Grandma Maria, an 82-year-old woman who had lead a life full with love and family, had lived in a charming nursing home hidden in the tranquil countryside. Her room was little, but her heart was big, full of cherished memories and a wish to be encircled by the laughter and warmth of her family again.Grandma Maria had reared four children in her youth, who had given her 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She had once relished the chaos and delight of a bustling household, filled with the sounds of children playing and the perfume of freshly baked cakes. However, life took its course, and time passed, leaving her in the confines of her nursing home room.She decided to write a letter to her grandchildren one day, transferring her life onto paper. This is what she jotted down:

A letter from a care facility to an old woman. I am 82 years old, have four children, eleven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a 12-square-meter living space.I don’t have a house or luxury possessions, but I do have someone who will clean my room, prepare meals and bedding, monitor my pressures, and weigh me. I no longer hear my grandchildren’s laughter, nor do I see them growing, cuddling, or squabbling. Some see me every 15 days, others every three or four months, and yet others never.

I no longer work in the winter, I no longer bake cakes, and I no longer dig in the garden. I still have hobbies and like reading, but my eyes rapidly become irritated. I’m not sure how much longer this will last, but I’ll have to get accustomed to being alone. Here at home, I aid individuals who are worse off than me by leading group projects. I used to read aloud to an immobile woman in the room next to me, and we used to sing together, but she died recently.

Life, they say, is getting longer. Why? I can look at images of my family and memories I brought from home when I’m alone. That’s all there is to it. I hope that future generations understand that families are formed in order to have a future (with children) and that they do not lose sight of the family even in old age. Please do not show this to my kids. Grandmother Maria adores you.