Grandma's Lottery

I've won the lottery. No, I'm not kidding. Ever since my Grandpa passed, my Grandma took it upon herself to buy lottery tickets on a weekly basis.  She told me a couple of times what her goals were for winning.  She wanted to win so she could buy me a cochlear implant, contribute to the great-grand kids' college fund, and provide an income to those of us in need. She had no intention to keep the millions if she ever won.  She even said that she'd give it charity.

Way before I even decided I was going to get a cochlear implant, I'd always ask her why did she get lottery? I basically saw no point in spending five bucks that you'd never see again and on a weekly basis, therefore investing a lot of money on lottery with odds of slim to none in hopes of winning money. She'd always be nonchalant and state she was doing it for me so I could hear better. It was her hope. I'd laugh at her and say like that'll happen. I never wanted a cochlear. But she did. She had always wanted it for me. She prayed about it. It was her wish that I would get one.

When that Sunday came and I knew I had to get the implant, I face timed with my mom and grandma happened to be there, I told her that I had decided to get the implant. She threw her head back and said "Thank God!" and tears were shed. She said it was about time that I decided.  That's when it hit me in realization that she had wanted it for so long. She said she had faith in me and never gave up hoping that one day, I would make the choice.

Grandma was so excited about me getting the implant that I was the talk of the community. She wanted to introduce me to her friend who also had the implant. She took it upon herself to gather information about it. She was so thrilled to be with me through each step of the process.

When the time got closer to my surgery, Grandma became sick and went into the hospital. She was in an introduced coma. Many times I had wondered if I should have stalled the surgery so my mom and I could be with her. But we stayed committed to it because it is what she always wanted for me.

Throughout the whole surgery ordeal, I had confidence everything was going to be okay.  No benefit of doubt, no skeptics, no freaking out.  I felt I had God and my grandparents with me by my side.  I knew it was going to be easy and simple.

After my surgery, my Grandma got worse.  She woke up for a little bit and was conscious of everything going on.  When asking about the family, she was told that my mom and I were in Houston and I just had surgery which went well.  She prayed and praised God.  She knew everything was going to be okay.

Grandma passed about a week after my surgery.  IT broke my heart that she wouldn't be around for me to hear her for the first time with the implant.  I knew in a way she was with me when I got hooked up with the implant.

I realized that I had won the lottery.  I won with having so much faith and hope and love.  It was Grandma (and Grandpa) that I felt was with me throughout the whole thing.  The one person who wanted it so much for me more than myself, never lost faith nor hope. I believe it is what made the whole life changing surgery flow so smoothly.  I felt I was so rich in faith and hope because of her.  This is my gift to her and I am honored to do what her last wish was.  I love you Grandma.  I miss you!