Yesterday on my way home from church I received the most unexpected and devastating news that my sweet Grandma K had suffered from a stroke. Not your typical news you want to hear after such a rewarding Sunday. Initially, I didn't know what to think, but when I told Spencer, it hit me that she might not make it. As we waited to hear from my parents to see how things were going, my sisters and I were talking to each other and came to the conclusion that we needed to pray. Since we all live in different cities, these were done individually.
A little background, Grandma and Grandpa had gone camping with my parents, Aunt Ann and Uncle Gregory, and our good and lifelong family friends the Sandmires. On Sunday morning she had complained of her head hurting and slumped over, being caught by a table (that in all honesty provided her to live for the next little bit). My parents described they instantly knew she had suffered a stroke as her left side of her face was droopy and her very slurred speech. Luckily Nancy had stopped the camp host to alert the paramedics they needed attention. Another blessing, there was a pediatric nurse who was up there who remained calm and helped out in anyway she could, giving her 5 Aspirin before the Paramedics arrived. My Grandma and Grandpa made it down to Timpanogos Hospital where she was then life-lighted to IMC. In the mean time everyone else tore down camp in a hurry and barely missed the canyon being closed down due to a 4-wheeling crash, causing a fire. Another blessing.
When Grandma arrived at IMC we were told that she was going to have surgery to help prevent any further damage. What seemed like days my Mom let us all know that they did not do surgery as the stroke was so bad and could not reverse it. I had found out that there was a large clot in her brain and it was moving down to her carotid artery. Initially we were told she could still talk. Dropping everything I immediately started to cry and Spencer and I drove to IMC. I was truly amazed by how many of my cousins were there already (there are a lot of us, with spouses I have lost count, but it's close to 50 I think). The waiting room was flooded with emotions. By the time we had arrived, she seemed to slowly decline. It was difficult seeing everyone so emotional, especially my Grandpa, who is the toughest guy I know. I had stopped crying until Spencer and I went back in her first room to go see her. Her eyes were shut and she was laying on one side of her face, and as I went up to her I lost it.
Moments after we walked out, they were moving her to a bigger room, so we could all try to squeeze into one room. Once we were allowed to go up to her second room, I was again rushed with emotions seeing everyone the room in tears. The men gave her the sweetest blessing, and you better believe we all fit into that room with the door closed. One by one all of the grandchildren that could be there went up to Grandma saying goodbye. There was not a dry in there as Grandma knew we were there and moved her mouth as if she were talking directly to us. Somehow she knew to squeeze all of our hands. As Spencer and I are hoping to start our family soon, I begged her to take care of them until they were ready to come down. Since we have started trying the meaning and value of life has become so much more. Whenever she decides to cross over to the other side of the veil, I know she will be greeted by many, many loved ones.
Ok now that the hard par is over I wanted to take some time to reflect how much I loved my Grandma. Ever since I was born we would go over to my Grandma and Grandpa's house on Sunday evenings and visit for hours. We did nothing but talk, which now are some of the most treasured moments I have. Grandma you are the sweetest person I will ever know and the best example of how to live my life centered around the gospel. Grandma had a beautiful tint of red to her glowing white hair. She was a beautiful lady that lived her life always serving others. She worked as a Temple worker for many years and often reminded us how important it was to go there to do the work. Grandma has always been in tune with the spirit and always knew what to say. She welcomed everyone into her home. I remember when I first started talking about Spencer she was always excited to hear about him. Then when they met for the first time I remember she gave him the biggest hug, which I am positive she did with all of the significant others of my cousins. Whenever we would go visit, she would be on either corner of the couch and she would glow the moment we stepped into her front room. Her rosy cheeks and soft but huge smile was the most wonderful thing in the world. The minute we sat down she would ask how we were doing, and remember where the conversation left off the last time we had visited. Grandma was also the most humble person ever. She never said a negative thing about anyone and was always concerned about those around her instead of herself. She shared many stories of her life every Sunday we went there. When I was younger I couldn't understand why she told us all of these stories. Some of my favorite were her "Beehive hair Ladies" group stories and how up until a few years ago would go out to lunch and gossip about long lost friends, family and activities. Others consisted of her and Grandpa when they were younger, falling in love, how Grandpa proposed, how they almost died in their first house of Carbon Monoxide posioning, how they were in the newspaper for being an all red head family, and more. She constantly talked about working at the Jewelry store, the school(s), and the bank (where she set my parents up on a date). On a side note, her infamous potato salad will be missed by all! The best thing ever was her voice. It was seriously the voice of an angel so soft and sweet, and she was so eloquent with her words. Another thing that always put a smile on my face is when her and Grandpa would have their little arguments or disagreements, and she would just go, "Oh Dad stop" or when Grandpa couldn't hear her, she would yell "GENE" several times before he would look at her. Grandma was a very classy lady. She still used a rotary phone, and had a rolling phone book that was sorted so neat. Her handwriting was so pretty and small, it looked as if it could be in a book. She was known for wearing her fancy shirts and her swede sweat pants with her slippers every time we went to her house. She would always have a blanket across her lap. We would always fight over who would get to sit next to her as she would tickle our back, doing this well into our adult years. Her nails were perfectly manicured and shaped, mostly painted in warm pink color. I loved when she took us to the back of her house and let us go through old pictures with a different story for each one we found. She was also a very grateful woman. Every time we would see her she would hold each of us and give a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek, letting us leave with her special scent all over us. Grandma loves, loves, loves babies. She was the master of calming down babies and enjoyed holding each of her babies, grand-babies, and great- grand-babies. She would beam each time she held one of us. Knowing that my babies will be held by her soon like that makes me incredibly jealous. Her and Grandpa have created a wonderful legacy of memories that will last forever. It is because of her I am proud to be a Kevern and will be forever grateful for her.
Grandma the Heavens are calling and know that you made a huge difference in this world. As hard as it is to say goodbye to a woman who touched so many lives, I know that the other side needs someone like you to continue the work there. You will be forever loved and missed dearly. Thank you for all that you have done, especially for your wonderful family. I LOVE YOU!
A little background, Grandma and Grandpa had gone camping with my parents, Aunt Ann and Uncle Gregory, and our good and lifelong family friends the Sandmires. On Sunday morning she had complained of her head hurting and slumped over, being caught by a table (that in all honesty provided her to live for the next little bit). My parents described they instantly knew she had suffered a stroke as her left side of her face was droopy and her very slurred speech. Luckily Nancy had stopped the camp host to alert the paramedics they needed attention. Another blessing, there was a pediatric nurse who was up there who remained calm and helped out in anyway she could, giving her 5 Aspirin before the Paramedics arrived. My Grandma and Grandpa made it down to Timpanogos Hospital where she was then life-lighted to IMC. In the mean time everyone else tore down camp in a hurry and barely missed the canyon being closed down due to a 4-wheeling crash, causing a fire. Another blessing.
When Grandma arrived at IMC we were told that she was going to have surgery to help prevent any further damage. What seemed like days my Mom let us all know that they did not do surgery as the stroke was so bad and could not reverse it. I had found out that there was a large clot in her brain and it was moving down to her carotid artery. Initially we were told she could still talk. Dropping everything I immediately started to cry and Spencer and I drove to IMC. I was truly amazed by how many of my cousins were there already (there are a lot of us, with spouses I have lost count, but it's close to 50 I think). The waiting room was flooded with emotions. By the time we had arrived, she seemed to slowly decline. It was difficult seeing everyone so emotional, especially my Grandpa, who is the toughest guy I know. I had stopped crying until Spencer and I went back in her first room to go see her. Her eyes were shut and she was laying on one side of her face, and as I went up to her I lost it.
Moments after we walked out, they were moving her to a bigger room, so we could all try to squeeze into one room. Once we were allowed to go up to her second room, I was again rushed with emotions seeing everyone the room in tears. The men gave her the sweetest blessing, and you better believe we all fit into that room with the door closed. One by one all of the grandchildren that could be there went up to Grandma saying goodbye. There was not a dry in there as Grandma knew we were there and moved her mouth as if she were talking directly to us. Somehow she knew to squeeze all of our hands. As Spencer and I are hoping to start our family soon, I begged her to take care of them until they were ready to come down. Since we have started trying the meaning and value of life has become so much more. Whenever she decides to cross over to the other side of the veil, I know she will be greeted by many, many loved ones.
Ok now that the hard par is over I wanted to take some time to reflect how much I loved my Grandma. Ever since I was born we would go over to my Grandma and Grandpa's house on Sunday evenings and visit for hours. We did nothing but talk, which now are some of the most treasured moments I have. Grandma you are the sweetest person I will ever know and the best example of how to live my life centered around the gospel. Grandma had a beautiful tint of red to her glowing white hair. She was a beautiful lady that lived her life always serving others. She worked as a Temple worker for many years and often reminded us how important it was to go there to do the work. Grandma has always been in tune with the spirit and always knew what to say. She welcomed everyone into her home. I remember when I first started talking about Spencer she was always excited to hear about him. Then when they met for the first time I remember she gave him the biggest hug, which I am positive she did with all of the significant others of my cousins. Whenever we would go visit, she would be on either corner of the couch and she would glow the moment we stepped into her front room. Her rosy cheeks and soft but huge smile was the most wonderful thing in the world. The minute we sat down she would ask how we were doing, and remember where the conversation left off the last time we had visited. Grandma was also the most humble person ever. She never said a negative thing about anyone and was always concerned about those around her instead of herself. She shared many stories of her life every Sunday we went there. When I was younger I couldn't understand why she told us all of these stories. Some of my favorite were her "Beehive hair Ladies" group stories and how up until a few years ago would go out to lunch and gossip about long lost friends, family and activities. Others consisted of her and Grandpa when they were younger, falling in love, how Grandpa proposed, how they almost died in their first house of Carbon Monoxide posioning, how they were in the newspaper for being an all red head family, and more. She constantly talked about working at the Jewelry store, the school(s), and the bank (where she set my parents up on a date). On a side note, her infamous potato salad will be missed by all! The best thing ever was her voice. It was seriously the voice of an angel so soft and sweet, and she was so eloquent with her words. Another thing that always put a smile on my face is when her and Grandpa would have their little arguments or disagreements, and she would just go, "Oh Dad stop" or when Grandpa couldn't hear her, she would yell "GENE" several times before he would look at her. Grandma was a very classy lady. She still used a rotary phone, and had a rolling phone book that was sorted so neat. Her handwriting was so pretty and small, it looked as if it could be in a book. She was known for wearing her fancy shirts and her swede sweat pants with her slippers every time we went to her house. She would always have a blanket across her lap. We would always fight over who would get to sit next to her as she would tickle our back, doing this well into our adult years. Her nails were perfectly manicured and shaped, mostly painted in warm pink color. I loved when she took us to the back of her house and let us go through old pictures with a different story for each one we found. She was also a very grateful woman. Every time we would see her she would hold each of us and give a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek, letting us leave with her special scent all over us. Grandma loves, loves, loves babies. She was the master of calming down babies and enjoyed holding each of her babies, grand-babies, and great- grand-babies. She would beam each time she held one of us. Knowing that my babies will be held by her soon like that makes me incredibly jealous. Her and Grandpa have created a wonderful legacy of memories that will last forever. It is because of her I am proud to be a Kevern and will be forever grateful for her.
Grandma the Heavens are calling and know that you made a huge difference in this world. As hard as it is to say goodbye to a woman who touched so many lives, I know that the other side needs someone like you to continue the work there. You will be forever loved and missed dearly. Thank you for all that you have done, especially for your wonderful family. I LOVE YOU!
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