Sad News

Today I write with some unfortunate and sad news. Most of my family and friends know all about Jean, the sweet older lady that watches my kids for me during the week. She has been watching my son for 8 years (he is 10 years old now) and she has taken care of my daughter since she was only 3 weeks old. My ex husband grew up in the house next door to Jean and she is apart of the family even though we're not related. My daughter has always called Jean "Granny" and boy do they have a special bond together. My kids adore her and she certainly loves them too. On Sundays, Jean will even drive to my house and pick the kids up to take them to church with her. She brings them home afterwards as well. She doesn't charge what she is worth for keeping my kids, either. She obviously does not do it for the money.

A month ago Jean informed me that she was going to have surgery on both of her knees (she has arthritis) on Monday, June 26th. Jean said that Kathy, a close friend of hers, would be staying at her house to help watch the kids and take care of Jean once she got home from the hospital a couple days after her surgery. I saw Jen Monday evening who is Jean's grand daughter and my former roommate. Jen said that Jean was doing fine after the surgery except for being in pain. She should be coming home in a couple of days.

Yesterday afternoon I went to Jean's house to pick up my kids when Kathy said she needed to talk to me. I asked the kids to go on out to the car while we talked. Kathy informed me that late Monday evening Jean had multiple strokes and now there is little chance that Jean will be coming back home. She is acting very erratically and cussing at the staff. She isn't making any sense when she speaks and she doesn't complete her sentences and stories all the time. To make things worse, she is refusing to eat. There is a strong possibility that the doctors will insert a feeding tube today.

I have not told my kids about this yet. How do you tell 2 young children something like this? Of course you don't go into details but either way it's going to tear a hole in their hearts. Sadly, Jean may never be "Jean" again and that will mean the children would never have a chance to say goodbye. As events change, I'll post updates. Please keep her in your prayers/rituals as well as her family. Thanks.