Reflections On A Life
Last night I found out that my Grandfather has inoperable lung cancer. Today a doctor plans to come by and talk to him about his options: chemotherapy or radiation. He has had a round of each within the last year. His hair has just grown back.
I don't know all the details of his life, but here is what I know. Rob was the oldest son in a poor rural family. He had to drop out of school and go to work at young age. Then he was drafted into the Air Force when the Korean War started. His plane was shot down. He was captured and was a prisoner of war. Rob was tortured. Medical experiments were performed on him and he became blind. In the midst of his fear and despair a Korean doctor cared for him and helped Rob regain his health. Soon afterwards he and another soldier escaped. After numerous operations Rob regained his sight.
Back in states he married and had a son. I don't know what happened, but the wife left and took their son. He tried to see him, but again I don't know the details. For the second time in his life he was filled with despair. He kept on working and living life from day to day. Something was missing. He didn't have a family and was alone. One night a friend convinced Rob to attend a dance. It had been a long time since he had been out and did anything social. He felt a little like the hopeful and young Rob. Another friend introduced him to Zoe. She was delicate and beautiful. They danced and talked and decided to have a cup of coffee afterwards.
Over coffee Rob discovered Zoe had hidden pain too. She had lost her job and her ex-husband had taken her two girls away from her. Zoe had recently found a new job and was saving up so she could get custody of her children again. Rob shared his story of losing his family. They keep talking and by the end of the night they knew they belonged together.
Rob and Zoe married. Rob worked overtime and helped Zoe get custody of her girls. The girls loved him at once. He never raised his voice like their Dad. A few years passed and Rob and Zoe had a son. More years passed, the girls left and had families of their own. Grandkids visited, were loved and spoiled.
Of course bad things happen to them. Their son died when he was 27. Zoe was never quite the same after that. Her health got worse and worse over the next 12 years. She had a heart attack and was on a respirator for 3 months. One of the most moving things I ever saw was Rob gently stroking Zoe's face in the hospital. She was unconscious, but before he stepped out of the room he told her, "I'll be right back" and gave her a kiss on the forehead. She died two weeks later with Rob, her daughters, and a granddaughter with her.
More in a bit...
I don't know all the details of his life, but here is what I know. Rob was the oldest son in a poor rural family. He had to drop out of school and go to work at young age. Then he was drafted into the Air Force when the Korean War started. His plane was shot down. He was captured and was a prisoner of war. Rob was tortured. Medical experiments were performed on him and he became blind. In the midst of his fear and despair a Korean doctor cared for him and helped Rob regain his health. Soon afterwards he and another soldier escaped. After numerous operations Rob regained his sight.
Back in states he married and had a son. I don't know what happened, but the wife left and took their son. He tried to see him, but again I don't know the details. For the second time in his life he was filled with despair. He kept on working and living life from day to day. Something was missing. He didn't have a family and was alone. One night a friend convinced Rob to attend a dance. It had been a long time since he had been out and did anything social. He felt a little like the hopeful and young Rob. Another friend introduced him to Zoe. She was delicate and beautiful. They danced and talked and decided to have a cup of coffee afterwards.
Over coffee Rob discovered Zoe had hidden pain too. She had lost her job and her ex-husband had taken her two girls away from her. Zoe had recently found a new job and was saving up so she could get custody of her children again. Rob shared his story of losing his family. They keep talking and by the end of the night they knew they belonged together.
Rob and Zoe married. Rob worked overtime and helped Zoe get custody of her girls. The girls loved him at once. He never raised his voice like their Dad. A few years passed and Rob and Zoe had a son. More years passed, the girls left and had families of their own. Grandkids visited, were loved and spoiled.
Of course bad things happen to them. Their son died when he was 27. Zoe was never quite the same after that. Her health got worse and worse over the next 12 years. She had a heart attack and was on a respirator for 3 months. One of the most moving things I ever saw was Rob gently stroking Zoe's face in the hospital. She was unconscious, but before he stepped out of the room he told her, "I'll be right back" and gave her a kiss on the forehead. She died two weeks later with Rob, her daughters, and a granddaughter with her.
More in a bit...
posted by library lizzy at 10:41 AM
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