Care Comes First - Then We Grieve

My friend, Rita called today.  We haven't talked for a few weeks, so it was a long conversation.  Her first question to me is how my family is doing. 

Honestly, it's been a rough couple of weeks.

We had Kitty's birthday about two weeks ago and this week was a court appearance to settle insurance matters from the accident.  We're planning our bi-annual Memorial Day lunch at Ronald McDonald House and there is a memorial service to attend at Children's Hospital next weekend.  Topping it off ... Kitty's age progression photo arrived.

So when Rita told me that one of Mandy's grade school classmates recently lost his two-year-old daughter, I felt an unusually deep sadness.  It was another blow to an already dismal couple of weeks. 

My mind immediately went back three years to the PICU at Children's ... to the intense heartache ... to how I felt when Kitty was pronounced dead.  And I thought of these newly bereaved grandparents - people I know well enough to know that they are devastated.

I do not yet know what happened or why this little 2-year-old girl died.  Eventually, I'm sure I'll learn details.  What I do know right now is that these grandparents will take care of their children before they worry about themselves.  They will do everything they can to lighten some of their son and daughter-in-laws' burdens and lend a hand wherever and however they are able.  They will hold themselves together as long as need be.

After everyone else is cared for ... then they will grieve.