So Happy to be Home

We have been back home since Tuesday and are so glad to be here.  We are supported in a caring and complete way by our hospice team and Dale is really doing well.  He is able to enjoy small tastes of yummy stuff and really likes ice chips - water and other frozen bits, sorbet and more.

In addition he is able to get up with some assistance to spend time in the wheelchair.  

Last night we all enjoyed an amazing potluck and sing with the Grace choir and some friends and family.  Thanks to Susan Jensen for coordinating an unforgettable evening.

Thanks to the skills of Debra we have put together a new sign up on the blog for visit times and some meals.  Here is the link:

http://dale411.blogspot.com/

Click on visitation sign up or meal sign up on the right.

As always our deep gratitude for your continuing prayers and love.  We feel so blessed by the support we feel from friends and family.  

--
Patty

Going Home with Hospice

Well, these past few weeks have certainly been a roller coaster ride, with encouraging news from the oncologist followed by a descent into pneumonia and a week's stay at Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

We now have a better understanding of Dale's medical status. Because he has lost the ability to swallow without aspirating, prolonging his life would involve a feeding tube and IV fluids indefinitely. Dale has made it clear that that is not his wish.

We have now made the decision to bring Dale home tomorrow (Tuesday) so he can spend his remaining days in a comfortable space with loved ones. The doctors have informed us that we are looking at anywhere from a few days to weeks, with Dale sleeping more and more. He should not be in any pain.

We know many of you will be anxious to visit, but please give us the chance to get him home and settled in first. We will update you all with information about visiting and bringing food just as soon as we can.

Words cannot express the gratitude we feel to all of you for your unending love and support through this challenging journey. 

-- 
Patty and family

The Dale 8.15.14

We are still out here with dad at the Kaiser Permanente hospital in Hillsboro (room 304) and expect to be here at least through the weekend, with the earliest possible discharge/next steps decision sometime Monday.  Yesterday the pneumonia was better on one side of the lungs and a little worse on the other, but overall steady.  Last night, however, was horrible.  We learned this morning that the swallowing/aspiration problem is worse than originally thought, and the doctors took him off all food and drink.  We also have urology issues, and the catheter is probably in for the duration.  Today's thinking is that the cancer is on the move again, and starting to mess around with various autonomic/involuntary body functions.  We will not be leaving here without at the very least in-home hospice care.  Discussions with our medical team are, suddenly, advanced to the hospice/comfort care stage.  I'm sorry to dump so much bad information on you all at once, but now you know.  Overall it was a pretty messed up day.  

However, dad is doing much better this afternoon, and quite chipper and chatty.  The fever broke and the only thing he describes when asked about discomfort is his desire for "a cheeseburger and a martini".  Dick and Diane came by and shared some old travel stories, which he totally loved.  Stephen Schneider made the comment today that he is still very much acting like himself, which is so true.  He is gracious and inquisitive with strangers, cracks dry jokes and chuckles to himself, and still never complains.  He enjoys asking the nurses about their family life, what their kids and spouses do, and telling stories about the old days (today a recurring theme was the family farm implement business back in North Dakota).  Just now he cracked up the nurse who came in to take vitals by replying to the final question about needing anything with "how about a beer and a sandwich".

In other news, the Wygant house went on the market today, and the garage sale/final prep could not have happened without the heroics of George and Annis Bleeke, Sarah Rowley, Holly Nelson, Anne Schneider, and Candy and Wes Walhood.  Stephanie Oliver did an awesome job of posting and taking down huge garage sale signs all over North Portland for both of the sale days.  Allan Oliver staged the place so it looks like a million bucks inside, and the photographer said "wow, this place is already sold" when he first walked inside.  Cameron Denny and Jon Grenfel have been around constantly lately, and we would be lost without their unending assistance.  Stephen Schneider is by our side each day here with his attention, good questions for the docs, and prayers.  We would be lost without all the love and help of these folks and so many many more, too many to mention.  Thank you all.

We will keep you posted, with an update on Monday sometime when we know more, probably later in the evening.  Prayers and good thoughts appreciated.  Blessings.

Mark

August 13, 2014

Yesterday Dale was taken to Kaiser Westside Medical center where he is resting and being treated for pneumonia and related complications. Within the next 24/48 hours we should know more about the path ahead. Your love, prayers and support are much appreciated as always.  We will update as soon as we know more.  Much love to all.

-- 

Patty

The Latest and Greatest!

This little adventure began just over four months ago, and we're overdue for an update.  

Last week Dale had his first MRI since the end of the first course of radiation/chemo in June.  The results of that and the most recent labs were shared with the family today by our Kaiser oncologist.  With great joy we can report that the MRI shows the first round of radiation/chemo has done it's intended job, stopping the cancer from growing since the surgery (!!!).  There even appears to be some slight reduction in the tumor size.  As a final bonus for the day we learned we can take dad off the horrible steroids in another two weeks, which should help with lots of unpleasant little side effects.  

We've been taught the things to watch for that would require quicker action, and we've got to encourage more exercise & physical activity, but things are slowly improving after that rough first round.  In three months we do another MRI and see the oncologist again.  Although the blood platelet count is improving it is still not where we want it to be, which means foregoing the second round of chemo, we are nonetheless pleased with the news for today and will take it in with a glad heart.  Dad went in there a little anxious, I think we all did, but the oncology update was a pleasant surprise.

Last week Mom and Dad did the annual Paulina Lake camping trip with extended family.  They had an awesome time, including an exciting thunder and lightning storm.

The Wygant house has been a hub of frenzied yard sprucing, culling and sorting, packing, garage sale pricing, hauling stuff to the dump, etc.  We are on track to list the Wygant house for sale next week!

The folks are planning kitchen upgrades at the Irvington condo with our friend Neyle, and looking forward to settling in there soon.  Patty is trying out a new continental living room/salon concept, and enjoying planning out the new space.  Back to the old neighborhood! 

We remain overwhelmed by yet another surge of incredible assistance from folks who have signed up on the blog to help with packing, yard work, meals, and moving prep.  So much kindness and generosity has been coming into this house, and Jo Bronson's prayers continue to lift our spirits.  Dad is really enjoying the visits and conversations with old friends, many of whom he has not seen in many years.  A party is still planned, targeting September while it's still warm out if possible, and we will hope to see many of you there.   

Love to you and yours, and thanks as always for your continued good thoughts and prayers.  m

-- 

Patty

Dale Update 7.9.14

Hopefully everybody had an enjoyable time together with friends and family over the long holiday weekend. Mom and Dad enjoyed a nice long week at the beach relaxing and visiting with folks and lots of dogs. The weather was fantastic and there was a surprise bonus round of fireworks set off July 5th from a barge moored in Devil's Lake right out in front of the lakehouse. Dad had a front and center seat for the festivities, and has been feeling better and better these days, with more energy and oomph to get up and go. It's been over a month now since the first round of treatment, and although there is fatigue things are generally looking up at the moment.

Unfortunately, however, it's looking like the oncologist is not going to put Dad through the second round of chemo, as his blood counts are not where he wants them to be. On the upside, he has started physical therapy with good results, and soon also some occupational therapy and more alternative stuff. Cousin Judy has recommended an alternative therapy expert from Ashland and we plan to consult with him, as well. Any way you slice it there's a tough road ahead, but Dad is still optimistic. He really does not complain much if at all, and the overall crabbiness factor is pretty nonexistent. It has been nice to not have to run over to the doctors so much, and the summer has been lovely so far for just hanging around here.

Lots of other balls are in the air right now, including a deep purge and packing up of the Wygant house to list for sale in early August. In the next few days, hopefully, we will be sending along another sign-up sheet on the web page http://dale411.blogspot.com/ for assistance with packing, moving, hauling stuff to Goodwill, yard fluffing, and some meals. It's a bit of a whirlwind this month but what else is new...

There's no details yet, but Dad has also decided that in lieu of a big memorial service later he wants a big party sometime this year. We are working on the details, and hope to have that event sometime later this summer in August or perhaps September. You all will know the moment we have it figured out.

All our love goes out to you all, and a big thanks from all of us and The Dale.

And a parting shot of the fireworks on the Lake July 5th!

Almost Home

Tonight is the last night of our trip, hanging out here at our airbnb rental in beautiful downtown Dunsmuir, CA.  Attached below are pictures from our stop in Big Sur, CA, seated on a bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean (plus the doggies looking out the window).  

With Jeremy and Megan cooking we have eaten very well along the way, although there were also several amazing restaurant meals (Dad is all about the food).  Megan and I perhaps drank a little too much on that one late solstice night by the pool in Rancho Mirage.  There have been many teary, bonding, joyous, memory-making moments on this trip, and wonderful visits with friends and family along the way.  OMG Megan and I together (plus Vodka) with this Dad stuff going on gets sloppy pretty fast...  ;)

Dad has been a real champ, despite lots of car time ("I have sore butt").  His energy levels and strength, as well as his blood counts, have improved significantly over the week of the trip and we are very happy for that change.  The Kaiser visits for blood draws in Oakland and San Diego were easy and close-by.  There have been virtually no major snags except for when Harry dog rushed into Sean and David's house in San Diego and tried to eat their kittens (bad dog!).  

Cousin Judy and her step-daughter Cynthia jumped into the pool Saturday night after dinner with their clothes still on, adding a festive exclamation point to our days in the desert.  Jer and Meg and I took off to give Mom and Dad some chill time in Santa Barbara and found a fun outdoor drink spot and incredible local/artisan ice cream to  bring back for desert (the Oaxacan Chocolate was incredible).  Everybody has gotten along in close quarters for the whole ten days flawlessly, except for an ugly passive-aggressive hissy fit on my part a couple days ago which passed relatively quickly (47 & single, go figure...)

The trusty Eurovan has been great, despite a fickle air conditioner which conked out early on in the hot weather.  Undeterred and feeling thrifty, we decided not to do a rental and instead picked up some squirt bottles and washcloths to face the hottest driving days old-school.  Windows down, cold towels on the dogs and Dad, and constant misting with the squirt bottles got us through just fine.  As a bonus, this brought out lots of good road trip stories from the 50's and 60's.  

We are looking forward to being home and getting back to a routine, with our own beds and the beautiful Portland summer days in front of us.  The sorting and down-sizing of the Portland house in preparation for a move to Georgie's condo later this summer is the next big project, and of course Dad begins round 2 of the chemo next month.  

The timing is uncertain but in the next few weeks we plan to do another online calendar for visits and meals and other Dale-focused social things.  We look forward to hearing from and/or seeing you all again soon.  Dad is a deeply social creature who is energized by people around him and good conversation, especially over food and a nice glass of wine, and we hope you can join us for such sometime soon.

Love and thanks and big hugs to you all from the Dale Sherman Walhood family!   m