This document tells the story of Pawpaw Stephens through a young girl named Evann Webb's perspective. It describes how Pawpaw had a stroke initially and was later diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Over the next year, the effects of these illnesses took a toll on Pawpaw's health and abilities. Eventually, Pawpaw moved in with relatives for care and later entered hospice care. Evann had a difficult last visit with Pawpaw where he did not recognize her. Pawpaw then passed away. The document reflects on Pawpaw's life and influence on his family through stories and pictures. Evann comes to better understand Pawpaw's illnesses and finds comfort in memories of their time together

1. Pawpaw Stephens
Multigenre Project_Fall 2012
Evann Webb

2. Today school was awful. The cafeteria served those nasty pork chop sandwiches for lunch and
Mrs. Huntley loaded me up with homework for one night. I see my mama’s car is in the driveway. That’s
odd she usually is never off work this early. Did I do something? Am I in trouble? My dog Shea greets me
at the door eager for some attention and I happily scoop her up to give some belly rubs. Something on the
couch catches my eyes. It’s my mama.
I see a slouched over blob on the couch and hear slight sobs as my mother whispers into the
phone “Is he ok? Is my daddy ok?” What has happened to pawpaw? I know it’s bad from the urgency in
her voice. I lay my book bag down and sit next to my mama as she finishes her conversation. She looks at
me and squeaks “pawpaw’s had a stroke.” I could feel my eyes widen as I took in a deep breath. I wasn’t
too sure what a stroke was. This is how it all started. This is the day my pawpaw changed.
A year passed and now the effects of my pawpaw’s stroke were beginning to take effect. He
had little memory and little strength left. His speech began to slur and he could no longer complete his
crossword puzzle books. He always carried a puzzle book in his shirt pocket with a pen just in case my
mawmaw took a little too long in the department store. What hit my pawpaw the hardest was no longer
being able to drive. He loved to drive his tan colored impala on Sundays after church to visit his best
friend Ross to play the card game canasta. Pawpaw didn’t like being taken care of, but eventually it got
to the point where he and my mawmaw had to move in with my aunt. This happened when he had been
diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This disease affected his sense of coordination and balance making it
hard for him to walk or even get out of chairs. There was little my family could do as we lived in North
Carolina and they were in West Virginia. This made us feel awful. We took as many trips as our schedules
would allow.
The phone rang one day. The room became still and my mama slowly reached for the phone.
There was something about this call that made my stomach turn. My pawpaw hadn’t been doing well
lately and we all knew his time with us wasn’t going to be much longer. There wasn’t much shock as my
aunt told us he had been moved to hospice. Today I got to talk to my pawpaw. He asked the same
questions several times, but it doesn’t aggravate me like it used to. I hated telling him what I had for
dinner four times in one conversation, but now I’m overjoyed just to talk to him.

3. It was finally summer time! No school or homework for several months. When I came home
my things were packed and my parents waiting on me for a surprise trip to West Virginia. This wasn’t a
good surprise trip. I could tell by the worry lines outside of my mother’s eyes as she tried to smile at me.
We made it to West Virginia and were visiting my mawmaw and pawpaw for a few days while staying
with my aunt. It was too crowded in her house with me, mama, daddy, aunt Suzie, uncle Gordon, Sean,
Garrett, Stacy, uncle Kevin, aunt Lisa and my cousin Kerra.
We all went to visit my pawpaw on Friday. This is a day I’ll never forget. Only a few could go
in at a time. Finally it was my turn to see my pawpaw. I came in with my heart racing not knowing what to
expect, but when I saw him I wasn’t nervous anymore. He looked at me funny. When he saw me his face
scrunched up like he was confused and thinking really hard. He cocked his head sideways looked me dead
in the eyes and blurted out “Ma’am you are absolutely beautiful, but I can’t recall your name. I’ve only
met you a few times could you please tell me again?” I was shocked! How could my pawpaw not know
my name? How could he say he’s only seen me a few times? I’ve spent every summer and thanksgiving
with him since I was two years old!! My heart sunk and my mouth was dry, but my eyes were not. Tears
streamed from my eyes and I could tell my tears confused pawpaw even more. He looked sad, because he
knew his question had hurt me, but it was clear he didn’t know why. My mama just took our hands and
placed them together and introduced me as his granddaughter Evann. This was a hard day.
A few months had passed after this awful last trip. We finally got the phone call that my
pawpaw was going to leave hospice to be at my aunt’s house. I thought this was great. Being released from
hospice maybe meant he wasn’t as sick anymore. That was until my mama told me he asked to go home,
because he knew he was ready to pass and wanted to be somewhere comfortable. When she solemnly
spoke those words the tears came because I knew what she meant. My pawpaw was ready to die. This was
a hard realization.

4. Because of my parents work schedule we couldn’t head to West Virginia for a few days. Within these
few days my papaw passed away. I couldn’t believe MY pawpaw was gone. The man who I had spent so
many summers with being playful and playing pranks on my mawmaw. We drove up to West Virginia so
my mama could help with arrangements and attend the visitation then the funeral. This was my first
funeral and I didn’t know what to expect. I said my goodbyes and during the visitation my mama and I
slipped a West Virginia lottery ticket into his coat pocket. He always played the lottery even though
mawmaw told him he shouldn’t “gamble”. His philosophy was someone’s gotta win why not me? I miss
him already.
The funeral was beautiful and I loved hearing all the wonderful stories and memories people
had of my pawpaw. He was a great man. Before they lowered him into the ground I stroked his coffin.
Then I left with my family thinking of how I would never see my pawpaw again.

5. A young and handsome Pawpaw Stephens! No wonder my mawmaw wanted to marry
him. This was taken a year before he went into the Navy.

6. My pawpaw was someone who everyone got along with. He was always smiling and telling
jokes to anyone who would listen including the waiters and waitresses at Shoneys who also called him
pawpaw. His most famous joke was towards the end of the meal when asked “Is there anything else I can
get you all” he would grin with his reply of “Yea you can cover the bill.” His heart was full of nothing, but
love for his family and friends. He was a devoted member and leader of The Masonry where he attended
“meetings” to do official business. We all knew these “meetings” were when he could get away from
mawmaw so he could finally eat a piece of chocolate cake without being scolded about his sugar.
My pawpaw lived a long and humble life with his sweetheart, Eva Mae. He and my mawmaw
had four children and from these four children he gained seven grandchildren. My pawpaw influenced
each of his grandchildren especially his grandsons who have followed in his footsteps as active members
in the Navy. He also taught me many lessons that I have carried into my young adult years. The biggest
life lesson he taught me was to appreciate family. Pawpaw was a big family man and was constantly trying
to bring everyone together. He would always say “there is no one that will love and accept you like
family”. Pawpaw truly lived up to this statement. When I made poor decisions he was always there to tell
me what I needed to hear not what I wanted to, but always accepted me and never judged. When I did
good things or something great happened to me he was my biggest supporter. I remember when I had
made the cheerleading squad in middle school how when I called to tell him he actually made up a cheer
to congratulate me!
He had the ability to make me feel special when I came to visit him. Pawpaw always greeted
me at his front door with a freshly made cookies that he “claimed” he slaved for hours making, but I knew
mawmaw was the only one capable in that household of baking anything. I cannot go into a Pizza Hut
without thinking of my pawpaw as that was our special place. When I was little we would tell everyone we
were going for a walk around the neighborhood, but really would walk to the Pizza Hut right behind my
grandparents’ home where we shared a personal pan pizza and talked. Kenneth Ray Stephens was a
husband, father, pawpaw, veteran, mason, leader, and friend. He played each of these roles well and he will
forever be missed.

7. My pawpaw! Obviously he is trying to sneak some sweets when
mawmaw isn’t around.

8. Dear pawpaw,
It’s hard to sit down and write you this letter, because I know you will never have the opportunity to read
it. It comforts me to know that you are in a better place than I am and your body is now healthy again. I miss you so
much when I come to visit mawmaw especially on holidays. When I do visit I sit in that old gray recliner and think of
how we would sit together and watch old westerns. The first father’s day after your passing was hard in the Webb
household. Since your death was so close to this holiday mama had already bought you a card to send in the mail
filled with love. However, you never got to read it.
After your funeral I remember lying in bed crying. I wasn’t prepared for this and I didn’t understand why
you were taken from me and the rest of our family. This was a point in my life where I questioned things that I
shouldn’t have. I tried to talk to you and pray about the situation, but I was still so angry. Now that I have gotten
older I understand how it was your time and I was being selfish when I would pray that you would come back. There
was some reason you were taken from this Earth and I truly believe you left your mark on everyone you came in
contact with.
You have missed so much in my life pawpaw. I always wish you were here so you could have seen me in
my prom dress, watch me graduate high school, get the phone call that I was accepted into college and especially
birthdays and holidays. I also wish you had been able to meet my boyfriend Jordan. You would love him just as much
as I do. The entire family has given me their approval and we are all waiting until the day he proposes, but I don’t
think that can happen soon enough! It’s hard to believe that someone can find their sweetheart at only fourteen, but I
did. We have been together over six years and are building a home. It comforts me to know that you have been there
for these events watching down on me.
I miss you and think of you often. There are times when I wish you were still with us, but that’s me being
selfish again. I remember how much you were there for me when I was a little girl even though you lived about six
hours away. I remember our “little secrets” such as our Pizza Hut visits and eating a piece of butterscotch candy
before supper. When I visit mawmaw and see your pictures and belongings still there it fills my heart up, but also
makes me want to cry. I hope you know I visit your grave each time I go to West Virginia. Sometimes I simply sit on
the bench across from your grave to think about you and how you have impacted me. I love you pawpaw and I know
you’re never far from my heart.
Love always your granddaughter,
Evann Webb

9. Here is a picture of my mawmaw and pawpaw Stephens. Of course there’s my
pawpaw lounging in his old recliner. We used to sit together to watch movies and
finish puzzle books.

10. A major disease my pawpaw faced before he left this earth was Parkinson’s. I chose to
research about this disease because honestly I didn’t really know what the symptoms were or how fast it
affected the body. I discovered that Parkinson’s is a disease that affects the brain while causing a person
to shake or tremor. This shaking affects a person’s balance, movement and coordination (Board,
A.D.A.M. Editorial). This is the reason my pawpaw had to quite driving. He no longer could hold the
steering wheel properly and to move his feet from the gas to the break was a difficult task.
Incidence of Parkinson’s increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD
are diagnosed before the age of 50 (Statistics on Parkinson’s). When this disease occurs in younger
people it is usually from a form of this disease that runs in the family. Men are one and a half times more
likely to have Parkinson's than women (Statistics on Parkinson’s). Some of the symptoms my pawpaw
exhibited included drooling, difficulty swallowing, problems with balance (walking), muscle aches, stiff
muscles, loss of fine motor movements, and memory loss (Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial). However, some of
these symptoms are also connected to the stroke he had previously to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
The image displays several common symptoms of a person with Parkinson’s such as tremors and
shuffling of feet.
It is difficult to diagnose Parkinson’s when it is in its early stages. A physician typically takes
a neurological history and administers an examination. Some of the things a physician looks for when
administering these exams include stiffness in legs and arms, can a person rise easily from a chair, looks
to see of expression is animated, observes for tremors and how quickly a person can regain balance.
These tests help to eliminate any other potential diseases (Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial).
As of right now there is no known cure for Parkinson’s. The goal of doctors is to control
symptoms not eliminate them. A majority of the time medication is used to help control symptoms, but
eventually the body will not respond appropriately to medication as the disease progresses (Board,
A.D.A.M. Editorial). Without treatment the person will get worse until they are totally disabled. Many
people respond to medications to relieve symptoms, but sometimes the side effects may be severe. Some
lifestyle changes can be made to help control Parkinson’s such as good eating habits, exercising, regular
testing, regular rest periods, avoiding stress, and the use of assistive devices such as walkers (Board,
A.D.A.M. Editorial).

11. The image depicts the crescent shaped cell mass substantia nigra and how Parkinson’s
specifically destroys this part of the brain stem. This area of the brain sends fibers to tissues located
throughout the brain to release essential neurotransmitters that help control movement and coordination.
When a person has Parkinson’s this area of the brain stem is destroyed while eliminating the essential
neurotransmitters that control movement and coordination (Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial). Meaning, when the
substantia nigra is destroyed the brain can no longer function properly to control movement. The image
helps to depict a healthy substantia nigra from one affected by Parkinson’s. The substantia nigra is darker
when it is healthy, but when affected by Parkinson’s this area becomes worn down and lighter.
It is important to learn about Parkinson’s because approximately 60,000 Americans are
diagnosed with this disease each year. Unfortunately, this number does not reflect the thousands of cases
that go undetected. The Center for Disease control determined Parkinson’s disease is the 14th leading cause
of death in the United States. Worldwide, it is estimated that four to six million people suffer from this
condition. Scientists and doctors are adamantly working towards a cure and making progress to identify the
best treatment options available (Statistics on Parkinson’s).
Sources
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Parkinson's Disease." Http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. U.S. National Library of
Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001762/>.
"Statistics on Parkinson's." PDF.org. Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF), n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.pdf.org/en/parkinson_statistics>.

12. Substantia Nigra and Parkinson's Disease.
Digital image. Http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
A.D.A.M Inc, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PM
H0001762/figure/A000755.B19515/?report=obje
ctonly>.
This image depicts symptoms due to
Parkinson's disease. Digital image.
Familymedicinehelp.com. Family Medicine
Help, 25 July 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
<http://familymedicinehelp.com/parkinsons-
disease>.

13. As people get older they tend to get distracted by their everyday life. This may include going
to work, school, paying bills and squeezing in time with friends. More often than not family members
aren’t seen until holidays and other family gatherings. The younger generation often forgets to make
time for their family including grandparents. Time with family is taken for granted, because many have
the idea that “death won’t happen in my family” and after it’s too late many regret not making time for
family. No one is guaranteed to wake up each morning this is why it’s important to spend time with
family. Once a family member has passed is not the time to wish you had made more of an effort to
visit with them. The younger generation needs to spend more time with their families.
How would you feel if one day you got the phone call that your grandfather had passed away
from something suddenly like a disease or a terrible accident? You would more than likely stop and
wish you had made more of an effort to visit him. A mental image of memories would flow through
your mind and tears wouldn’t be far behind. A person can be taken away far too quickly this is why it’s
important to make time for family.
Actor Michael J. Fox was stated “family is not an important thing, it’s everything.” This is a
powerful statement to support that people need to make time for family other than the required holiday
gatherings. Friends are allowed to walk in and out of your life, but family are those who stay in your
life no matter what happens. They accept you for all flaws and will always be there for support. Family
is everything because those are the people who will be the constant in a person’s life. However, this
constant can be taken away in an instant.
The only logical thing to do is to make more time for family. This is important so when a
loved one is taken away a person does not look back and wish they had made spent more time with the
person. Spending time with family is the right thing to do. Generally a simple phone call or a quick visit
means the world to your family so why not take the time and effort to do just that? It’s time to get rid of
everyday distractions and excuses! Tell your friends you’ll see them another night throughout the week.
Don’t take family for granted because no one is assured tomorrow.

14. Here is pawpaw about to fall asleep at our house during Christmas time. What a sweater!
I’m sure it’s one of those mawmaw bought and packed for him.

15. My name is Evann Webb. I am a junior at The University of North Carolina at
Charlotte and am majoring in elementary education. I have known since I was young staying up
late and helping my mama grade papers that teaching was the career for me. I am twenty years old
and my favorite other “person” in the world is my cat Mr. Snoops. My pawpaw passed away when
I was 13 years old. That was a traumatic time for my entire family. My purpose for this project is
to write about a hard time in my life. I want to share certain events that are meaningful while
remembering and reflecting on my pawpaw. I want to share these memories with my family. The
intended audience would be firstly for my mawmaw who misses him to this day and would
appreciate this, my family and also to those who have been affected by death. They will be proud
to know that I have chosen to write about my pawpaw Kenneth Ray Stephens.