I thought I'd missed out on being a grandmother. At 67, my great-grandson has given me that experience.

Pat Zawko (second from left) raised three adopted children and then her grandson. Now, she helps raise her great-grandson. Pat Zawko Pat Zawko, a 67-year-old nurse, raised her grandson and now helps raise her great-grandson. Pat adopted three children, facing challenges with their health and legal issues over the years. Pat balances full-time work with supporting her great-grandson, cherishing her role as a grandmother. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Pat Zawko, 67, who lives in upstate New York and works full-time as a nurse. Zawko raised her grandson from birth, and she is now helping him raise her great-grandson. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. My husband and I raised our grandson from age 5 months to adulthood. We are now helping him raise his son, whom he raises as a single parent .