My Grandpa was the most amazing person I've ever known, and today 13+ years later my breath still catches when I think of him. There's an entire town who could back me up when I say that he was a true hero. He was known by many because of his kind heart. He would do anything for anyone. He never drank or even smoked a cigarette in his life. Which makes his sickness even more heartbreaking! If there ever was a Saint amongst men Rodney James Eastman was him. He didn't even curse! We weren't allowed to say "fart" around him he was that serious! Although, my brother Jeff earned the title Methane from a very young age.... fart was out of the question.
What I remember about my Grandpa most was how he was always there. He had an excavation business as well as cattle he raised for beef. Two successful businesses he started all on his own, and he still came to every volleyball, basketball, softball, and cheerleading game I had. He was always taking us to Lake Roosevelt or Pend 'Oreille to go out on the boat. He was always there making memories with us. I remember bottle feeding calves, picking up strings, and riding in the backhoe. I could go on and on about how he impacted my life, but I think you get the picture.
My Grandma is a nurse. She is also known to a whole town, and many more as a hero. She's helped many people get better. She also helped my Grandpa when he was sick. When I was 17 years old, I participated in a pageant to represent our home town. Although, they had just gotten horrible news, they waited to tell us until after my big night. The next day, however, we learned that my Grandfather had pancreatic, lung, and liver cancer. It was advanced and he didn't have long. He didn't! 3 months to that day my Grandfather passed away at home thanks to my Grandma, mom, and Hospice. This changed me in a way spiritually I'm sure some of you can understand. To say I was angry was an understatement. I still do not understand.
Fast forward 13+ years, and I'm sitting in a Starbucks happy as a clam, because I am kid free! Woohoo! My mom calls me to burst my happy bubble, and tell my that my Grandma is sick, and she has pancreatic cancer. I can honestly tell you that in that moment, my Grandpa flashed through my mind; with the memories of how short his time was, and how sick he got before the end. I was scared, I still am!
Chris was gone, and it was Jaisalyn's 3rd birthday, I had been planning for months. Chris made it by the hair on his chinny chin chin, and we celebrated. As soon as that was over however, I was on a plane with Jaisalyn and our current foster baby to Washington to be with my family.
I wish I could tell you why I sat down to get this off my chest, but I'm not entirely sure. My emotions have been all over the place since we had to come back to NC for the baby. I'm still terrified something is going to go wrong. She needs all the help and prayers she can get, and unfortunately I can only offer prayers way over here. She's a fighter, she will get through this, as will I, and our entire family. We are a family bred from True Heroes
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