When the day came for me to enter the world, my mother was not able to care for me how she wanted to, resulting in her allowing Uncle George and his wife, my grandmother, "Aunt Hattie," to take on that role for her with no questions asked. Uncle George and Aunt Hattie never had any children of their own together, but did not mind one bit stepping in and helping in the raising of their nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. I grew up with those nieces and nephews and of course they called George and Hattie "aunt" and "uncle," which is how I caught on to referring to them as such. Though, when addressing them directly I called them "ma" and "pop." Did I tell you Aunt Hattie and Uncle George are not related to me biologically whatsoever?
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While Aunt Hattie would go to work he would stay home to watch my cousins and I. Growing up Uncle George had cows, hogs, and chickens that needed to be tended to everyday so he would take me with him to do all his work right by his side. I always knew Uncle George loved me like I was his own child. Those times my mother would come to pick me up and take me to her house, he would sit at our kitchen table and cry. Aunt Hattie would calm him by simply assuring him, "she 'll bring her back." Aunt Hattie and Uncle George also raised Kieanna while raising me; I call her my cousin (because that is what everyone around me called her). Uncle George always made sure everyone knew we were his girls. When I started third grade was when things began to change. Uncle George suffered a stroke in 2008 causing the right side of his body to become significantly weaker than the other. We had to get rid of all his animals as he was no longer able to tend to them efficiently. I can still remember as if it were an hour ago him being in that rehabilitation center where we knew nurses by first name basis. Uncle George 's health changed but never did his love for …show more content…
The doctors said the dialysis would be in violation of his DNR papers so they were not at liberty to do it. They also said his body was much too weak to withstand all the pressure on his body. Aunt Hattie requested they not give her their professional opinion about how much longer he had as we knew who the real judge of that would be. A week after that, on April 26, 2015 we made our way down to North Carolina to say goodbye I guess. When I saw him he was clearly asleep, breathing and everything, but would not wake up at all. I would tap him and move him, it was like he was in a coma. When I picked up his arm a bit, he cringed as if it hurt him so I just didn 't touch him anymore. I don 't remember even saying goodbye, just crying. We went back home to Virginia; I had school the next morning. Monday April 27, 2015 Uncle George made his Heavenly departure. The worst day of my life, at least I thought. Then I got to thinking how long Uncle George lived and everything he taught me. He lived a great, long life and I 'm lucky to have spent the time I did with him so I had to be at peace with his death. This story and his qualities are a representative of who I really am at my core. My biological father was never around and Uncle George had no problem taking in a two month old baby at 79 years old. I 'm living proof that you don 't have to be related to love someone like they 're
While Aunt Hattie would go to work he would stay home to watch my cousins and I. Growing up Uncle George had cows, hogs, and chickens that needed to be tended to everyday so he would take me with him to do all his work right by his side. I always knew Uncle George loved me like I was his own child. Those times my mother would come to pick me up and take me to her house, he would sit at our kitchen table and cry. Aunt Hattie would calm him by simply assuring him, "she 'll bring her back." Aunt Hattie and Uncle George also raised Kieanna while raising me; I call her my cousin (because that is what everyone around me called her). Uncle George always made sure everyone knew we were his girls. When I started third grade was when things began to change. Uncle George suffered a stroke in 2008 causing the right side of his body to become significantly weaker than the other. We had to get rid of all his animals as he was no longer able to tend to them efficiently. I can still remember as if it were an hour ago him being in that rehabilitation center where we knew nurses by first name basis. Uncle George 's health changed but never did his love for …show more content…
The doctors said the dialysis would be in violation of his DNR papers so they were not at liberty to do it. They also said his body was much too weak to withstand all the pressure on his body. Aunt Hattie requested they not give her their professional opinion about how much longer he had as we knew who the real judge of that would be. A week after that, on April 26, 2015 we made our way down to North Carolina to say goodbye I guess. When I saw him he was clearly asleep, breathing and everything, but would not wake up at all. I would tap him and move him, it was like he was in a coma. When I picked up his arm a bit, he cringed as if it hurt him so I just didn 't touch him anymore. I don 't remember even saying goodbye, just crying. We went back home to Virginia; I had school the next morning. Monday April 27, 2015 Uncle George made his Heavenly departure. The worst day of my life, at least I thought. Then I got to thinking how long Uncle George lived and everything he taught me. He lived a great, long life and I 'm lucky to have spent the time I did with him so I had to be at peace with his death. This story and his qualities are a representative of who I really am at my core. My biological father was never around and Uncle George had no problem taking in a two month old baby at 79 years old. I 'm living proof that you don 't have to be related to love someone like they 're