Pop-Pop

Well, I haven't been on here in a while--things have been really out of whack this past month.  At the beginning of July, my grandfather, whom we affectionately call Pop-Pop, got sick.  He was admitted to the hospital with low blood sugar on July 3, and things just went downhill from there.  The next week he had a scan done which showed "masses" all over his body.  The biopsy came back that these masses were lymphoma.  The doctor thought it was treatable BUT the treatment would have been very difficult and by that point, Pop-Pop wasn't really eating and was very, very weak.  He was transferred to a nursing home for rest and physical therapy, with the goal of getting him strong enough to try the chemo/radiation.  Unfortunately, after a week there, he became unresponsive and was taken back to the ER on July 24th.  He passed away at 12:12 am, July 25th.

Mom noticed some interesting numbers: Pop-Pop was born in (19)22.  He died in (20)11 at 12:12.  He was 88.

We are all deeply saddened by his loss but I personally am also glad that he did not go through the chemo only to die anyway.  I am so grateful that he moved to Florida all those years ago and I got to spend lots of time with him.  And it was so wonderful to meet his many, many friends and neighbors who all had nothing but good things to say about him.  Although it was difficult, I feel blessed that I was able to attend his funeral services both locally and in New York and see him laid to rest.  What an honor it was to have such a wonderful grandfather.

The Orlando Sentinel did a beautiful piece on Pop-Pop after he passed: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-obit-lou-figliuolo-20110728,0,7183646.story

You may also read and sign his guestbook here: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/news-journalonline/guestbook.aspx?n=louis-figliuolo&pid=152772636&cid=gbsrchres