Footprints In The Sand

by Jade
(Ireland)

I don't really know where to start, Im 18 and lost my Nan to a brain stem stroke 4 weeks ago. She was 66 and still so full of life; her and my Grandad had rang in their 49th wedding anniversary on the 16th of December and she suffered the stroke in the early hours of the 17th.

At 4am she had kicked my Grandad to tell him stop snoring and when he woke at 8:30 she wasn't in bed, she'd gone into the guest room as usual. When he walked into the room with her morning tea and paper he realised something wasn't right. To cut a long story short, she was 2 days in ICU and 2 days on a normal ward off the vent before she quit fighting.

When you tell people your Nan died they presume she was an older lady, a bit frail, but mine wasn't. She was amazing, I say "Nan" but really she was like my Mum, my rock and security blanket. She made me who I am and took care of me. Read me books, told me stories and poems. Wiped my eyes when I cried and knees when I fell all that jazz. And when I told her I was gay (her being the first i told) she laughed, hugged me and said "I knew that before you why are you worried?"

I could never put into words what an amazing person she was. She had the biggest heart you've ever known and had time for everyone. She never held a grudge or got mad and if you knew my family you'd know just how amazing that is.

I'm not sure why I did this; guess I thought throwing it out there might make it hurt less, but I doubt it. My Grandad, Me and Ninnie the dog are always gonna miss her and her chair's always gonna be empty.

Jade, Ireland