Grandpa Mel

I don't really know where to start on this post, but I know I have to start somewhere.

We lost our dear Grandpa (or Pappa) Mel, John's Dad, to cancer on July 8, 2012.

We had found out he had stomach cancer on March 12, 2012. It was the week I had to go back to work after having Sadie.  We thought it was hard, getting the news that he was full of cancer.

But the Doctors said he could try some Chemo, and that's what Mel did. He fought the cancer.  He took the first few rounds like a champ, barely getting sick. He even made it to one of Julie's t-ball games. But then, he got sicker, and sicker.

The last round of Chemo was cancelled because he was just too sick.

Then he had a scan and it confirmed our fears. The cancer was spreading.  After that, time flew.

The last 4 days of his life, John and I lived down in Shell Beach. Colleen, Bess and Matt, Wes and Shelly and Chris were all there. And Elliot, Andie and Veda. And two of the days, Julie, Andy and Sadie.

He took his last breath with all of us (minus the kids) surrounding him, telling him how much we love him.  We thought it was hard finding out he had cancer, but that was nothing compared to loosing him to cancer.

Now it is our job to relay the stories, the memories, the happy times we had with Mel, so that his grandchildren can remember, know him. So they will know what a great man he was and how much he loved them.