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My Grandfather, Matt
Dec. 6th, 2011 10:07 amThis morning, my step-grandfather, my grandmother's beloved husband for four years and dearest friend for twenty more, died of a cerebral hemorrhage caused by falling onto a tile floor. Just recently, he fought off a benzodiazepine addiction, and was staying with his children for the holidays in Florida when he took a sleeping pill and woke up in the middle of the night for a drink of water.
Though he went into the hospital conscious, the Plavix in his blood prevented his body from being able to stop the bleeding, and prevented the doctors from being able to operate to relieve the swelling and save his life. Unlike other anti-coagulants which can be reversed in an emergency, Plavix cannot. The doctors were able to do nothing to save his life. If you are on Plavix, please, please, please talk to your doctors about this risk and ask if you should consider switching to other medication.
Matt grew up in New York City to German immigrant parents in the 1930s. He learned to box and joined the merchant marine, owned a restaurant and a marina, loved both his first wife and my grandmother for as long as he was able to have them, had three children and many grandchildren and step-grandchildren. He nursed his first wife through the lung cancer that eventually took her life, and is one of the best people I have ever known.
He and my grandmother met when my grandmother moved into his neighborhood and became good friends. My grandmother helped him get through his first wife's sickness and death and was a dear friend to both. After his first wife's death, friendship turned to love, and they were married. I have never seen my grandmother so happy.
My father's father died before I was born, and my mother's father and I have not been close for a long time. Matt was my grandfather and my whole family misses him terribly. Due to severe winter storms, my grandmother couldn't even fly out to be with him when he died.
Just this Thanksgiving, he carved the turkey and stole bits of food while we cooked. Since the beginning of September, my cockatiel Nero, my mom's dog Liam, and my step-grandfather have all died sudden and surprising deaths. This is the most stunning of all. He had just fought his way out of a horrible addiction and was healthier than he had been in years. It doesn't seem fair. He was eighty-one years old.
RIP Matthew, 1930-2011
Though he went into the hospital conscious, the Plavix in his blood prevented his body from being able to stop the bleeding, and prevented the doctors from being able to operate to relieve the swelling and save his life. Unlike other anti-coagulants which can be reversed in an emergency, Plavix cannot. The doctors were able to do nothing to save his life. If you are on Plavix, please, please, please talk to your doctors about this risk and ask if you should consider switching to other medication.
Matt grew up in New York City to German immigrant parents in the 1930s. He learned to box and joined the merchant marine, owned a restaurant and a marina, loved both his first wife and my grandmother for as long as he was able to have them, had three children and many grandchildren and step-grandchildren. He nursed his first wife through the lung cancer that eventually took her life, and is one of the best people I have ever known.
He and my grandmother met when my grandmother moved into his neighborhood and became good friends. My grandmother helped him get through his first wife's sickness and death and was a dear friend to both. After his first wife's death, friendship turned to love, and they were married. I have never seen my grandmother so happy.
My father's father died before I was born, and my mother's father and I have not been close for a long time. Matt was my grandfather and my whole family misses him terribly. Due to severe winter storms, my grandmother couldn't even fly out to be with him when he died.
Just this Thanksgiving, he carved the turkey and stole bits of food while we cooked. Since the beginning of September, my cockatiel Nero, my mom's dog Liam, and my step-grandfather have all died sudden and surprising deaths. This is the most stunning of all. He had just fought his way out of a horrible addiction and was healthier than he had been in years. It doesn't seem fair. He was eighty-one years old.
RIP Matthew, 1930-2011
