Stories This page is dedicated to the memories of Foster Grandparents both current and past. Please feel free to look around and enjoy the wonderful tales of caring and sharing from the Utah County Foster Grandparent Program. Willy's Magic Garden If you ever get the chance to go and visit the Utah State Development Center in the spring and summer you will get to see Willy's magic garden. Willy is a mentally challenged boy who loves to garden. Every spring for the past couple of years, Grandpa Lynn has helped Willy plant a garden. Willy gets so excited watching the tomato plants grow that he almost can't wait for the tomatoes to come. He doesn't have to. Because, nearly every day, Grandpa Lynn goes to the store to buy whatever they have on sale in the fruit and vegetable department. When he comes to visit it is amazing what those neat little tomato plants will produce: pears, apples, cucumbers, potatoes, lettuce, and even tomatoes. Every time Willy comes out to check on his magic garden his face lights up. All because there was a man named Grandpa Lynn. To Say Goodbye Grandma June worked with troubled kids. There was no one kinder or better with them. One young man, Alan was his name, came to know and love Grandma June. Month after month she was there for him as he worked through his problems. Eventually, Alan grew older and left the center but they still kept in touch. Then, one day, Grandma June got sick, fell into a coma and was waiting for death. No one in the family was able to get through to her. It seemed as though she was gone forever. The family called Alan to tell him about Grandma. She didn't have much time. It seemed that no sooner did they hang up the phone than Alan was there at the hospital. As he walked into the room where she lay he said, "Grandma?" Her eyes slowly opened for the first time since the coma and they hugged tightly. They talked for a few moments then it was time for Alan to go. "I love you," he said. She knew. The next day Grandma June died. I Never Knew Living in a youth detention center is anything but a walk in the park. It was a good thing that these kids had Grandma Mary. This frail little lady, walking around with her oxygen tank, looked after the boys. Grandma Mary was something of an anomaly because no matter who the child was she could always seem to talk to them. One day a boy had been sent to his room for fighting and Grandma Mary went over to talk to him. She knocked on the door and when invited in came and sat down on his bed. They talked. She knew that it was hard for him in here but she understood and he needed to go back and join the others. Just before they left the room, Grandma Mary looked at him and told him that she loved him. As they headed down the hall the boy stopped. "Do you really mean it?" he asked. "Of course I do," said Grandma Mary, referring to how he had to go back with the other boys. He stood there and tears came into his eyes. "No one has ever told me they loved me." But he knew that Grandma Mary did. A Grandma's Love For many years the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center Newborn Intensive Care (preemie) unit had the constant companionship of a sweet grandma. This wonderful lady spent her time holding these precious little ones, patting and rocking them when they needed a comforting hand. As life moves on, grandma became sick, was put into the hospital and slipped into a coma. Family and friends all came to visit but there was never a response. Then, one of the nurses from the unit brought in one of these sweet little ones and laid it in her arms. Sure enough, grandma started rocking a bit and patting the little one. Some things never change.
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