Karen:
There is no more special relationship than a grandparent to their grandchild, and this is even more true with autistic grandchildren. Billy’s wonderful Grandma, Patricia Evans Mariscal, died in June of 2012. This is a tribute to her and her big heart (and love for Bill).
The Journey
Dedicated to Grandma Patsy
1935-2012
Just when we got engaged,
as the scene for our love was staged,
Patsy told us she had MS,
though to see her, you’d never guess.
Fast forward: when Billy was small,
We scarce understood him at all.
Some doctors gave dire advice.
Some tests, they had to do twice.
He had trouble sleeping. He strayed.
There wasn’t one milestone he made
on time, or anywhere near,
and many nights I shed a tear.
Grandma Patsy, right from the start,
recognized Billy’s big heart.
And though she had her own issues,
She’d break out the long distance tissues.
She’d listen.
She sure had a knack
to somehow give us strength back,
and from Arizona, her home,
she sent love right through the phone.
When Billy reached twelve, some things changed.
He grasped that he wasn’t free range.
He started, in some ways, to thrive.
But Patsy could no longer drive.
Once upon a time, airplane travel
had caused Billy to unravel.
Now he was closer to calm
when we flew to Brian’s dear mom,
which was good, because by and by,
Patsy could no longer fly.
And so in time Billy progressed.
He fed himself. He could get dressed.
As for Patsy, MS was giving
her trouble with day to day living.
Still, Patsy always was moved
any time that Billy improved,
and she could never go wrong,
when she sang him the Campbell’s soup song.
She lived for her family and friends,
but even a well lived life ends.
This year, when Billy has bloomed,
She hardly got out of her room.
Come June, she passed from our grasp,
but Patsy loved life to the last.
I wish she could know Billy now,
and see all his progress, like how
he answers a question or two,
with eye contact, what would she do?
And what about Ricky, this year
applying to college? She’d cheer.
And Michael’s drums, if she’d the chance,
if she’d heard them-- I know she’d dance.
Grandma Patsy was like a big kid.
She cherished life. She truly did.
And all of us, we’ll do our parts,
We’ll hold Patsy dear in our hearts.
December 2012
Grandpa Dick and Grandma Dody putting Bill on the bus
