Dear Family and Friends,

We want to thank Patty and Dale's large community of family and friends for their generous support these past eighteen months in helping them deal with their respective life threatening issues.  Many of you have offered to cook meals, run errands, visit, and help out in other ways big and small.  Those efforts are most appreciated and have made all the difference in the quality of their lives.   While the recent news on the status of their health is fantastic, they still need a little help from their friends.   As they transition to the next phase of support, we are asking that those who can, help defray the costs of providing in-home care to Dale as he continues with his rehabilitation and therapy and as Patty regains her strength. We are starting with seed funding of $1,000 and hope to hit our target of $15,000 by January 1st, 2016.  We are proposing the following levels of funding opportunities:  4 gifts of $1,000, 8 of  $500, 16 of $150, and 32 of $100, although any amount would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much in advance friends.

The GOFUNDME Link is www.gofundme.com/hkdt3mt8/.  This is where you can make your donation. 

Love, Jeanne and David Pace, and Roy Reynolds and Denny Martin

Walhood Holiday Blessings

We have good news to report on all fronts!

Dale is benefitting from finally getting traction with physical and occupational therapy at Kaiser, and making excellent progress in getting himself up from chairs/bed, walking around safely/better, and pulling up his britches.  A new safer walker came for Dale this week, and both therapists we're working with were impressed with his progress since we got our first homework assignments in early November.  We move into speech therapy soon for help with swallowing issues, and are focusing on getting him more mobile and independent for an unknown long haul, as he has surpassed all expectations to date.  We are now 20 months since surgery, and though he's nappy/sleepy a lot, mostly he's steady as a rock and even getting stronger.  Yay!!!

Patty had her halfway-through chemo PET scan and we just got the results this week before chemo #4 on Thursday 12/3.  The scan showed considerable shrinkage of the growth, especially in the lung/chest area, with the largest mass reducing in size from 17.6 to 5.3 cm!!!  The initial chest pain and need for round-the-clock tylenol has gone away completely!  We got the go-ahead to continue to a final two chemo sessions after this week's fourth, one on Christmas eve, and one mid-January, and that is a good thing because it means she's strong and responding well.  It has been a week of big exhales and hugs and happiness and relief around here, and we're all super stoked for the holidays.  Double Yay!!!! 

As always, a hearty & sincere thank you for all the loving thoughts, prayers, food/meals, candles, etc. etc. etc.  Stephanie Oliver just flew all the way up from Phoenix to go to chemo and help out with stuff and Dale-sitting for a week which is triple awesome.  We feel very blessed by all the love and support coming our way, and send you all our best for the Holidays.  

Peace and Happy New Year!

Patty, Dale, Megan/Jeremy, Jim/Gretchen & Mark

Patty Chemo #2 Update

Hello Again Friends,

After some difficulties with the first (10/1) round of chemo, including severe joint pain and hives, we ended up switching to a modified chemo regimen for round #2 last week (10/22).  Taxol was replaced with Docetaxel, but otherwise we are on the same program of potentially six sessions each three weeks apart.  

So far with round #2 things are much better.  An extra strong burst of steroids this time turned her into energizer bunny for the first 48 hours, with mostly only fatigue starting yesterday and again today.  She is in good spirits for the most part, despite a dramatic hair cut last week, now only left with thin wispies up top.  Two friends (first Stephanie, later Bonnie) made similar adorable Sigmund the Sea Monster hats that keep her warm on outings.  Except for after the very first round of chemo, we are back on the regular Saturday coffee/social rounds circuit.

Things are running pretty smoothly with a mix of family, friends and some paid care givers keeping things moving around the clock.  Dad has been working harder on his PT exercises and transfers and stuff, and talks about getting some contract work on the side to help chip in with expenses (lol).  He is getting around better these days with sustained efforts, and we are drilling him on left side skills/focus/attention.  

Recent visits with friends from Boston and San Diego were awesome, and we're continuing to be spoiled by all the delicious food and meals coming in, the stud muffins especially, and of course Jon.

If you want to be added to the meal rotation please call Diane (503-659-1689).  If you can do a Dale care shift (includes moving around & bathroom help) either on Thursday evenings 4-10, or Sunday afternoons 12-4 please e-mail Patty at flashlightpatty@gmail.com

As always, thank you all so much for the continued support, love and prayers.  Our love to you.

Walhoods (Patty, Dale, Megan/Jeremy, Jim/Gretchen, Mark)

--

Patty

Patty's First Treatment

Patty had her first chemotherapy treatment last Thursday, and generally it went much better than expected, without any of the potential side effects that can happen during the session.  The worst thing about it was the ill-fitting chair that had to be endured for five hours, and the complicated pill therapy/timing instructions that began the same day.  We're hoping to have a pillow solution to the chair issue, which actually left a bruise or two behind (chair too big, hard pokey things in the wrong places).

The first couple days after treatment weren't bad at all, with just a little fatigue, but the last couple days has seen the expected joint pain show up.  Medications are helping control the pain somewhat, but it's still unpleasant.  All together, not as bad as expected yet but still a real drag.

There has been a lot of organizing of assistance the last couple weeks, and we're working on lining up additional at-home care for Dale while Patty gets needed rest.  Folks are helping out with meals and other chores, shopping, etc., and somehow everything is still holding together for the moment.

Below is the link to the blog where we have a "Walhood Meals Calendar" page that you can click on the upper right hand side.  On the calendar itself you'll find Dianne Saulsbury's email and a menu/recipe suggestion guide thing.  If you're able and interested, you can check in with Dianne to sign up for a meal drop-off.  We thank you in advance for everything from kind thoughts to meals, etc. etc.

www.dale411.blogspot.com

We'll keep this one short for now, mostly wanted you to know things are moving along OK for now and holding steady.  All our love to you and yours.

The Walhoods

Patty Update

Sorry for the delay, we'd hoped to get this out yesterday.

We met with the oncology team yesterday (same two doctors Dale had last year).  The mass in Patty's right lung is a recurrence of the endometrial cancer she beat in 2005.  It is unknown how long the tumor has been there, but the doc thought it was likely a slow-growing tumor that has probably been there awhile.  Although surgery is not possible, and there is no cure given the size/location, there are options for therapy and our worse fears were not confirmed.  The doctor was talking about initial treatment going until and perhaps beyond the holidays.  While still awful and terrible and messed up beyond belief, we are grateful for the blessing of time.

On October 1st Patty will have the first of 4-6 chemotherapy treatments (combination of carboplatin/taxol) which are done once every three weeks.  It's a 5-hour in-clinic ordeal taking the chemo, but a friend and snacks can come along for the ride.  We do the first three treatments and then another CT scan to decide if the next three sessions will happen.  Apparently it's usually most unpleasant for 2-3 days after each treatment, with fatigue, nausea etc. lingering sometimes for up to a week.  Just about the time you start to feel totally normal again, you go back for another round.  

The goal of the chemo is to extend and improve the quality of life.  Chemo is the first choice, but after the initial round of treatment, depending on Patty's response, there are other options including anti-estrogen therapies (tumor has an estrogen receptor), as well as radiation.  If the initial response to chemotherapy goes well, it can be repeated.  The taxol is pretty intense and requires close monitoring for blood chemistry impacts, anemia, etc.  

It's hard to say much else right now, except we're all just going along one day at a time.  There was a nice week at the beach with friends and visitors, and the elevator condo was done on time.  Last night was the last night Patty will have broken sleep from attending to dad's sanitation all night long, as each kid is taking a weekend sleepover/care night with Dale, and today we arranged night aides for the other four nights.

By next week sometime we plan to have a few people calling around to solicit help with meals and other stuff, and will post an online calendar of who's doing what when, once that's organized.  We are very grateful for all the offers of help, and apologies if we have not gotten back to everybody personally, but it has been overwhelming and hard to know where to start with things.  Jon Grenfel, Dick and Diane Saulsbury, George and Annis Bleeke, Sarah Rowley, Stephanie Oliver, and Mabsie Walters have been helping out a lot the last couple weeks (thank you!).  The community at Grace Episcopal has also been a treasure once again, and we will take them up on their offers of delivered meals very soon.  

In other news, Megan and Jeremy got nailed by a teenager on Highway 101 in Newport last weekend and rolled/totaled the Ford Escape, but miraculously and thankfully they are both just fine.  That was basically the best thing to happen around here in weeks.  Nobody liked that car anyway and now Patty gets to buy a new one.  We are also blessed to be a family with a good sense of humor.  Yay for the little things!  ;)

Mostly we are happy to know there is a path forward for treatment, and look forward to Autumn and another holiday season with family and friends.  We will let you know how things are going with the treatment when we have news.  

Patty enjoys getting text messages and we are anticipating more normalcy and less drama in the coming weeks.  Trips and a family retreat are being considered, and Patty's getting a cute new daybed.  As always, thanks for the prayers and good thoughts, and we send all our love to you and yours.

Best,

m

-- 

Patty

Walhoods 9.1.15 (Patty & Dale)

Not feeling particularly writerly at the moment, but there is news, and Patty asked me to send out a note.

Dad is doing quite well, and been stable now for many months.  He needs daily care and help with getting around, but is otherwise perky, eating well, enjoying good company and food, and coming off the end of a summer with lots of quality time at the beach.  

Unfortunately, we got some really bad news about mom today, which is the subject of this message.  Maybe sit down if you're not doing so already.

Patty had been complaining this year about chest pain, which we all thought was related to doing so much physical lifting and other strenuous activity while caring for Dale.  There was actually an earlier diagnosis for the chest pain, which turned out to be wrong.  More recently when the pain persisted, we did another round of tests including an x-ray.  Patty got a call from her primary care doctor at the beach last week with some scary news about the x-ray, and today we met with a new doctor (pulmonologist) to get the news.

The x-ray and two other tests done in the past week show a large cancerous mass in her right chest, which appears to have started in the lungs but has now 'eroded' and metastasized into the rib cage, chest wall muscles and lymph nodes.  We won't get the diagnosis/prognosis officially until our appointment with the oncology team on September 17th (biopsy was done today).  The pulmonologist was careful to avoid a diagnosis, but guesses it is round #2 of the endometrial cancer Patty had successfully treated ten years ago.  It is unlikely that surgery will be an option (no good 'margins'), but we are expecting treatment options involving radiation and perhaps chemotherapy in an attempt to arrest/stop the growth.  

Patty is very concerned about quality of life, and not up for a debilitating knock-you-down treatment (especially if it's heavy-duty chemo).

Sorry to just drop the bomb like that, but we are all in a state of shock and there's no easy way.  It's way too much to bite off all at once.  Patty has been the primary caregiver for Dale, as well as managing the Georgie stuff (97 years old!) for 1.5 years now.  Those of you who know this family well know it's a matriarchy, and I don't think any of us know what we're supposed to do without Patty running the show.  It's unimaginable, really.

The family is going to the beach from September 7th - 16th while the elevator at the condo is out of commission, with other caregivers/friends already signed up to join us.  There won't be much else to share between now and our oncology appointment on the 17th, after which we'll send out another update, perhaps with options for support and meals, etc.  We are covered for the moment with caregiving, food, etc.

All our love to you and yours, any prayers and good thoughts headed are way appreciated.

Mark (+ Patty, Jim, Megan, Dale)

Annual Report

It has now been over a year since Dale's diagnosis and surgery.  A year since we were told Dale would be lucky to live six months.  This has been a year of huge change in our lives and a year we have learned (and are still learning) to live with our "new normal".  Things with Dale's cancer have been quite stable for several months.  We recently went back to the oncology department and will be having another MRI (first since July) in the next few weeks.

Here is a link to a recent 60 Minutes segment about GBM (Dale's cancer):

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/polio-cancer-treatment-duke-university-60-minutes-scott-pelley/

Interesting.  We did contact Duke and they called us.  Surprising.  They gave us a number to call if we determine that the cancer is growing again.  

As we both adjust to this new normal I am finding that keeping the on-going calendar on the blog is no longer working for me.  So for now I will take it down.  We are still delighted with visits and sometimes outings. Just give a call: 503 284 3184 will get us if we are at home.  Or email me.

I will not be sending out future updates as long as there are no changes. If there is any news I will share it immediately.  So don't worry if you hear nothing.

Thanks again and again to everyone for your willing hands, support, and positive thoughts and prayers.  You have all made this past difficult year possible to get through. 

Our love and continued thanks to you all!

Dale Update - 71st Birthday

Sorry it has been so long since the last update.  It has been an eventful few weeks for us.

Dale's condition continues to be relatively stable.  That is no major changes - just a gradual slowing down.  He has somewhat less energy and ability to move around and spends more and more of the time sleeping. He is still coherent and enjoys visiting and television.  We are just taking one day at a time.

This past week has been full of events. Last Saturday (March 7) brought Dale's 71st birthday which we were so grateful to be celebrating. We had a lovely eventing open house with chocolate cake and champagne. Sadly,  the day also brought the news of the death of Jim Lewis, husband of Dale's dear cousin Connie.

On Sunday we attended church and Dale sang with the choir.  Later that evening Frank Springer passed away (at age nearly 103).  He was Jimmy's grandfather and much beloved by all of our family and all who knew him.

Next, on Thursday, came my mother Georgie's 97th birthday.  We had a nice little party. Mark also got the keys and access to his exciting new home in Milwaukie.

See party picture:

The next day (Friday 13th!) brought my 71st birthday and a memorial service for Grandpa Frank.

Now I am taking a moment to reflect and catch up with our update..

Dale is needing 24/7 care.  We have help 25 or more hours a week from Jon Grenfell.  Jon spends time with Dale, helps with his care, showers , laundry and general morale.  In addition Mark, Jim and Gretchen, and Meg and Jeremy as well as friends spend time with Dale so that I can get out do do errands and keep up with some activities.

I am trying to keep up the calendar on the blog:

http://dale411.blogspot.com/

As aways we love visits and appreciate all of your kindness, thoughts and prayers.

Blessings

Patty

February Already...

It is now 10 months since Dale's  brain surgery with the initial grim prognosis.  There is no real explanation for the fact that there is still no change in Dale's condition.  Here was last month's description:

"Dale's situation remains stable.  He is able to get around well on walker and cane and is still really enjoying each day.  Some days he is very active.  Often he sleeps quite a lot.  All in all much to be thankful for."

Things remain essentially the same. Our lives have fallen into a routine. We have our spaces arranged well for Dale's comfort both in Portland and at the coast. 

Dale is still loving visits and opportunities to tell some stories.  I am working on using voice dictation to convert some of the stories to text.  Fun.

Getting together with folks for meals continues to be a nice break for us both. See the support team sign up on the blog:

http://dale411.blogspot.com/

Dale is interested in trying to make a trip to the southwest but logistics for such an undertaking seem overwhelming. We are still considering options.

In case you missed it, here is the link to the nice NPR story about Dale and lefse at Christmas time:

http://www.northcountrydaily.com/news/npr/371941681/for-norwegian-americans-christmas-cheer-is-wrapped-up-in-lefse

Keep believing in miracles and enjoying every minute.  That is what we are trying to do every day.

Much love to all of you...

Patty

Happy New Year and update #1 for 2015

Dale's situation remains stable.  He is able to get around well on walker and cane and is still really enjoying each day.  Some days he is very active.  Often he sleeps quite a lot.  All in all much to be thankful for.

We had an active and enjoyable holiday season, with some singing at Grace, a traditional family Christmas Eve with crab, nice Christmas dinner at Kennedy School with the family including Georgie and her friend Stuart.

Boxing day brought our annual family dinner with the Bleekes.  This year they brought the dinner to us and it was wonderful.

Over New Years we were able to share our place in Lincoln City with family friends (also an annual tradition we were grateful to experience again this year)

Dale seemed to enjoy it all and really likes any chance to tell some stories. It was a special treat to have some visits from out of town friends during the season as well.

A calendar to sign up for visits is posted on the blog:
http://dale411.blogspot.com/

We love company and shared meals.

Blessings and love to all:

--
Patty

Holiday Blessings and Latest Update

Could not resist.   Wishing you love and good reading in 2015!

First the update:  Dale continues on his singular path through this cancer.  He is up and around everyday, getting out to church and yoga class.  At the moment he is out for lunch with some good friends. He enjoys meals and visits with friends and is still telling lots of good stories.  Since we are no longer on hospice we have been back to visit our primary care doctor who ordered routine blood tests for Dale.  Tests came back showing all his counts have returned to normal levels.  This is more good news.

On Wednesday we went out to cut our Christmas tree at our regular spot and found a perfect one for the new space.  Still working on paring down the decorations from our big Irvington house.

A couple of weeks ago Deena Prichep, a free-lance radio journalist who lives in Portland, came to interview Megan, Jeremy, Dale and me about traditional holiday foods and specifically lefse.  Megan and Jeremy made lefse and she recorded the sounds.  Actually we had a great time talking about traditional Scandinavian foods and our memories.  She has let Megan know that the feature will air sometime this Sunday on weekend edition.  Listen for it if you have the time.  I can send out a link to it later after it airs.

We are continuing to count every day as a blessing and trying to enjoy some of our normal holiday routine.  Dale still loves to have people drop by to visit and listen to stories.  His remains positive and upbeat.  He does sleep a lot and has a good bit of confusion but thankfully no real discomfort.

Our family wishes all of you good times with family and friends this holiday season, and a blessed 2015.  

Book recommendation:  Everyone should read this! Being Mortal by Atul Gawande.  (and thanks to Paula and Sidney for telling me about it)

Again and again our gratitude to all of you for the love, support and prayers.

-- 

Patty

News of the day: Hospice gives Dale the boot

Today Dale is officially no longer a hospice patient.  He is doing too well to remain on.  It is still hard to imagine that in the middle of August he came home from the hospital unable to get out of bed, eat or drink water,  and on oxygen.  

Today we visited our favorite bookstore: http://achildrensplacebookstore.com/ and enjoyed wine and dinner with friends who brought Dale a new cane to practice his walking.  While we have no rational explanation for this miracle we are all so very grateful to be enjoying a little more time.  Our dear friend Stephen calls this an Indian Summer and we are hoping for a long and warm one.

As we are adjusting to our new home and Dale's increased energy our current needs for help and support are changing.  We have all been granted the opportunity to spend more quality time together. We have just moved all of Dale's family history boxes and his writing journals into the study and he looks forward to spending some time looking through some of this, sharing some stories and perhaps having someone record some of the stories.  Also he loves just visiting with folks and telling his stories.

The calendar on the blog http://dale411.blogspot.com/ has asterisks on mornings or afternoons when Dale would welcome visitors. Times are flexible except where specific ones are noted.

Dale also greatly enjoys sharing meals and visiting with folks at mealtimes.  It works well for you to bring food and enjoy our condo/bistro but also Dale is really up for meeting somewhere for lunch or early supper/happy hour.  He is really getting around well enough to enjoy being out and about.

The calendar goes through mid December and probably we won't do another update until then unless something changes.

Thanks as always for your continued love, support, prayers and wishes.  We are blessed and grateful.  I am attaching a photo of Dale and his best buds from a trip a couple of years ago:

-- Much love

Patty

Peaceful Time on the Lake in Lincoln City

A great blue heron on our dock this morning.  Dale and I are just finishing a wonderful six day stay at our beloved Freshwater Cottage at the Oregon Coast.

This is a long overdue update.  The good news is there is not much change in Dale's condition over the past couple of weeks.  He continues to get around well with the walker and enjoy short outings, visits with friends and family, yummy meals, and lots of naps.

We have been joined here at the coast by friends and family for two day visits.  We have so appreciated wonderful food that they have brought to share. Our thoughtful neighbor Micki had groceries waiting for us when we arrived and then brought fresh chocolate chip cookies the next day.

We head back to Portland today but hope to plan more visits here in the next few weeks. We are hoping to settle into a pretty regular routine.  Later today or tonight I will be updating the support team calendar on the blog.  Please check it tomorrow to see our needs. There will be regular needs for "Dale buddies" plus some opportunities to help unpack a few more boxes.  

Dale is really enjoying visits from friends and family.  He often has a story to tell and likes hearing what folks have been up to.  Call our land line 503 284 3184 if you are in the neighborhood and have a few minutes to stop by.

Dale is also really happy to be  getting back to attending church at Grace and even has been attending a wonderful gentle yoga class there offered by our friend Sherri. 

Finally again we are more grateful than you can know for all of the care, prayer and good thoughts you all continue to send our way.

With much love and gratitude

-- 

Patty

Thanksgiving for Miracles

A dear world traveling friend called us the other day (from Scotland) to say that he had been to Vilnius Lithuania about three weeks ago and had visited the painting of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of the Dawn) known to grant miracles.  He said that of course he does not believe in such things but he was there and decided to ask for something wonderful for Dale Walhood.

Maybe it was that, maybe all the prayers and good thoughts from everyone, maybe Dale's stubborn Norwegian nature, maybe all of that, maybe something else. We can't know but we are so grateful.

Dale continues to improve - he is stronger, mostly just using the walker to get around, enjoying any food he likes, visiting and storytelling with friends  and family. Sunday we took the dogs to the St. Francis service at church.   Yesterday we took a day trip to Lincoln City.  It was glorious.  

We are completely out of the Wygant house.  A new young family is moving in and we hope they love it as much as we did.  

That never could have happened with out the combined efforts of so many of you.  You were amazing, providing love, caring, LOTS of physical labor and wonderful meals. 

The condo is proving to be a bright, cheerful, convenient place to be.  We are all feeling comfortable here, including the schnauzers. 

Again, the kinds of help and support we need have changed.  With Dale able to enjoy a variety of activities and visits we are calling a halt to the moving and unpacking frenzy.  The rest of the stuff can wait.

We hope to go back to a more regular routine of being present and enjoying each day as it comes while we can.

Support needs will be listed again on dear Debra's blog:

http://dale411.blogspot.com/

Mainly we need buddies to spend time with Dale while I shop, run errands and get some exercise. Also we would love to have friends bring dinner and share it with us a couple of nights a week. Email or call me to arrange that.

In addition, Dale would love to have people drop by to visit and see our new digs.  Maybe take a short stroll around the area.  Just call our old land line.

The only Constant is Change Part Two

Sorry it has been so long since the last update.  Things have been pretty crazy in our lives.  First and most important:  Dale continues to get stronger and a bit more active every day.  He no longer needs oxygen or a catheter, gets up almost on his own, walks a bit with the walker and is enjoying all the yummy and healthy (mostly) food we can give him.

He has gone to our usual coffee date the past four Saturday mornings. (The past two times our dear Pam Cogswell has provided transport in her van)

In addition he has gone out for dinner twice in the neighborhood to places he can roll to.

We seem to be in a good holding pattern for now with the cancer and intend to enjoy every second.  Dale still loves visitors when he is awake.  It is ok to stop by - maybe just give a call first to be sure.  We will be on Wygant until nest Saturday (9/21).  Then at 1718 NE 11th Ave.  #306. Same phone numbers.  

Other changes that have come our way pretty fast:

• House sold/new sewer and chimney work done/packing like mad for move in (yikes) one week

• Had to move Georgie (my mom) from regular assisted living to memory care with short notice.  Almost done with that one thanks to a great  amount of help from friends.

• Mark made an offer on a house with a HUGE yard in Milwaukee and it was accepted

• Jimmy got a new job in the Evergreen District at Sifton Elementary - started last Tuesday and wife Gretchen made a big switch after teaching grade 5 for at least 10 years - she is now working in an exciting team situation with second graders.

Meg and Jeremy are keeping Viking Soul Food going three days a week (Thurs - Sat) and it is going well and still allowing lots of time to hang out with the Dale.

The big change coming next week will be an adjustment from living for 12 years in this wonderful house with fenced yard for Ozzie and Harry to a third floor condo with a modest deck.  Someone is going to be doing quite a bit of dog walking.

Our blog and Walhood Support Team needs will be updated sometime today.  If you have any problems with the sign ups email me.  We are suspending meal deliveries  for a bit until the new kitchen is up and running.

Thanks for all of your thoughts, prayers and hours and hours  of help. 

-Love to you all-
Patty

All We Can Count On Is Change

Dale continues to march to the beat of his own drum - no surprise really.

He has astonished us all by growing stronger, being up in the wheelchair more, and most of all by beginning to be able to eat and drink regular stuff.  We are all working on "mindful eating".

Dale is sleeping lots but really enjoys company when he is awake.  He loves being read to and visiting and telling stories and looking at pictures with friends and family.

In the midst of everything else, our house has sold, work is being done on our new condo, we are busily finishing packing and plan to move sometime in late September.

Needless to say some of the kinds of help we needed last week have morphed into needs for different kinds of help.  And we fully expect them to change again and again.  We have altered the sign ups on the blog:

http://dale411.blogspot.com/

-- Thanks more than we can ever say to all of you for the prayers, thoughts, love and amazing support.

Patty (and all of us)

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.

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Patty