Grandpa Update

Today was the kind of day that reminded me of something I heard John Bunyan say by way of John Piper's biography about him (read or listen here, I think it's one of Piper's best): "Behind a frowning providence there hides a smiling face."

I hold my grandpa upright, helping him get into his wheelchair, when he passed out. My mom and I sat him in the chair so that we could wheel him to his bed, but he slumped down and was near falling off completely. I stopped my mom from pulling the chair any further, lifted him off the chair and set him on the floor while telling her to call 911.

When he went limp in my arms I thought he died. He was not responding to anything I was saying. Not even his eyes moved. When I got him on the floor, I was trying to assess whether or not he needed CPR while praying fervently. It was clear that he was breathing, but I could not find a pulse either on his neck (I was looking in the wrong spot) or his wrist.

Thankfully, I heard the ambulance coming so I knew they'd take over. After talking to my grandpa about all this later he told me he doesn't remember how he got on the floor or even that he was on the floor. He was not responding much at all so I'm not surprised. However, once the paramedics showed up he was talking to them, which was quite a relief.

The reason I quote Bunyan above is because when we got to the ER we learned after a few tests that he had what the doctor called "a touch of pneumonia," something we never would've noticed until it was farther along. If he had not passed out today we would not have known at all.

On top of that, the ER was packed all day and all night, that is, except for the time he got there. It was practically empty. I shudder to think what it would've been like if he would've passed out a couple hours later.

So, what started out as a tragedy ended up being a wonderful blessing in disguise as it seemed that God orchestrated the whole thing to keep my grandpa safe and alive. He is now at Hoag Hospital resting soundly, unaware of all the physical and respiratory torture, I mean therapy, that awaits him in a few hours.

I thank God for all the events today, and I thank all of you for all your prayers. He was supposed to start round 2 of chemotherapy tomorrow so please pray that he'll get better from the pneumonia, and that he'll get his strength up to start chemo soon. Also, please pray for his girlfriend's mental state (she's a Mormon who recently buried one brother from cancer, has had cancer herself, and just found out today that her oldest brother is very sick) as well as wisdom for my mom and her two brothers as they are making many of his medical decisions.

Any advice on anything is greatly appreciated. I'll keep this updated as I can. Thank you for everything.