Passing of Grandpa Strong Feb 24th

Sunday morning on February 24th I received a phone call from Scott that grandpa Strong was in the hospital and not expected to survive. I finished getting myself and the kids ready. After Scott's meeting he headed home to get us. We made the drive to Mesa and hoped we would be able to make it to the hospital to say goodbye. We dropped Kyle off at my sisters. The girls stayed in the ICU waiting room and Scott and I headed back to the room. Amy and Mathew were there. Scott and I each were able to whisper and talk to him privately. We talked with the staff and were allowed to bring the kids back for them to say goodbye. He had an oxygen mask on, but looked like he was sleeping so I knew the girls would be fine seeing him. I wanted them to have some closer. After we took the girls back to the waiting room Aunt Karen and Uncle Collin came. They told us that yesterday (Saturday) afternoon they had take grandpa for a haircut and grandma got her nails done. They grandma and grandpa back to the assisted living home so they could eat dinner. A few hours they got a call from grandpa that he didn't feel good. They rushed over and ended up calling 911 and taking him to the hospital. After tests and scans they found out he had a heart attack and ___ of his heart was not working anymore. By this time Uncle Mike had arrived so Mike, Karen and Collin explained everything to grandpa and he said he was ready and not to do anything else. They gave him a blessing and sang with him. After that they sedated him because of the pain and gave him oxygen. The oxygen was actually what was keeping him alive. They wanted to give family time to arrive to say goodbye and then they would remove the oxygen. At this point we took the girls to the Bunkers for lunch and Melanie watched them while we headed back to the hospital. We were able to spend the afternoon with Scott's family that were in town and able to come. The hospital provided food for the family but Scott and I had already eaten so we stayed with grandpa by ourselves. This gave me a few more minutes to thank him for everything he had done for our family. I also called Scott's mom, Pat, and put the phone to grandpa ear so she could say her goodbye. She would never be able to fly from Georgia and get here in time. At 2:45PM they took the oxygen off of grandpa and Amy and I each held his hand. He passed peacefully surrounded by his family at 3:45PM. Neither Amy or I wanted to let go, so has family told different memories of grandpa we continued to hold his hand. I am thankful we were able to be there for his passing.

For privacy no picture included but I have a sweet one of Amy and I holding his hand with family surrounding him.