The battle is over!
Denise died this morning at 10:15.
We couldn't have asked for better timing or manner. We were all home due to the U.E.A. break and we were having breakfast. I had checked on Denise at !0:10 and then checked again at 10:20.
She had been unable to communicate for a few weeks but was able to point what she wanted, etc. For the past two days, she has been asleep. The signs the nurses told us to watch for happened like it was written up in a textbook. This made for a quiet, non-emergency few weeks.
We thank all those who have sent thoughts, prayers, more thoughts and prayers... and who have supported us over these three years. You are all truly wonderful!
I anticipate viewing and funeral services will happen Tues/Wed/Thurs next week. We will keep you posted (hopefully).
Tyler
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
It's Close
So here goes the big third post. I certainly haven't kept up too much.
Denise took a turn for the worst last weekend. she was basically sleeping all the time and eating and sleeping went away...two of the final signs. The Hospice nurse told me that she predicted about two weeks.
This was a shocker for me. I was not prepared for that and it scared me a bit, but it was also welcome. I have always thought that Denise would end up comatose for months on end. With the new scenario it would be MUCH shorter than my fear-that's good.
Over the past few days she even declined faster and deeper. I took her to the doctor today who suggested that this may be e 24/48 hour process. The Hospice nurse saw her today as well and confirmed the thinking.
SOOOO--there we go.
Assuming this turns out to be the case, the timing is great. Three of the kids are home on U.E.A. break until next Monday so it HOPEFULLY will be a good opportunity for the family.
Sorry for the quickness.
Gotta go!
Tyler
Denise took a turn for the worst last weekend. she was basically sleeping all the time and eating and sleeping went away...two of the final signs. The Hospice nurse told me that she predicted about two weeks.
This was a shocker for me. I was not prepared for that and it scared me a bit, but it was also welcome. I have always thought that Denise would end up comatose for months on end. With the new scenario it would be MUCH shorter than my fear-that's good.
Over the past few days she even declined faster and deeper. I took her to the doctor today who suggested that this may be e 24/48 hour process. The Hospice nurse saw her today as well and confirmed the thinking.
SOOOO--there we go.
Assuming this turns out to be the case, the timing is great. Three of the kids are home on U.E.A. break until next Monday so it HOPEFULLY will be a good opportunity for the family.
Sorry for the quickness.
Gotta go!
Tyler
Sunday, September 6, 2009
September 6, 2009
Hi there folks.
The radiation has been completed for a week. WOW! That new hospital system, IMC, is unbelievable! Great people and fantastic processes! For example, the radiation process takes 15 minutes and very easy for patients to get in and out. It is a well oiled process.
This past week has been eventful. We've made a transition to another doctor in our ecologist's office that helps more with symptom and pain management instead of treatment to kill the cancer. The main problem right now is that pressure on Denise's brain is causing confusion, speech and motor skill issues. She can't communicate very well. She struggles with that because she can't take care of her family as she would want to do. Even in this situation, her personality, the way she has been raised, and the "Mom" in her, instinctually makes it all about her family and not about her. Throughout this three year process, her biggest concern and fear is that she will eventually not be able to take care of her girls.
Although much of this is sad and it is not fun to look forward to what is coming down the pike, there are also fun things to break up the ickyiness. It's fun to chuckle with the girls when Denise does something such as laying out a half loaf of bread to make peach sandwiches. HUH?!
We have begun some steroid medication with the intent that the swelling in her brain will decrease and she will be able to get her mental capacity back. The jury is out on that plan. My biggest hope is that this will work for a while as there are many things I should have done or said to Denise. It is shocking to me that even though she and I have been very connected with each other over these three years, that I allowed this brain thing to sneak up on us so fast. We have understood the last year that the cancer would take her life. I always thought that we would be able to see that coming as her health decreased. I never figured that I would be blindsided by brain functions that would take her communication abilities away before we knew it. I'm praying and keeping my fingers crossed that the medication will work enough to get some of that in.
Last week I was released from the Bishop position and have really enjoyed being around more. Oven the past several months I haven't been going to needed meetings (thanks to my councilors that did so much of that) but now I don't have the worry in my head about what is not getting done, or who did I forget to call, or what important thing have I neglected. I will certainly miss much of what the calling offered to me individually, but other things I will not miss.
Finally, some of you have asked about how "the room" is coming. We have had an uncompleted room off the kitchen since the day we moved in 15 years ago. I finally made the decision to get this done with the main intent to give Denise a comfortable place to relax other than laying in bed. One of my worst fears is that I am too late to have Denise enjoy this as she should have been able to. Only time will tell . I will try to post a few pictures along the way for those who are interested.
The radiation has been completed for a week. WOW! That new hospital system, IMC, is unbelievable! Great people and fantastic processes! For example, the radiation process takes 15 minutes and very easy for patients to get in and out. It is a well oiled process.
This past week has been eventful. We've made a transition to another doctor in our ecologist's office that helps more with symptom and pain management instead of treatment to kill the cancer. The main problem right now is that pressure on Denise's brain is causing confusion, speech and motor skill issues. She can't communicate very well. She struggles with that because she can't take care of her family as she would want to do. Even in this situation, her personality, the way she has been raised, and the "Mom" in her, instinctually makes it all about her family and not about her. Throughout this three year process, her biggest concern and fear is that she will eventually not be able to take care of her girls.
Although much of this is sad and it is not fun to look forward to what is coming down the pike, there are also fun things to break up the ickyiness. It's fun to chuckle with the girls when Denise does something such as laying out a half loaf of bread to make peach sandwiches. HUH?!
We have begun some steroid medication with the intent that the swelling in her brain will decrease and she will be able to get her mental capacity back. The jury is out on that plan. My biggest hope is that this will work for a while as there are many things I should have done or said to Denise. It is shocking to me that even though she and I have been very connected with each other over these three years, that I allowed this brain thing to sneak up on us so fast. We have understood the last year that the cancer would take her life. I always thought that we would be able to see that coming as her health decreased. I never figured that I would be blindsided by brain functions that would take her communication abilities away before we knew it. I'm praying and keeping my fingers crossed that the medication will work enough to get some of that in.
Last week I was released from the Bishop position and have really enjoyed being around more. Oven the past several months I haven't been going to needed meetings (thanks to my councilors that did so much of that) but now I don't have the worry in my head about what is not getting done, or who did I forget to call, or what important thing have I neglected. I will certainly miss much of what the calling offered to me individually, but other things I will not miss.
Finally, some of you have asked about how "the room" is coming. We have had an uncompleted room off the kitchen since the day we moved in 15 years ago. I finally made the decision to get this done with the main intent to give Denise a comfortable place to relax other than laying in bed. One of my worst fears is that I am too late to have Denise enjoy this as she should have been able to. Only time will tell . I will try to post a few pictures along the way for those who are interested.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Update 1
As you may be aware, Denise was diagnosed with cancer in August 2006. In this long process, we have had many visits to many of the best doctors in the world. (Utah is a good place to get cancer.)
Recently because of breathing problems, Denise had a procedure done to diagnose and treat her left lung. It was found that the left lower lobe is too impaired to be fixed. They found more tumor than expected in there. There was also an MRI done which found three or four small tumors in her brain.
Last Monday she started two weeks of radiation on her head to treat those nasty things. The doctor is fairly confident that this will do some good for a while.
What a process this is! What a challenge! What an opportunity!
Until next time.
Recently because of breathing problems, Denise had a procedure done to diagnose and treat her left lung. It was found that the left lower lobe is too impaired to be fixed. They found more tumor than expected in there. There was also an MRI done which found three or four small tumors in her brain.
Last Monday she started two weeks of radiation on her head to treat those nasty things. The doctor is fairly confident that this will do some good for a while.
What a process this is! What a challenge! What an opportunity!
Until next time.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
First Attempt
Well, here goes!
We have decided to jump into the blog world for the purpose of keeping people posted on the status of our family. Mostly, we want to make sure that everyone who is interested can check in on Denise's current situation.
Keep in mind that just because there is nothing listed for a while doesn't mean that we are not keeping this up. There is usually not new information day by day.
Here we go.
Tyler
We have decided to jump into the blog world for the purpose of keeping people posted on the status of our family. Mostly, we want to make sure that everyone who is interested can check in on Denise's current situation.
Keep in mind that just because there is nothing listed for a while doesn't mean that we are not keeping this up. There is usually not new information day by day.
Here we go.
Tyler
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