Hailey Ruderman

My Grandma

*Editor's Note: Since this article was written, my grandma unfortunately passed away in 2019, but I still continue to honor her legacy on a daily basis.

“Grandmas hold our little tiny hands for just a little while but hold our hearts forever.”

Towards the end of March of 2017, there was a scare in the family. My grandma had been sent to the hospital due to her lack of breath. Test after test, doctors told her she had pneumonia and she would be able to go home after a few days. Yet, something still wasn’t right. It turns out that the cysts that had infected her lungs in 2006 had come back for a fight.

My family took this as a shock, just like any other family would, because we thought my grandma was completely healthy after the one scare 11 years ago.

As the matriarch in the family, we have no idea what we would do without her; my grandpa especially was in panic. My grandpa had been working two jobs for the longest time as a computer teacher at a local community college and one online. My grandma made his food, bought his food, cleaned the house and did everything he couldn’t do while he was at work. My grandpa was clueless when it came to taking care of a house or even making a box of pasta. That was all about to change.

After almost two months back and forth between hospitals and rehab, my grandma was finally able to go home.

She now has to use an oxygen tank to make sure she’s getting enough air, she now uses a wheelchair and she has to go to doctor’s appointments weekly. My grandpa has been a savior helping my grandma through this hard time, and my grandma has been a fighter. I’m proud of both of them.

May 16th, my family got the news that doctors gave my grandma five more years on this beautiful earth. Of course, everyone was upset, but the same time, I’m glad that we knew how much longer we had so we can make the most of her life.

My grandma was able to be there for my high school graduation, hopefully she’ll be there for my college graduation, and hopefully she’ll beat those 5 years so she can make it to my wedding.

Now, a year later, my grandma has lost over 15 pounds, goes hours without oxygen and walks around the house without a wheelchair or a walker. She makes me proud every day.

My grandma has taught me to be brave no matter what the situation is, and just to keep fighting. I’ve definitely grown a lot over this past year because every time I’m at my grandparents’ house, I help my grandpa with dinner, cleaning up the house and I help my grandma with whatever she needs me to do.

“Grandma hold me a little longer, rock me a little more, tell me another story (you’ve only told me four), let me sleep on your shoulder, I love your happy smile, I’ll always love you, Grandma, so stay with me for a while.”