A month ago, my grandfather was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. I cannot begin to explain how I felt when I heard the news. My cousin had called me, hysterically crying she said “come to the hospital right this second. It’s grandpa.” Before I could further ask anything more, she hung up on me. My heart dropped, I was alone and the worst-case scenarios were coming up to my mind. I thought I had lost him, forever. I dropped everything and rushed to the hospital as fast as I could. I had absolutely no idea what the situation was like in the hospital but with the fear that was in me, my tears wouldn’t stop flowing.
My grandpa is one of the strongest people I know, both physically and mentally. He was one strong and healthy man for a 73-year-old. Never in a million years would I have thought to hear that my grandfather being diagnosed with lung cancer, no one expected it. But then again, who in their right mind would expect something like this? Till now, he has no clue about his condition, and we have decided to keep it that way. Due to his old age and also the stage of his cancer, the doctors cannot implement any treatment on him.
We don’t have much time to spend with him, but we are trying to make every moment with him count. My family and I are doing anything and everything we can to ensure that he’s happy and showered with love with the remaining time he has left with us. I pray that each day he lives from here on out is as painless as it can get for him. Every day is a battle, a battle of expecting the worst. Right now, it hurts to even keep up a conversation while looking at him, I notice how much he has changed, how much weight he has lost, how much his eyes water and how different he looks.
Isn’t it typical for us to take people or things for granted until they are gone, and regret afterwards? Losing a loved one has never seemed this real to me before. It definitely does not make it any easier hearing how much time he has left with me. This is in honour of my grandfather. From me to you, spend as much time as you can with your loved ones. Say your “I love you”s to them. Express your love for them. Be there for them for tomorrow is never guaranteed.
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