Farewell and Aloha to Bupa....We Will Miss you

On Saturday, Bupa (my Grandpa) passed away. Although he had his ups and downs over the last year, things seemed to have been going up for him. He was stronger, his appetite was better, he was going through physical therapy, he gained 7 pounds and was even put on a diet because he was gaining weight. Bupa's mind was still very good, he was pretty alert and aware of his surroundings.

His passing was a quick one and without too much pain, aside from the back pain he was experiencing. In a matter of minutes, his blood pressure went from a very high, 180/80 to a very low 90/60. His breathing became very spaced out to just one breath every 3 seconds, and then he just slipped away...

It was a total shock to us. I truly felt like he was going to be one of those people that would live to 105! His will to live was amazing. Even with a bad heart, it was really a miracle that he was here for so long! The doctors would say that all of the time.

A couple of weeks ago, we planned to visit him at the nursing home. However, that day we were almost going to put it off until the "next time". Jayden was actually the one who was insistent on going to see Bupa. He was in tears and wanted desperately to go. My Dad had offered to take Jayden but he yelled,"NO! I want Mommy, Daddy, Joshie, and Ami(my Mom) to go!" He wouldn't let up. So, we all agreed and headed out to visit Bupa. It was a beautiful day that day, sunny but not too hot. We all sat outside as we always do. There is a little basketball hoop outside of the nursing home and Joshie and Jayden would always bring a ball so they can shoot around in front of Bupa. Bupa always got a kick out of seeing the boys. Joshie and Jayden were shooting from far and making all of their shots. Bupa would just laugh and comment on how good they were. He would say, "Boy, you sure are good basketball players" and, "you never miss!" Bupa seemed to always light up when he saw the boys.

I'm so glad we visited him that day and I'm so happy Jayden was so persistent with us. We have that memory as our last time with him and it was a happy moment. Thanks to Jayden we will always have that!

I'm still in shock that Bupa is gone! He was one of a kind and the one and only Bupa that there will ever be! We will miss him dearly.

I ask that you please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, especially for my Dad who spent time with Bupa each and every single day that he was living at the nursing home! Thank you.

Our love and aloha to Bupa who is now in a "better place" and reunited with Grandma!