When a near and dear one passes away, most find it hard to find comfort immediately and need to be given enough time and space to grieve. However, after the passing of her grandfather, this woman found comfort in her two sons when they honored their great-grandfather with a wonderful gift, and in the most endearing way.
Lindsay Marcy’s grandfather, Jim Gish, was 96 when he was admitted to the hospital for intermittent episodes of confusion caused by his mild pain medication in August 2017. While Gish was recovering in the hospital, he made a very simple request.
Gish asked Marcy, “Have they given me the go ahead to play?”
Confused, Marcy said, “The go ahead to play?”
“Yes, did the doctor give me my permit to play?” Gish said.
“Play what??” Marcy asked.
“Lindsay, I want to play ball with the boys,” Gish said, in a rather annoyed tone.
Gish wanted to play catch with his great-grandsons, Chase and Travis.
“During his first year of baseball my grandparents won an award for the most dedicated fans. They never missed a game, even after my grandmother’s cancer diagnosis,” Marcy told HuffPost.
Sadly, Gish passed away a week after fulfilling his wish. Chase and Travis decided to honor their great-grandfather in a special way.
When Gish was cremated on the morning of Aug. 29, 2017, Chase and Travis signed a baseball, an icon of their time spent together. They wrote on the ball, “Come play anytime. Love, Chase and Trav.” Afterward, they placed the baseball in their great-grandfather’s casket.
“My oldest son was the first great grandchild and, much like myself, had an instant bond with both of my grandparents,” said Marcy.
The two boys paid tribute their own way, and of their own accord. Marcy was impressed by how thoughtful and sweet her sons were.
“After such a significant loss, it was a breath of fresh air to see them wanting to honor him in such a thoughtful way,” Marcy said. “I am overwhelmingly proud of the sweet gentlemen my sons are becoming.”
Since its posting, Marcy’s heartwarming story has received over 13,000 reactions on Facebook. Many netizens were touched by Chase and Trav’s loving gesture.
“What wonderful boys to do something so touching. You’ve raised them well Mama,” one Facebook user wrote.
“An autographed ball by Babe Ruth could not be worth half as much as this ball is,” another wrote.
While a third one commented writing: “My heart just burst....beautiful and so so sweet. Alzheimer’s is so tragic and yet still, what a beautiful story and memory to share.”
Indeed, a special gesture that will be cherished by the family.
