i went to see my grandfather at the hospital tonight. i had been about a week ago, when he was in a shared room and seemed fine. he was sitting up, then, sleppy but mentally-awake enough to boss me around a bit! (he pointed to his dentures and asked me to wash them. oh boy!)

since then, though, his state has deterioated a bit. he still has his pneumonia, possibly suffered a heart-attack and was recently diagnosed with tuberculosis. oh, and he has water on his lungs.

my mother has come to our apartment everyday since she's learned about the TB diagnosis. it's clear that this additional disease is probably not helping him, since he has to be kept in isolation. random visitors pop in and out of his room wearing masks, and going thorough procedure of hand-washing.

we went in his room tonight, all three of us. my mother panicked because grandpa sat up and seemed to reach out. she left. fred and i couldn't make up what he was saying, so we fetched the nurse who told us he was requesting a pepsi. apparently, he asks for it on a regular basis.

so down i go to the cafeteria, wash hands, open door, wash hands, put mask on, open other door and see grandpa asking yet another nurse for a pepsi. i show up, like a prodigious grandchild with a cold can of coke. i poured it in his cup, he reached out, took a sip and sigh. "oh wow! that feels good..."

i swear, i want to remember this moment for a long time.


edit: he passed away mere minutes after we left the hospital. i feel thankful that i had a chance to have that moment with him.