A friend of mine sent me this a couple of weeks ago and I love it (just wish I'd written it!).


Death is nothing at all.  It does not count.  I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened.  Everything remains exactly as it was.  I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.  Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.  Call me by the old familiar name.  Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.  Put no difference into your tone.  Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.  Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.  Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.  Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.  Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.  Life means all that it ever meant.  It is the same as it ever was.  There is absolute and unbroken continuity.  What is this death but a negligible accident?  Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?  I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner.  All is well.


Written by Henry Scott Holland (27 January 1847 - 17 March 1918) who was Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford

It is with great sadness that my brother, Bill and I, must tell you that our younger brother, Larry, died in Baton Rouge, LA on July 2nd at approximately 3am.  He had suffered with COPD and asthma for many years.  Bill and Mariel helped him move to a nursing home there at the end of May.  Please pray for him.

The Rocky Mountain News

Hi,

 

Update, and probably the last for a while!  Was not able to have more chemo treatments after end of April, as platelets were refusing to hold up.  I had told Dr. Boleti some time ago that I wanted to see my family in Colorado before it  became impossible.

 

At our last consultation on May 26,  she suggested traveling in a couple of weeks!  Not much time(!).  But Jenefer sprang into action, began liaising w/British Airways,  my local doctors, my brother and sister-in-law, Bill & Mariel in Parker, Co.  (In meantime, I was hospitalized following a CAT scan that showed a compressed fracture  causing severe back pain.)  Some morphine and a couple of days of bed rest cleared that up.  But Boleti decided to keep me in until we left for Parker, and a date of June 3 was

arranged.  Had to travel w/oxygen, and for comfort's ease, Jen suggested we fly

first class!  And I'm glad she did!  She had laid everything on for London

departure and Denver arrival (including all the red tape to get medications thru

Customs!).  In meantime, Bill & Mariel had made arrangements for hospice care

at their home (bed, walker, oxygen, etc., etc); ambulance met plane at Denver

Int'l. and whisked us to Parker, and I was ensconced in my new home!

 

The hospice nurse and the team leader, and the admin person all came to house on the

next two days to organize schedule.  Nurse will visit once a week, nurse assistant

twice a week to keep me clean (!), and they will do an evaluation every 90 days.

There is no cancer treatment prescribed -- further chemo is a non-starter.  So

looks like the end of the line has finally arrived. But, all kinds of pain relievers are working very well, so can't complain!

 

Still feel pretty tired, but am taking it very easy, enjoying tasty food hand-prepared in Mariel's kitchen (aren't I lucky she's such a good cook!), Jen's keeping me on my pain

pill schedule and hovering like the Mother Hen, and Bill is running the errands

and looking after all our well-being (including keeping an eye on the storm

warnings!☺).

 

All the nieces and family have been to visit a couple of times, and are all returning again today.  It is just so GREAT to see them all!!!

 

So, guys, I just wanted to say this while I'm still - more or less - compos mentis.

 

You all have been so supportive especially  during these past two years,

and so helpful in keeping our spirits up!  But I think at this point I’d like to say what a true pleasure it has been for me to have had you as friends for all these years.  Confidants, buddies, mentors, giggling chums – you name it: I wouldn’t change one minute of the days gone by!  We’ve shared lots of stuff, and I’d just like to say thanks for always being there.

 

SO, dear friends, I guess this is a bientot and hasta la vista – would love to see you all one more time, but if not, once we’ve all passed through those pearly gates!

 

I’ll ask Jenefer to up-date this every 30 days or so to let you know when it’s all history – so even though you won’t be receiving daily reports, please know that you’re all in my thoughts and prayers forever.

 

It’s been a great run!

 

MA

Back to the USA

Hi,

Mary Ann and Jenefer are going over to Denver tomorrow, Wednesday, 3 June, to spend some time with MA's family.

Thank you all for your love and support.

We'll be in touch from the US.

Jen & MA

...  looks as though I’m not very speedy on getting this blog up-to-date either a la the emails!!  J

 

Saw Boleti on May 12 – blood platelets count DOWN again to 82 (out of a minimum of 100 for chemo to go ahead) – so she suggested I have another blood test on the 15^th – if okay, chemo can go ahead.  I did – and it wasn’t – down to 77.  So, no chemo again.

 

I’ll have another blood test on Thursday, May 21.  And, hope it goes up – and chemo next day. But if it doesn’t go up, the final chemo (#6) will not take place.   In either event, I will have a body CT scan on June 15 and see Boleti again on June 23 to get results of scan and to discuss what happens next.

 

I also explained to her my back pain – result of bending over table working on taxes and computer for HOURS for two days, and somehow managed to twist a muscle (or two!) in my back – and had been in agony over that next week-end.  Not related to cancer, but she gave me a prescription for codeine tablets and paracetamol, so I’ve been on heavy doses of those since the 12^th!  Argh!  Thus far, it seems the same (maybe a BIT better!) but can’t tell if it’s the meds, or just “time!” so will call my GP Monday, 18^th.

 

“That’s all she wrote, folks!” so you won’t have to check this until after JUNE 23!!   A reprieve for us all!!

 

Thanks to those who let us know you WERE able to access the blog!!!

Result of Chemo Therapy on April 24, 2015:

Blood test turned out okay, and chemo went ahead!!  (...after having been cancelled the previous two scheduled times due to low platelet count!). 

Sooo,  Am scheduled to see the oncologist, Dr. Boleti, on May 12, AND if that blood test is okay, then Chemo #6 (last in the CAV series) will take place on May 15.   Then a CAT scan in probably a couple of weeks after that -- and again, depending on result, see where we go from there.

(By the way, if any of you are having any problems getting on the blog site, whatever, please send me an email and will try to help!  Again, decided to resort to this  blog bit as it was all just getting too much for Jenefer (and me, when I was up to it!  :-) to send/answer individual emails at blueyonder!)

My New Blog!

Couldn't keep up with the emails so decided to go the blog route!  The address is: http://maryannmeysenburg.blogspot.com

Realize this is not very personal.--- but, hopefully, timely!!!  You can  just look (or not!) at your leisure, or sign up on the right to get email alerts whenever I update this blog.

MA