Update 2010

I guess I should bring this up to date. I usually try to stay upbeat in this blog. Last fall after the discovery of metastasis to the lymph nodes and removal of said lymph node, I underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Interferon Alpha 2b was infused daily for 20 days and then I was to receive injections every other day for 11 months. Interferon is awful. In December, I was unable to eat and drink and became dehydrated enough to require a week in the hospital. Interferon was stopped. Life was much more pleasant. In May, metastasis to the lungs and possibly liver have occurred. Now I am getting dacarbazine infusions to prepare for the Ipilimumab vaccine. The dacarbazine has been a breeze. With great antinausea meds, there has been no problem with my appetite and I have felt energetic enough to tend the garden and play outside almost every day.
My garden is looking great this year and I have a new swing made by Cathy and Larry to enjoy the view. Earlier in the spring, I tried to take up making rustic/bentwood furniture, but have been stymied by the heat. Still working on a bench though. Bought Nelt’s Kubota lawnmower and discovered the joy of racing the lawnmower through the job. It is so agile and fun! I actually like mowing, but it is even more fun now. Got new members of the family in the early spring: Macy & Gidget, two Schnauzer mix dogs, Mom and daughter. Nelt built me a fence to keep them in and they have been great ever since. They are happy, good watch dogs and love each other immensely.
I am still showing up for work at JK Products and Services. Thanks to Sam, I have a job there. He has been a saint and my being sick surely has been a disappointment for him, but he has never indicated it. I do love the job and certainly would prefer to be there . I have learned so much from him. I wish I could have spent more of my earlier career years around his type of HR management. Thanks to him lots of people have had a more pleasant work experience. He is so committed and determined .
Lyndsey is progressing through school steadily. She seems to realize the importance of “getting” more than just the booklearning and I think she will be very effective with the public. Never would have given her that credit before. She seems very sensitive to physical ailments and the relationships to environment. She is still dedicated to Romeo and seems happy with her life.
Kelsey is living with Chris and making progress in school. She has matured beyond my scope. She is certainly much more than I ever dreamed. She has sensitivities for people that I have never developed personally and often seems wiser than me about life in general.
Both girls are beautiful and healthy. I love them immensely.
Mom and my brothers are doing well. All of us are aging and we need to be more vigilant about our health, but have good lives and are happy. Dad’s sister has had a stroke and seems to be recovering so much better than expected. Chuck and his famiy are doing well. Jerrie and Richard and their family are all doing well.
I have great friends, Vicky aka “the other half of my brain” and Steve have a new cabin on Spring River and are enjoying the family time that affords. Larry and Cathy are working hard this summer, but have recovered the deck on their river lots and will spend time on Eleven Point this summer. I see friends now and then when we meet to eat together.
Life is sweet.

Dad is gone

After a decade long fight, Dad has moved on. He passed away last evening at 6:00p. He was peaceful in passing due to the meds he had been given and once again taught me the value of making good decisions. He had fought long and hard and when it was time, left mom in charge to make sure that his passing was as painless as possible.

He was moved just in time from Little Rock at UAMS to the Phil and Flo Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Frank David rode with Mom from Little Rock to Jonesboro early Thursday morning. At 1:00p I went to lunch and went to sit with Mom and visit Dad. Dad had already had Ativan for the trip and was spitting up sputum. No Kleenex in the room. They were out. I made a dash to the Super V Drug store and bought Kleenex and came back. Dr. Owens was in his room gathering information and getting his orders together. The nurses came in and administered pain meds: Morphine 2 mg, Atropine drops to reduce the secretions and two 25mg Fentanyl patches. While Mom was trying to answer Dr. Owens questions and fill out admission papers, I kept up with the secretions. The nurses came back with more morphine and Dad finally began resting easier. I went to get lunch for the two of us. Jerrie was there when I came back. We ate lunch about 3:00p and sat back to visit. Dad's gums and tongue looked more gray to me and by 6:00p he was breathing fewer breaths until he opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for quite some time. Mom said that had not been happening and within a few breaths he was gone. The nurse was called and pronounced him. Family members were notified. Emerson was called and a few necessary arrangements were made. The rest will be done this morning.