by Sara A Broers

Created on: April 23, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

A Grandmother has a special place in all of our hearts. I have true admiration for my Grandmother. She had a massive stroke at the age of 60. At the time my parents were told she would not live very long. She lived on for 33 more years. She had to learn how to walk eight different times in her life. She was paralyzed on her right side. She had the determination to make the most out of what each day has to offer.

After finding myself in my Grandmother's shoes at the age of 40, I admire her more then ever. I had a herniated disk which pressed on my nerves and left me with a full foot drop. I had to learn how to walk again. After 8 months of physical therapy, I could walk. Not as fast or as graceful as I used to. I can't say I was ever graceful. I've always said if my Mother would have named me Sara Grace she would have made a huge error.

I found myself reflecting on my Grandmother's strength throughout my rebound back to the normal world. The cane that she had once used had became my right arm for quite a period of time. Each step I would take, I could sense her presence. Having been such an active person, it was difficult to accept this new found way of life. I was always the "fast" walker of the bunch. Now, these little "gray haired women" were passing me by everywhere!

I have also had two battles with thyroid cancer over the past ten years. My Grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in the advanced stages in 1987. She lived another 13 years. She plowed her way through surgery and opted to not try chemotherapy due to her age. She was such a strong willed person. I truly believe she lived on for 13 more years because of her love for her family. My recollection of cancer not getting her down helped me keep my head high and move on with my life.

After her body had given out at the age of 93, she was positioned comfortably in a bed at Hospice. Her last words were, "I am so proud of all of you." I really don't know where she found the strength to raise her head off of her pillow and get those words out. I admire her for her strong faith in God and her will to live life to the fullest! Even though she could not walk very gracefully, she went a lot of places and touched a lot of lives! This is one Granddaughter that feels blessed to have been loved by such a wonderful woman.

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