Goodbye Grandpa

My grandfather passed away on April 8, 2006 at 11:20pm just hours after I saw him for the last time in the hospital. Although it was sad to see him go, I would say that most of the time I feel really glad that he lived a full life, had people at the end to be with him and take care of his business. Most of all, I feel grateful to him because I truly believe that he hung on at the end because he knew I would come from the US to see him. It was a small miracle that after deciding to leave last Monday, I was able to arrange and get a visa, book a flight and be in Shanghai within 5 days in time to see my grandfather for the last time.

Yeh Yeh Zai Jian! We will all miss you.

Going to Shanghai

Bad news, grandpa is in a coma, I am going to Shanghai

My sick grandfather

Last week, my grandfather got quite sick and we thought we were going to lose him. He appears stable now but apparently his lungs, heart and kidneys are failing and the transition back to home care is going to be tough. So here I am, thousands of miles away from him, with little or no knowledge of practical medicine feeling helpless. I have been thinking about taking a week off from med school to go visit him but keep going around in indecisive circles.

First, my dad is over there, there is little to nothing I can do for my gramps besides giving him moral support if I go. Going for 1 week is not going to magically cure him.

Second, he would not want me to miss a week of med school to see him if he is okay and being a week behind may put additional pressure on me this term.

Third, I am going to China in June anyway, perhaps that is a better time I could go to visit him.

I have wavered back and forth, but I am now leaning toward not going, staying here and focusing on my studies.

But I have been back and forth about it all day.