Re: Just a quick note...

[Guest guest]

((((((((((Donelle)))))))))))))))) we love ya hun hang in there

Deb

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

Just touching bases... the best news I have is that Glenn is not in any pain

and I'm still functioning and somewhat sane. He generally feels like

crap... says he " just doesn't feel good " is the best he can describe it;

nothing

hurts, not nauseous. Still having diarrhea, but is able to make it to the

potty without incident. Doesn't seem to matter what he eats or doesn't eat.

He's so weak, he can barely speak and most times it's a whisper...then every

once in a while, he's a little stronger. His blood pressure is slowly dropping

79/46 today, his temperature is 95.5/96 dropping, he's having a little trouble

swallowing, his hands and feet are cool to the touch, as compared to his

body, he's only awake 1-3 hrs. a day... altho he did good over the weekend with

his Mom and brother here, but Hospice Nurse told me to expect him to sleep

the next couple days and he's only been awake an hour this morning.... I miss

him!! The days just keep going by and I hate for each one to end. I'm having

trouble concentrating and remembering, but still functioning the 3 days I'm

at work. The day I'm suppose to work from home, as in today, I find myself

not very disciplined. The days I go to work, I cringe as I walk out the door,

as my heart and tummy just knot up. I probably will have to start staying

home for my benefit, before Glenn actually needs 24/7 care. I'm stretching

it, b/c I need to pay my mortgage, etc. Someone comes each day from Hospice

that I'm not here. A neighbor has a key and my son. Glenn's old Coast Guard

friend is coming again tomorrow from PA to spend the day with him (for me).

A girlfriend is coming from TX next Monday-Fri, so she'll be with him. And

that's as far as we've gotten with any kind of plan... his childhood friend

from ILL hopes to be here the next week....if not, I'll be here.

Love you all... pray for you all every night!!! For those of you that are

new here or just beginning treatments, please don't let this message

discourage you in any way...there is so much hope for Survivors...Glenn has had

many

extenuating circumstances after his first yr when they found mets to the

liver, starting with the infiltration of chemo into his chest cavity ( a big

error

on the nurses part), then the diabetes, then the colon shut-down, then the

horrendous Ascites (fluid build up) and weekly Paracentesis (draining of fluid

taking all the nutrients with it), then the Denver Shunt surgery with a 1-3

odds that he would make it.... he did and I'm sure God had a reason and if it

was to make amends with his Mom and brother, that has been done this past

weekend. So, you see, this is not the " norm " , altho I can't tell you what the

norm might be. Just please keep an open mind and fight this damn disease

with every ounce of energy you have!!!

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

Dear Donelle,

Thank you for talking to us about how Glenn is doing. I am sorry to

hear that his strength is becoming less. Is there anyone there in

your life who can give you a very long hug? If there is then go and

grab them right now, in the meantime please accept a heartfelt

virtual hug from me.

I am glad to hear Glenn has made peace with his mother and brother.

Your experiences do remind me yes that " there but for the grace of

God go I..... " just for the moment. Nevertheless thank you for

sharing them with such honesty. So much of cancer is hidden that I

find people's openness really does count.

Love and prayers, Fran

>

> Just touching bases... the best news I have is that Glenn is not

in any pain

> and I'm still functioning and somewhat sane. He generally feels

like

> crap... says he " just doesn't feel good " is the best he can

describe it; nothing

> hurts, not nauseous. Still having diarrhea, but is able to make

it to the

> potty without incident. Doesn't seem to matter what he eats or

doesn't eat.

> He's so weak, he can barely speak and most times it's a

whisper...then every

> once in a while, he's a little stronger. His blood pressure is

slowly dropping

> 79/46 today, his temperature is 95.5/96 dropping, he's having a

little trouble

> swallowing, his hands and feet are cool to the touch, as compared

to his

> body, he's only awake 1-3 hrs. a day... altho he did good over

the weekend with

> his Mom and brother here, but Hospice Nurse told me to expect him

to sleep

> the next couple days and he's only been awake an hour this

morning.... I miss

> him!! The days just keep going by and I hate for each one to

end. I'm having

> trouble concentrating and remembering, but still functioning the

3 days I'm

> at work. The day I'm suppose to work from home, as in today, I

find myself

> not very disciplined. The days I go to work, I cringe as I walk

out the door,

> as my heart and tummy just knot up. I probably will have to

start staying

> home for my benefit, before Glenn actually needs 24/7 care. I'm

stretching

> it, b/c I need to pay my mortgage, etc. Someone comes each day

from Hospice

> that I'm not here. A neighbor has a key and my son. Glenn's old

Coast Guard

> friend is coming again tomorrow from PA to spend the day with him

(for me).

> A girlfriend is coming from TX next Monday-Fri, so she'll be with

him. And

> that's as far as we've gotten with any kind of plan... his

childhood friend

> from ILL hopes to be here the next week....if not, I'll be here.

>

> Love you all... pray for you all every night!!! For those of you

that are

> new here or just beginning treatments, please don't let this

message

> discourage you in any way...there is so much hope for

Survivors...Glenn has had many

> extenuating circumstances after his first yr when they found mets

to the

> liver, starting with the infiltration of chemo into his chest

cavity ( a big error

> on the nurses part), then the diabetes, then the colon shut-down,

then the

> horrendous Ascites (fluid build up) and weekly Paracentesis

(draining of fluid

> taking all the nutrients with it), then the Denver Shunt surgery

with a 1-3

> odds that he would make it.... he did and I'm sure God had a

reason and if it

> was to make amends with his Mom and brother, that has been done

this past

> weekend. So, you see, this is not the " norm " , altho I can't tell

you what the

> norm might be. Just please keep an open mind and fight this damn

disease

> with every ounce of energy you have!!!

>

> Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

> Caregiver to Glenn

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/30/2005 8:57:44 AM Eastern Standard Time,

seamist32000@... writes:

Dear Donelle,

Thank you for talking to us about how Glenn is doing. I am sorry to

hear that his strength is becoming less. Is there anyone there in

your life who can give you a very long hug? If there is then go and

grab them right now, in the meantime please accept a heartfelt

virtual hug from me.

I am glad to hear Glenn has made peace with his mother and brother.

Your experiences do remind me yes that " there but for the grace of

God go I..... " just for the moment. Nevertheless thank you for

sharing them with such honesty. So much of cancer is hidden that I

find people's openness really does count.

Love and prayers, Fran

Thanks Fran for your note of caring...and virtual hug. It means so much to

know there are those who care about others and are capable of empathy. Nice

warm hugs are what I miss the most from Glenn.

Glenn " allowed " his Mom and brother to visit...and I think it was good for

all of them. Nothing was said about the bone of contention, but I think in

his heart of hearts,altho he wouldn't dare admit it, Glenn realizes it wasn't

right to deny his Mother and brother the right to say I love you and

good-bye...as well as allowing himself those same cleansing emotions.

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn