Author: Lai Jiayu 賴家榆
A few months ago, my grandpa suddenly suffered a stroke and was admitted to the hospital.
Every year, returning happily to our old home in Miaoli to reunite with the family during the Dragon Boat Festival is my grandpa’s fixed routine. The day after we returned, my mother immediately noticed something unusual about Grandpa’s facial expression, but Grandpa did not take it seriously. That evening, he began to feel unwell and asked my uncle to take him to the emergency department. He was quickly diagnosed with a stroke, and his physical condition suddenly plunged. One side of his body became completely immobile. Before this incident, Grandpa had always been, in my eyes, an extremely disciplined person with very high self-expectations. He always placed health as his top priority, which is why even at eighty years old, he maintained very good physical condition. After the stroke, he cried on his hospital bed because he was afraid that this would be his life from then on; afraid of becoming a burden to others, afraid that he would no longer be able to do anything.
Because of this, he actively participated in rehabilitation and treatment. While lying in bed, he practiced using a grip-strength ball, practiced kicking and lifting his legs, and later began getting out of bed, using his extra time to practice walking. Gradually, he recovered more and more, eventually returning close to his former state.
Through this incident, I deeply felt how resilient life can be. Although Grandpa often talks about death in a calm and simple way, it does not mean that he does not cherish his own life. Rather, he is only afraid of troubling his family. Even so, he created what felt like a miracle. The Grandpa he is now is just the same as before he fell ill, still the person who holds himself to very high standards, using the way he loves himself to prove his consideration and love for his family.
Because of this experience, I also witnessed the cooperation and cohesion among family members. In recent years, due to some issues, the relationship between my uncle and my mother had not been very good. However, for Grandpa’s sake, we all worked together to provide resources, make time to accompany him, and, in the process, clear up some misunderstandings. As I grew older, it felt as though I had never truly spent a long period accompanying Grandpa alone. Taking this opportunity to be with him, eating together, playing Chinese chess in the hospital, and doing Sudoku, became a special time that made me value companionship even more. I hope Grandpa remains healthy.
Photo caption:
Playing Chinese chess and doing rehabilitation exercises with Grandpa.
幾個月前，我的阿公突然中風進了醫院。
端午節開開心心的回到苗栗老家和家人們相聚是阿公每一年的固定行程，隔一
天我媽媽馬上發現阿公臉部表情的異樣，但阿公不以為意．當晚他就覺得自己
有些不適，請叔叔送他去急診．很快的確診是中風，身體狀況也突然跌入谷
底，有一邊徹底的無法動了．在那之前，阿公在我心裡一直是一個非常自律、
自我要求很高的人，凡是將健康擺在第一順位，所以80歲的他也保持很好的體
態．在這次的事情發生後，他在病床上流了眼淚，因為他擔心自己以後就只能
是這樣了，擔心自己會麻煩到別人、擔心自己什麼事都不能做．所以他積極參
與復健與治療，在床上也練習使用握力球、練習踢腿、抬腿，再來就開始下
床、利用自己額外的時間練習走路，漸漸地恢復原樣．
這次的事情我也感受到生命力如此堅韌，雖然阿公總是把死亡說的很平常簡
單，但他並不是不愛自己的生病，只怕麻煩到家人，但他也創造出奇蹟，現在
的他就跟生病前的他一模一樣，仍是那個對自己自我要求高的人，用愛自己的
方式來證明對家人的貼心．
也因為這次事件，我看到家人之間的互相合作與凝聚力，近幾年因為一些事
情，叔叔和媽媽的關係不太好，但我們都為了阿公一起提供一些資源、騰出時
間好好陪伴阿公，也一併把一些誤會解開．我長大後，好像從來沒有一個人陪
伴阿公一段時間，趁這個機會好好陪伴阿公，跟阿公一起吃飯、在醫院裡下象
棋、玩數獨等等，是一個特別的時光，也讓我更重視陪伴．希望阿公健健康
康．
Ø 和阿公下象棋、復健．