stuff to do or I was just busy, who knows.
Paw Paw was diagnosed with Prostate cancer a little over 2 years ago and I guess something just clicked in me. When he first thought he was sick he asked me to go to the doctor with him and my grandma. From then on out, I stared spending more time with them, I went to every doctor’s appointment with him, I was there when they told him he had Prostate cancer and we went over all of the treatment plans, I helped keep up with his meds and started talking to him and my grandma almost every day. We really got close and it was nice; even if it did take years to happen. Both of my parents passed away at a young age, my dad was 34 and I was 14 and my mom died at 40 and I was 18. I guess with his cancer diagnosis I felt like I could lose another family member. I’m lucky to have a flexible job where I was able to take off every Friday for “grandparent’s day”. Now that Paw Paw is gone, I still spend every Friday with my grandma and it’s nice.
Not long after he was cured from Prostate cancer he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I’m not sure that he even had it a full 12 months. It was rough. It was rough not only on him knowing that he couldn’t remember simple things that he used to know but it was also extremely difficult on my grandma. It was so hard to see this man that had been so strong all of his life, become childlike. A part of me wishes that I had never experienced some of the horrible moments with Paw Paw but another part is so grateful that I could be there to help them. My grandma is still having an extremely difficult time with him being gone. They would have been married 53 years this coming up Monday. Fifty-three years is a long time to love someone and then one day they are gone from your life. I wish so much that I could make her feel better but I don’t know what to do. I guess only time can heal her broken heart.
Alright, enough sad stuff! Let’s see what I can remember that’s happened GOOD since my last post. Work is going well, we granted our 1000th wish at Disney on Ice back in October. We granted 92 wishes this pass fiscal year and plan on granting at least 100 this fiscal year. We’ve had lot of great families come to Nashville to receive a wish. Actually one wish that we granted last week will be on TV December 1st. Kaley from Kansas LOVES Scotty McCreery. We went to the ABC’s Christmas Special and Scotty came over and tapped her on the shoulder, asked her for a hug and then sang a song to her. She was literally speechless as you will see when this airs.
I've tried really hard but unfortunately I can’t come up with anymore “good stuff” right now. Sorry…….
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