Click on the link above to read my niece's blog about Paul Clifford. It is filled with sweet thoughts about Grandpa. His illness gives us the chance to let him know we love him and pray for his full recovery.
I wonder if I can post it (it won't show his beautiful painting or picture...but the sentiment is there:
Paul Clifford Everyone knows that Rett (IV) is named after Everett (III), Everett's Dad - Ev (Jr.) and Everett's Grandfather - Everett (Senior)...but only few know our Pauly is named for my Mom's Dad - Paul Clifford (Grandpa). Grandpa will be 90 in August and he's just recently experienced a health scare. He was out mowing the lawn on a day when the temperature was in the high 90's. My uncle who usually helps him out with stuff like that was on a camping trip and had planned on taking care of the yard when he got back. My Grandpa likes to do things for himself and figured he'd take care of it so Uncle Pat wouldn't have to. As he started to mow he became very tired like he should lay down right there in the yard. Since this feeling hadn't happened to him before they made an appointment to see his doctor right away.
The doctor ran some tests and found out that he had some blockages in his veins and that they'd go in and do a procedure to try to clear it out and see what if anything else needed to be done. After the procedure they discovered that he is going to need triplet bypass surgery and a valve replacement. We won't know more about when the surgery is schedule for until after July 7th. This terrifies me.
We are lucky right now that my Mom is able to stay with my grandparents and help them out around the house until after he's recovered from all of this. That is taking a huge weight off of my mind knowing that someone will be there with them 24/7 in case they need anything. The boys haven't seen my Mom in two weeks and we don't exactly know when she'll be back - they are really missing her. We are trying to figure out a Saturday in July to go up and visit.
My Mom's parents have always been active in our lives. We used to spend weekends at their house when we were kids. We'd help Grandma pick vegetables and raspberries from their garden or help Grandpa work in his garage or on some sort of project he's conjure up for us. He is an artist and he always encouraged his grandchildren to paint and be creative...
One of the only paintings of my Grandpa's that I have electronically - I LOVE it!
My Mom (Mary) with Grandpa (Paul) and Grandma (Fern) - at our wedding My parents got divorced when I was 13. There was a point during that year that I was having a difficult time dealing with the divorce so my Grandparents decided to let me stay with them for a couple of months. The best thing that I remember about that time was the drive to and from school everyday. I was able to spend a huge chunk of one on one time everyday with just my Grandpa. It was so nice to be the center of his attention. It meant the world to me. Both of my Grandparents mean the world to me. I don't think I'd be the person I am today without them. I strive everyday to be even 1/8th as wonderful as they are.
I've been fortunate in my life where I haven't lost a lot of loved ones, but I know we are all getting older and it's a natural part of life. The few that I have lost happened before the boys were born. Having my Grandpa's health issues brought up right now has me struggling with how we will handle grief and explain things to the boys so that they understand and aren't afraid.
Paul Clifford is the kindest, strongest, most talented, patient, loving man I know. That is the reason our Pauly is named after him. If he knew I pretty much dedicated an entire blog post to him he'd shrug it off like he always does and act like he's not any more special than any one else. But to me he is and always will be.
2 comments:
Ellie's bolg is blocked, nobody will be able to read this mom.
I wonder if I can post it (it won't show his beautiful painting or picture...but the sentiment is there:
Paul Clifford
Everyone knows that Rett (IV) is named after Everett (III), Everett's Dad - Ev (Jr.) and Everett's Grandfather - Everett (Senior)...but only few know our Pauly is named for my Mom's Dad - Paul Clifford (Grandpa).
Grandpa will be 90 in August and he's just recently experienced a health scare. He was out mowing the lawn on a day when the temperature was in the high 90's. My uncle who usually helps him out with stuff like that was on a camping trip and had planned on taking care of the yard when he got back. My Grandpa likes to do things for himself and figured he'd take care of it so Uncle Pat wouldn't have to. As he started to mow he became very tired like he should lay down right there in the yard. Since this feeling hadn't happened to him before they made an appointment to see his doctor right away.
The doctor ran some tests and found out that he had some blockages in his veins and that they'd go in and do a procedure to try to clear it out and see what if anything else needed to be done. After the procedure they discovered that he is going to need triplet bypass surgery and a valve replacement. We won't know more about when the surgery is schedule for until after July 7th. This terrifies me.
We are lucky right now that my Mom is able to stay with my grandparents and help them out around the house until after he's recovered from all of this. That is taking a huge weight off of my mind knowing that someone will be there with them 24/7 in case they need anything. The boys haven't seen my Mom in two weeks and we don't exactly know when she'll be back - they are really missing her. We are trying to figure out a Saturday in July to go up and visit.
My Mom's parents have always been active in our lives. We used to spend weekends at their house when we were kids. We'd help Grandma pick vegetables and raspberries from their garden or help Grandpa work in his garage or on some sort of project he's conjure up for us. He is an artist and he always encouraged his grandchildren to paint and be creative...
One of the only paintings of my Grandpa's that I have electronically - I LOVE it!
My Mom (Mary) with Grandpa (Paul) and Grandma (Fern) - at our wedding
My parents got divorced when I was 13. There was a point during that year that I was having a difficult time dealing with the divorce so my Grandparents decided to let me stay with them for a couple of months. The best thing that I remember about that time was the drive to and from school everyday. I was able to spend a huge chunk of one on one time everyday with just my Grandpa. It was so nice to be the center of his attention. It meant the world to me. Both of my Grandparents mean the world to me. I don't think I'd be the person I am today without them. I strive everyday to be even 1/8th as wonderful as they are.
I've been fortunate in my life where I haven't lost a lot of loved ones, but I know we are all getting older and it's a natural part of life. The few that I have lost happened before the boys were born. Having my Grandpa's health issues brought up right now has me struggling with how we will handle grief and explain things to the boys so that they understand and aren't afraid.
Paul Clifford is the kindest, strongest, most talented, patient, loving man I know. That is the reason our Pauly is named after him. If he knew I pretty much dedicated an entire blog post to him he'd shrug it off like he always does and act like he's not any more special than any one else. But to me he is and always will be.
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