CONTACT WITH AILING GRANDDAD ENRICHES BOTH YOUNG AND OLD

uExpress, July, 2008 by Abigail Van Buren

DEAR ABBY: The letter from "Paw-Paw and Maw-Maw in Alabama" (May 13), whose son has cut off contact with their 5-year-old grandson to "protect" the boy from Grandpa's eventual death, left me feeling intense sorrow for all concerned.

In 1996, my grandfather was ecstatic that I was pregnant and anxiously awaited the arrival of his triplet great-grandchildren. At age 102, he was with us at the hospital when they were born, and remained an integral part of their lives until his death five years later.

We believe Grandpa's loving involvement with the children extended the quality and length of his life. In exchange, the kids' first years were blessed with the special love and adoration of a great-grandparent.

Abby, the day "Paw-Paw's" letter was published, I...