personal essay

Throughout my whole life, my grandparents have lived with us. Through every move we made, every trial we went through, they were always there. My grandmother, who was named Amelia, was like my second mother. She helped me through so many things and always gave me advice. Little did we know, our family was up for a rude awakening when my grandmas health took a turn for the worse. My life soon was about to change.

Growing up, our families were always very close. Family gatherings were always thrown, and everyone was in everyone’s business, typical Italians. Out of a huge family, mine were the lucky ones to have my grandma and grandpa live with us. We lived in Randolph for a while of my life, until we decided to move to a small, boring, quiet town called Berkley. Berkley is where me and my grandmother seemed to become closer. We were more then relatives, we were friends. She was my go to person. I had a question, I knew where I could find the answers, if I was grounded, she was the one I would beg to take me out. A close bond was made between us.

Every year my grandpa would drag my grandma to Florida at the end of December to run from the cold, and every year she left, it felt like I was losing a friend. Even though they left for months, they always returned home in April just in time for our family Easter celebration, although this year was different. Once my grandparents returned, something was wrong. My grandma did not feel right. We soon discovered she was diagnosed with lung cancer. It ripped the family apart. Everyone knew there was about to be a drastic change. This disease was un curable, even though I constantly hoped for some sort of miracle.

My grandma refused to tell people she was dieing. Her held was always held high with proud, she refused to tell herself the disease was going to take over her. I will never forget the day my mother shaved all my grandma’s hair off. I am sure she was devastated on the inside, but her bravery was outstanding, there was no sine of fear. She wanted to stay strong for her seven children, and 16 grandchildren. But we all knew the truth. Weeks turned into months, and my grandma was going down hill. Her smile began to fade, here eyes lost their sparkle, she was growing weak. Our family decided to put their money together and keep my sick grandma at home and hire a nurse. It felt like I was slowly losing a friend. My grandmother and I spoke a lot. We chatted about everything: life, religion, boys, and after life. As months passed I seen her growing worse, more sick. It felt like I was losing my best friend. I refused to tell myself she was going to die, but I was proven wrong. Two years of fighting for her life, my grandma, my best friend, my second mother, passed away. She died in peace, in her own bed surrounded by family holding her tight. I lost a part of me when she died, and so did many of out family members.

My Grandma will always be in my heart. She left a piece of herself when she left this earth. Her traditions will go on forever, and her un selfish love will still roam in our hearts forever. Her love was kind, and never selfish, and I will always remember her!