Happenings

I've taken a longer break from blogging than I thought. Not that I was actively posting before but I had started a habit of blogging at least something every couple of days. But then Ago was hospitalized and I was in no mood to express any ideas. The situation has been a bit surreal as seeing that I never thought that this would ever happen to my grandfather. The timeline goes a little like this: first, Memorial Day weekend Ago suffered a stroke that caused him to lose the ability to swallow. Whatever he swallows does not down his esophagus, it will go down his trachea into the lungs which can lead to pulmonary aspiration, aka pneumonia. Pneumonia + 94 year old Ago = not good. So, after almost a week in the hospital Ago got a feeding tube to get his nutrients and then was transported to a rehabilitation center to relearn how to swallow (many comments on this later). Then, Ago didn't even spend a week in rehab, before he ended up back in the hospital. I knew this was going to happen, going to rehab wasn't going to help that much. How is a 94 year old man supposed to learn how to swallow? How is Ago supposed to learn how to swallow? He is the most stubborn person I know, it if somethings not done his way he won't do it, and on top of that he thinks he is cured. He doesn't understand the complexity of the situation.

My mother has been using the word "surreal" to describe the situation. I can't speak for her what she is going through, but it is surreal for me also. The relationship between Ago and everyone is the family is different. I always believed that My brother and I got the softer side of him (if it even exists) because we are his grandchildren. And I like to believe that I knew Ago at his best, even though there have been some ugly times. That's why this is so surreal, I'm seeing a different side of him. I'm seeing helpless Ago: Ago in his hospital bed, needing assistance to move. I've never seen helpless Ago. This man is always on the move. I turn around at HEB and he's already moved on to the next section.

I will say this: he's still being assertive and stubborn, which is exhausting for everyone but also assuring because he still got it.