My 86 year old grandfather underwent a larynectomy for throat cancer last week. The surgery lasted over 12 hours; incisions were made from his ears and down his neck to the top of his shoulders on both sides. In addition, they took skin grafts on both his right forearm and leg. I knew the extent of

For the first time, death became a part of my reality. It was no longer picturing the world without the person. Death adn all it brings. The days that lead up to death; the burden of having to rely on someone to help you eat, seeing your loved bruised, swollen with stitches and staples covering their body. The actual moment of death. The grieving process after when you realized that the person was really gone. The empty seat on Thanksgiving. Its too hard.