A visit with Great Grandma McNally and her friends
// August 23rd, 2011 // Loux Family News
Our Michaela (on the left) has such an amazing heart of compassion. She has done her part to raise money for orphans, helped fund people’s adoptions through bake sales, making jewelry and selling her drawings. Her sister Sana (seen here on the right) was also a recipient of Michaela’s love. Michaela helped raised money for Sana’s airline ticket home and stood at the front of the welcome line at the airport beaming, as she welcomed her new sister into her arms!
Michaela’s compassion and love have also recently reached out to her great grandmother and her friends. When Grandma McNally started showing signs of Alzheimers, it broke Michaela’s heart. Grandma was once a vibrant school teacher with a sharp mind. When Michaela started seeing the toll this horrible disease was taking on her grandma, it was very hard for her to understand. She’d never personally interacted with someone who had Alzheimers and it was confusing for her to see the great change that had taken place in her grandma.
Grandma McNally spent many years living with my in-laws, John and Miriam (Grandma’s daughter) Loux. She was given such great care and love by Mom and Dad Loux and was and remains cherished in every way. Recently though, it became apparent that Grandma needed 24/7 care because she was becoming a danger to herself. The very hard decision was made to move her to an assisted living home. Grandma is very loved and visited often by family members. The home she is in is filled with great staff who do a wonderful job at showing compassion and care to their residents.
Recently Michaela decided that she wanted to be an official volunteer at the home where her great grandma is now living. She filled out the necessary paperwork and began helping the residents every Thursday. She gives them hand and head massages, paints their nails and takes her grandma on walks. She doesn’t ever want Grandma and the other residents to feel forgotten or alone. It matters so much for her to be a part of their lives.
Today, on the drive home from school, I had to give Michaela the sad news that one of her friends, Mr. Don, had passed away. Her eyes filled up with tears and she buried her head in her lap. She knows this is one of the hard realities she will have to face often with her new and precious friends at the home.
I took these photos (below) the last time Michaela and her newest volunteer recruit (sister Sana) went for a visit at the home. I love my daughter and the heart of compassion she has! I celebrate her, our precious Grandma McNally and her friends in this post!
Ready to get to work!
Michaela painting her great grandma's (Derek's grandma) nails
Beautiful!
Lovin on Ms. Maria
Listening to pretty music and giving Ms. Maria a head rub
Soaking Ms. Essie's hands
I love you sweet friend!
Taking Grandma on a walk
Getting ready to go to the lunchroom
Ms. Essie waited patiently for her turn to get beautified!
Talking with precious Mr. John
Getting some lovin from Grandma in the lunchroom
We love you Grandma! See you again soon!
14 Responses to “A visit with Great Grandma McNally and her friends”
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- A visit with Great Grandma McNally and her friends
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I LOVE it!!! What precious children you have!
I just loooove Mrs. McNally. I’m thrilled to know that she’s doing so well and is safe and cared for. Great for Michaela! She is a precious, precious girl. tell her to give her great grandma a big hug from “little” lisa. see if she remembers me.
Beautiful! Your daughters are just as beautiful on the inside as they are the outside. Sending love to all of you!
I’m sitting here crying…what precious daughters you have…they radiate Jesus!
Volunteering at a nursing home as a 10 year old was the start of a life of enjoying the elderly and a love of giving of my time. So nice to see girls that would rather spend time painting their grandma’s nails than surfing the net! You should be proud!
Melissa, I love it that you volunteered at a nursing home as a child! Can you imagine what our world would be like if more people took time to love, care and respect the elderly instead of mocking their age and acting as if they have nothing to offer? Yes, I am very proud of my girls! They are cherishing life in so many different ways and learning to give and not just take. Thank you for your comment!
This is amazing, Michaela! So wonderful that you would commit regularly to serving your grandmother and her friends. Thank you for showing us in a beautiful way how to live a life of love for Christ, for family, and for those who can be so easily forgotten. (And hugs for Grandma McNally!)
These beautiful girls have beautiful hearts full of love! They are able to share love with others, because they themselves are very loved!
Thanks Michaela for spending time with my mom and others in the home. I’m sure it makes them feel very special and loved. What a sweet spirit you have. Next time you’re there, give grandma a hug from me!
Love you sweetie!
[...] Renee gave birth to her first child two years later. Josiah was a beautiful boy born with a severe case of spina bifida. Renee and Derek had two and a half years with him before he passed away. Enduring the pain together, they found strength and comfort in God’s love. In 1997 they had a girl named Sophia, and three years later another daughter named Michaela. [...]
[...] Renee gave birth to her first child two years later. Josiah was a beautiful boy born with a severe case of spina bifida. Renee and Derek had two and a half years with him before he passed away. Enduring the pain together, they found strength and comfort in God’s love. In 1997 they had a girl named Sophia, and three years later another daughter named Michaela. [...]
[...] Renee gave birth to her first child two years later. Josiah was a beautiful boy born with a severe case of spina bifida. Renee and Derek had two and a half years with him before he passed away. Enduring the pain together, they found strength and comfort in God’s love. In 1997 they had a girl named Sophia, and three years later another daughter named Michaela. [...]
[...] Renee gave birth to her first child two years later. Josiah was a beautiful boy born with a severe case of spina bifida. Renee and Derek had two and a half years with him before he passed away. Enduring the pain together, they found strength and comfort in God’s love. In 1997 they had a girl named Sophia, and three years later another daughter named Michaela. [...]
[...] Renee gave birth to her first child two years later. Josiah was a beautiful boy born with a severe case of spina bifida. Renee and Derek had two and a half years with him before he passed away. Enduring the pain together, they found strength and comfort in God’s love. In 1997 they had a girl named Sophia, and three years later another daughter named Michaela. [...]