Dear Big Grandma...

I got a text message last night at midnight that my mother was taking my grandmother to the hospital. She is 79 and pretty much just affected with old age issues. Every once in a while her body gets out of whack and sends her to the ER. Well they admitted her and she is having some major issues with the kidneys. They did one round of dialysis today and we will know more tomorrow.

My sister and mom have been with her and they don't think she looks good at all. They will consider it a miracle if she makes it home. She will likely need dialysis 3 days a week after this.

Well, my kids really love going to visit Grandma Susan and Big Grandma (my grandma). My sisters kids started calling her this way back when they were little and it stuck. So I explained to Alex today that she was sick and in the hospital. He looked a little sad, and asked if she would get better. Recently his teacher was in the hospital and came out just fine so he has been talking about this in school and at home. I tried to tell him that even though the doctors are going to do their best to make her better, she is old and sometimes old bodies just can't get better. We left it at that. I asked him to write her a letter (get well card). I asked him to mention how much he likes going there to see her and why.
After he did his part we asked Jeffrey what he would want to say to Big Grandma, and he said clear as day "Dear Grandma, I hope you feel better". Then Alex coaxed him into the next few sentences. But at the end Jeffrey spelled his name for Alex to write it. Alex is only 6 1/2 and in first grade and Jeff is only 3. Not the neatest penmanship, but he spelled all the words all by himself.

Here is a copy of the letter. (click on it for a larger image)