My Inspirational Angel

Alexis Scott

Mrs. Pollema

One person who really helped me through a to become stronger in my faith was my grandpa, Jim. He was a very strong Christian man who never missed a church service. He read the Bible to me when I would go to his house and would show love to all the people around him. He was never thinking about himself. He was the sort of man you always wanted to be around.

When my parents got divorced, I was only five. They thought I had no idea what was going on, but they were wrong; I did. My mom, sister and I moved up to Minnesota from Florida and stayed with my grandparents. My grandpa could tell something was wrong. He prayed with me and told me everything would be just fine. He explained that my parents did this to make things better for my sister and me. He could always tell when something was wrong and when he saw it in my face every single time he would ask, " What's going on in your tiny mind?" I never really knew how to answer him. He had that talent of knowing something wasn't right with me. When I got older we would just drive around and talk.

In the summer of 2009 my grandpa was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The doctors told him that he needed to go and treat it as soon as possible because it was just beginning. The doctor gave him a list of places he could be treated, and he picked Texas. My cousins live in Texas so they could visit them frequently. My grandparents left at the beginning of summer and didn't come back for about five months. I had so much to talk to my grandpa about! I couldn't wait for them to come home. The doctors told them they could leave and that they would call them with the test results when they were in. A few weeks later the results were in and everything was cleared up. God is a miracle worker! I never thought he would get sick again! He was such a strong man, but then it happened once again.

ऀIn the fall of 2010 the doctors found two tumors on his brain and he was diagnosed with brain cancer. He was so strong through it all. He got mad when people cried for him he always said he was going to be fine. The doctors told him that chemo would be the best choice. It was for a little while. He was about a few months into it and he got ammonia. He only had one kidney and his other one was failing. Three days on dialysis cleaning out his kidney, God works his mighty powers once again! My grandpa, Jim, was back to his normal self but he had to stay at the hospital. He got to come home for Christmas. He came home and about a week later he started acting weird again. I don't think God made up his mind. "Did he want him or not?."

My grandma brought him in and had a scan done. The back of his head was swollen from the tumors, and they are making him confused. He was brought to the cities and the doctors said he isn't strong enough to do chemo again. His last option is radiation, and that's what he chose. They were allowed to do the procedure down here in Willmar. He went everyday for 3 weeks. The radiation made him loose his hair but it helps him. They have an appointment set and I told my mom "I know it’s going to be okay.” My mom smiled at me, and that night after I was done with school I got a phone call, it was my mom and she told me all the news. His cancer was gone and the tumors shrunk. I was so happy!

ऀMy grandpa was doing very well from the beginning of school to the middle of September. He had even come to some of my volleyball games. On September 27, he got really sick again. He had no other options so my grandma, mom, aunt and uncles decided to put him on hospice. The hospice nurses brought in a hospital bed for him, and that's where he spent most of his time. I hoped God would be there and make him better like he always did, but he didn’t. My grandpa was just getting worse. I was angry with God, but I knew I shouldn't be. I should be glad that God is ready for him. I was being a selfish person. My grandpa became unresponsive in four days, and on October 5 at 4:23 p.m. he took his last breaths. He had such a fight. He was the strongest man I know. I know my grandpa, Jim, went to Heaven.

He was so strong and brave he makes me think twice, especially when I think I have it hard. He is my role model. It doesn’t even seem real that he is gone. I know he is in a better place and I WILL see him again. My Grandpa inspired me so much. I will never ever forget him.

I had a hard time trying to get through this, but once I think about seeing him out of pain and no suffering, I smile and think" Wow, I wish I was him!” I was so lucky to have him for as long as I did. I had so many memories with him that I will never forget. Without him, I wouldn't be here. I know he is watching me and helping me go down the right roads, keeping me from making some of the mistakes he made and making me a better person. I was very close to him and I will never forget anything he did for me: He brought me closer to God, helped me to rely on Him more than myself, and made me a better person. I am so thankful to have had such a wonderful Grandpa. I love him with all of my heart and I can't wait to see him again!

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