Grandpa Zink

Dear family.  Our loving Father and Grandpa has become terminally ill. The following journal entries are for immediate family only at this time.    We will be updating as we have more information.  Please understand that I want to keep everyone informed but at the same time I am trying to balance respecting his wishes in regards to him not wanting to talk about it with everyone.  The hospital's policy is only 1 person per day can visit, not one person at a time, but just one person per that day which makes it very challenging.   When you do talk to him, it breaks his heart to hear "how are you feeling?" Or even mention that he is ill at all.  He wants to go about "business as usual".   And we all know that is totally him and his personality, so lets give that to him.  You should say "caring bridges" to him right away in your conversation, that's the code words to him that you have been fully updated  (but please nothing about being ill) and he will understand that you know the details and then you can carry on a conversation with him as if everything is fine.  Please make every effort to respect his wishes to not discuss his illness with him.  That being said there are lots of other things he would love to talk about so please feel free to give him a call.   I know that you all love him and want the best for him.  I hope these entries help you to understand what's happened so far and where things are at now.  Please read starting with the  oldest entry first (August 10).