obama's grandma ill

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2008
obama's grandma ill
15
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 10:30pm

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is canceling nearly all his campaign events Thursday and Friday to fly to Hawaii to visit his suddenly gravely ill 85-year-old grandmother, a spokesman said.

Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Obama's plane that Madelyn Payne Dunham, who helped raise Obama, was released from the hospital late last week. But he said her health had deteriorated "to the point where her situation is very serious."

Events originally planned for Madison, Wis., and Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday will be replaced with one in Indianapolis before he makes the long flight to Hawaii. On Friday, Obama's wife, Michelle, will sub for Obama at rallies in Akron and Columbus, in Ohio, said campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki. Obama was expected to resume campaigning on Saturday, at an undecided location in the West, she said.

"Sen. Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life, along with his mother and his grandfather," Gibbs said. "Recently his grandmother has become ill and in the last few weeks her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious. It is for that reason that Sen. Obama has decided to change his schedule on Thursday and Friday so that he can see her and spend some time with her."

Citing the family's desire for privacy, Gibbs would not discuss the nature of Dunham's illness. It seemed likely that she was close to death, as Gibbs said that "everyone understands the decision that Sen. Obama is making." Dunham turns 86 on Sunday.

It could be a momentous one in his bid for the White House against Republican John McCain, with Election Day just two weeks away on Nov. 4.

In a campaign ad this year, Obama described his Dunham as the daughter of a Midwest oil company clerk who "taught me values straight from the Kansas heartland" — things like "accountability and self-reliance. Love of country. Working hard without making excuses. Treating your neighbor as you'd like to be treated."

She's also the "white grandmother" he referred to in a speech on race.

Obama last visited Hawaii in August, when he spent a week on vacation after he had clinched the Democratic presidential nomination.

> so sad, but he's doing the right thing to go be with her now ...

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2008
Mon, 10-20-2008 - 11:41pm
It is sad and I hope she is comfortable and can hang on to see if her grandson becomes the next President. I disagree with his politics but if he were to be elected it would be such an amazingly proud moment for those who love him.
Pennsylvania Mom http://openlettertobarack.blogspot.com/
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2008
Tue, 10-21-2008 - 2:26am
I was so sorry about it.

 

Community Leader
Registered: 09-14-1997
Tue, 10-21-2008 - 6:08am
What a generous thought, which only goes to show that all sides of the political arena are filled with good, kind people.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2003
Tue, 10-21-2008 - 6:46am

wow. that's was a difficult decision to make, but the right decision.

puts things in perspective about life and death ...

Bea

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2008
Tue, 10-21-2008 - 8:26am

Having dealt with the loss of my own beloved grandmother in May, my heart goes out to him.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2007
Tue, 10-21-2008 - 8:47am
I read about this last night.
Jess


Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2004
Tue, 10-21-2008 - 8:48am
I am so sad for him and pray his grandmother is not in pain.

1.jpg picture by rcmanm

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Tue, 10-21-2008 - 9:30am

I think it speaks well of him.


Family always has to come first.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-22-2008 - 7:26am
And of course she came first when he talked about how prejudiced she was!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-22-2008 - 7:30am
See, I never interpretted it that way at all.

 


 


I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure

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