My beloved grandmother, Rosie, bravely fought and defeated cancer, but I was disheartened when no one else in our family joined in celebrating her victory. Determined to teach my family a lesson, I set out to show them the importance of being there for the ones we love.
Hi everyone, I have something on my mind that I need to share. My grandma, Rosie, is an absolute gem. I’ve always adored her sweet songs, delicious pies, and plum cakes. Every weekend, we’d visit my grandpa’s grave, and she’d pick flowers from the garden. She’s the kindest soul you could ever meet.
However, life took a harsh turn when Grandma Rosie was diagnosed with cancer. It was a tough battle, but she faced it with grace and strength.
“Ronnie, you know your grandma’s strong, don’t you?” Dad would say. “She’ll beat this, okay?”
With a heavy heart, I would nod. Watching her struggle was painful, but she never complained. Her spirit and smile remained unbroken.
“Grandma, are you okay?” I asked one day after a tough chemo session.
She squeezed my hand and said, “Don’t worry, my love. I’m not as weak as I look.”
I smiled back, but inside, I was falling apart. Some of my relatives had already given up on her. They thought it was better for her to pass away peacefully rather than endure the pain of treatment. But not me. I, Veronica, her youngest grandchild, was determined to fight alongside her.
Then, a week ago, I got a call from the hospital. The nurse was excited as she told me that Grandma Rosie was going to ring the bell—a tradition for cancer survivors.
“She did it,” the nurse exclaimed.
Tears of joy welled up in my eyes. “She really did it?”
“Yes, she’s ready to ring the bell.”
I couldn’t stop smiling. My granny had won the battle.
With a bouquet of her favorite daisies, I rushed to the hospital. But when I arrived, I was heartbroken to see that none of my family members were there. Not my parents, not my siblings, not even my aunt and uncle.
I held back my tears and walked into her ward with a brave smile.
“Hi, Grandma,” I greeted her.
Her face lit up. “Ronnie, you came!”
“Of course, I did,” I said, handing her the flowers. “These are for you.”
With tears in her eyes, she asked, “Where is everyone else?”
I bit my lip, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I’m sure they’re on their way, Grandma.”
“Oh, Ronnie, I’m so happy you came. But where is everyone? Are they coming? I need to ring the bell.”
Her sparkling eyes broke my heart. How could I tell her that no one else cared enough to be there? I sat by her side, assuring her that maybe they were planning a surprise.
I knew I was lying. It hurt to deceive her, but I couldn’t break her heart.
I texted my family’s group chat, asking where everyone was. The responses shocked me.
“We’re all busy,” Dad texted. “Can’t make it today.”
My anger grew, but I kept quiet to protect Grandma. “It’s okay, Grandma. We’ll celebrate together.”
My parents were heading to Hawaii for a wedding. My aunt and uncle were at a baby shower. And my siblings were shopping for their Dubai trip. I was livid. Here was my grandmother, a brave woman who had beaten cancer, and they couldn’t be bothered to show up.
“Seriously?” I muttered to myself, pacing the hospital corridor. “They can’t make it for this?”
Grandma looked at me worriedly. “What’s wrong, Ronnie?”
“Nothing, Grandma,” I forced a smile. “Let’s get you ready to ring that bell.”
After she rang the bell, I told her I’d treat her to her favorite pastries and tea. I left her in the car while I went to the café, plotting a little payback for my family.
I sent a message in our family group chat, pretending that Grandma was suddenly rushed to the ER and asking for money to cover the hospital fees. Soon, my phone buzzed with notifications as money started pouring into my account.
When I returned with the treats, I told Grandma we’d celebrate with a shopping trip and dinner at her favorite restaurant. She was thrilled when I revealed we’d also spend a few days at her favorite beach resort, where she had met Grandpa.
The next morning, we were at the beautiful resort, enjoying the sun and the sea. I took some pictures and sent them to our family group chat. The responses were immediate and angry, calling me a liar. My uncle even called me a con artist.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I replied boldly, “You are all selfish! Grandma fought cancer, and you promised to be there for her. Yet, no one showed up. You owe her an apology.”
Grandma, sensing something was wrong, asked, “Ronnie, are you okay?”
“Uh, nothing, Grams!” I lied, putting my phone away.
When we returned from our trip, my uncle demanded his money back, revealing how I had obtained it. Grandma was heartbroken, asking why I did it.
“Grandma, I love you,” I said, tears in my eyes. “You deserve to be happy after everything you’ve been through.”
She hugged me tightly. The next day, a lawyer arrived, saying Grandma wanted to change her will.
I don’t know how this will end, but one thing is certain: I’ll do anything to make my grandmother happy. How would you have responded if you were in my shoes?
