R.I.P. Grandpa

What you are about to read is not fiction.

My grandfather passed away today (June 30) evening at 7:20 pm. I was there to watch his last breaths until his lungs filled with water. My grandfather was diagnosed with cancer in the pancreas on August 2009, he passed away 11 months later. From a cancer that kills most people under a year, usually sooner then 11 months, but my grandfather was strong.

My grandfather now has 41 grandchildren (the youngest being a year old and the oldest being 28), 11 kids, and a wife that love him dearly and will sorely miss him. My grandfather has lived an amazing life serving Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. He has lived through the KGB, being put in jail for his belief and more.

Aleksey Neverov lived a fullfilling life and I am grateful. He's the best grandfather anyone could ask for, even on his deathbed he was cracking jokes and trying to make everyone laugh.

He lost his ability of speech 3 days before his death, and then after he would only look at you.

The day I came to visit him he was already having a hard time to breathe, every breath was harder and harder for him. With each breath, a gurgle went after. His lungs filled up slowly until his last breath. When I whispered into his ear, telling him I loved him and that I would see him soon myself in heaven, he wouldn't move he would just have a trouble breathing, he would try to squeeze my hand but it was really really lightly. When he would open his eyes to look at something, which was rare, it seemed like he wasn't looking at you but past you as if you were a clear window. We sung to my grandfather knowing he loved it when we sang, he would have his eyes half-closed and when we were done, his eyes blinked tears. And they ran down his cheeks and he tried to speak but he couldn't.

I remember when my Grandma, Mom, Aunt, and cousin sat there talking to my Grandfather. His breath seemed to slow and his fever rised. He would take a breath and would pause for 5 seconds until he he finally took another one.

This continued for 5 minutes until he finally didn't take a breath, we thought he would but his heart stopped and when my Grandmother heard this she cried out "He died?" and started calling his name, talking to him and yelling his name, lay right next to him and cried.

I don't think I ever cried so hard, my aunts and cousin burst out and tears and held his limp hands and kissing them. Praising our God above that he finally took him and let him not feel pain anymore.

We immediatly called the rest of the family, and everyone rushed over. I didn't know it was my Uncles birthday at the time. I was sad when I found out, my Uncle must have been devastated. And the day we are having the funeral is going to be another Uncles birthday.

All of my family members came, and cried in sorrow and joy. That he is finally in no more pain. All ages came around the bed and cried, praying to God.

My Grandmother has never looked so depressed in her whole life, she kept repeating that he would never sing or laugh or cry ever again.

I tried to be strong for everyone, I held my Grandmother trying to comfort her and my dear cousins. But I felt helpless, I couldn't help anyone.

I now see life differently. Life can be taken any time or day, whatever age, in any way. You just have to live it the fullest. R.I.P Grandpa I love you so much and will miss you very very very much.