Mum thought Grandad was holding on until the 30th, the anniversary of Nanny's death.
Personally I think he was simply an East End boy used to stubbornly holding on to what was his, and his strength gave out.

Wolf you have made a big difference in the lives of her and her family.
And all the kind things other posters have said.
Sorry it's turned out this way.

So sorry, wolf. I hope crazynurse is able to make it home...

Today we are meeting again with the hospice team, and should find out whether they have deemed crazynurse stable enough for transport home. They are doing one more dialysis this morning, so that she'll (hopefully) be clear enough when her granddaughters get her to have some good time with them. That was a cluster to begin with ... before crazynurse got really sick, her daughter moved to Saint Louis. When crazynurse's sister called her Wednesday night to say, this is it ... she's going on hospice, the daughter says ... well, I can't take the kids out of school early, and I'll leave (driving) on Saturday ...

Yeah. We don't expect her to make it that long, dumbass. Get your ass on a plane.

After a number of really angry phone calls and emails, the daughter has agreed to fly, and will be here this afternoon with the grandkids.

It's so sad. :(

I'm really sorry wolf, and ditto what the others have said about having you as a friend.

[/Off topic]

My mother-in-law went through something a bit like that.
My wife made drove from PDX to Montana with each crisis.
We finally got the "This time it's it" call, and she made the trip again.

When she got there, the hospital room was filled with family.
As Edy opened the door, her Mom woke up, looked around, and said:
"I'm so glad you could all come to visit me"

MIL lasted for several more weeks.

[/Back to OP]

Sorry to hear all this, Wolf.

We brought crazynurse home last night.

But we didn't have time to warn the neighborhood.

You see, in emergency services, there are ways to welcome people home.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6039/6...1971b7cc68.jpg
IMAG0131 by Storm Hawk Rising, on Flickr

The family knew this was going on.

The neighbors didn't. And crazynurse didn't.

Oh, and neither did the guys driving crazynurse's ambulance. As they come around the corner, all they see is flashing lights.

"Something's going on. I don't think that's your house ... Oh, it's your house ..."

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6042/6...1ed2a20286.jpg
IMAG0136 by Storm Hawk Rising, on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6231/6...8cafd67812.jpg
IMAG0137 by Storm Hawk Rising, on Flickr

This is how we do it.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6214/6...5986d7169b.jpg
IMAG0139 by Storm Hawk Rising, on Flickr

Special Thanks to Towamencin Fire Company and Lansdale Volunteer Medical Service Corps. When they left, they hit the sirens.

crazynurse was either a founding member of Lansdale VMSC or darn close to it. And definitely is a founding member of the Montgomery County Critical Incident Stress Management Team.

And an EMT and paramedic instructor. She has had shiny new EMTs come up to her and tell her that she taught their parents or grandparents.

Just wow.
That's a homecoming.

Are you in the pic, Wolf?
I don't think I've ever seen you before.

That was really nice of them. Most tributes are posthumous, she was able to enjoy her's. I think it may get the neighbors involved in the time she has left, too.

I am not in that photo, I'm taking it.

One of my friends took a picture of crazynurse and I in the hospital, I'll see if I can get it from him.

Wow! That's awesome.

Was she alert enough to appreciate what was going on?

That is touching, amazing. It hits me right in the heart.

Warm thoughts to all of you...just wow!

Well done.

Crazynurse was alert and aware during her homecoming, as well as throughout today, much of which was spent holding court for a number of visitors, Including several folks from the nuthouse I havent seen since that fateful day in April. Not sure how many "good" days we have left. Tonight we watched Dances with Wolves, which is one of her favorites.

I also spent time entertaining her seven year old granddaughter. We made a yarn doll, a God's Eye, and did some finger-knitting.

I have to get some sleep, its my turn to cook tomorrow .... Beast Stew and Drunken Dragon Dogs.