I’ve taken a short hiatus from my blog because my grandpa passed away last Friday. He had a lung infection a week ago and he couldn’t breathe and was sent to the ER. My aunt called my dad to tell him that this could be the last time he can see my grandpa, so he bought a plane ticket to Beijing.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to come. When my dad arrived in Beijing he called me to say that grandpa was in stable condition and it wasn’t necessary for me to be there unless his condition worsened. Then a few days later his heart stopped suddenly. The lung infection had weakened his heart and the doctors tried their best to save him by injecting ten adrenaline shots. Normally only one or two doses are used.
We’ve had an emergency with my grandpa a year ago because he developed Alzheimer’s and started acting violently to the point where my aunt could no longer care for him.
The decline in his health was a combination of depression, complications from diabetes, and not taking care of himself. This caused him to become bedridden for three years.
I’m so heartbroken because I wished I could’ve spent more time with him when he was in good health. The last time I saw him in person was eight years ago.
I think it’s best to focus more on the positives and try not to cry for too long. I’m just glad he doesn’t have to suffer anymore and that he’s now in heaven.
Grandpa was a kind and generous man despite being abused and forced to run away from his dad, my great grandpa. He couldn’t bear to see people suffer especially those he knew personally.
Grandpa saw how his neighbors, classmates, and friends were much poorer than him. He was a man of action and did something about their suffering. So he stole money and food from his dad and gave it to his community.
My grandpa came from a rich, land-owning family but his dad was very miserly and liked to take out his rage on my grandpa.
Eventually, he was forced to run away because his dad tried to murder him (I’ll explain more in another post). After fleeing from home, he joined the People’s Liberation Army at the age of sixteen and was part of China’s first armed vehicle regiment, in their tank fleet. The photo above was taken a year after he joined.
My grandpa never joined the communist party because he came from a land-owning family and they refused to trust him. He was probably better off without them because he would’ve been forced to participate in corruption.
He was too kind-hearted for them anyway. I miss him so much and I wanted to see him for one last time but I’m reminded that he will be waiting for me in heaven.
This life will only feel like a blink of an eye compared to the eternity I get to spend with grandpa and the Lord. It’ll still hurt knowing he’s gone but I’ll just have to be patient until we meet again.
我爱你爷爷。I love you, grandpa.
Rest in peace you’re home now.
August 3, 1930 – December 20, 2018