Val

Dear Friends of Val

It's Lori once again.  It saddens me to inform everyone that Val passed away early this morning.  At the same time, I take comfort in knowing that she is finally at peace...it was a long, long struggle that she fought without complaint.  Pru said she went peacefully, as she had wished.  And how very like her to choose this day!
The outpouring of love for Val over these last few months has been astounding.  Especially in these last weeks, her room has almost always had someone there with her, and I know how she enjoyed hearing from everyone near and far.
Last week, the Val Hamilton teacher-librarian award was presented at the BCTLA conference.  All her work for our profession and learning conditions was mentioned, and Jim Iker was in attendance.  He took the time to visit Val the next day and personally thank her for all her important contributions. A real gentleman, for sure, and I know Val would be so pleased to have heard that conversation.
Thank you, everyone, for every little thing you did to enhance Val's life and final days.
She will be missed.

A Little Update

Hi Friends of Val,

It's Lori here, visiting Val, who is in a very deep slumber. We had agreed that I would come here today to update her facebook page...she would talk, and I would type!  However, she is dreaming and definitely not talking right now.  I visited last night, and she was really alert and very talkative.  I thought she looked great, but I'm guessing it was not a good night, since she is exactly as I left her 20 hours ago.

A nurse has been in to let her know that they will be moving her tomorrow (Thursday, Oct. 23) to Saint John Hospice out at UBC in the morning.  She really preferred it here at the Cancer Agency, and would rather have stayed here, but they gave her three hospice choices and UBC was the one she picked.  The address is 6389 Stadium Road.

She has been really appreciating all the visits, and even if she is sleeping, she loves to hear conversations, so just keep talkin'!

The pain medication is doing its job, and she and the nurses have a good proactive system going so there is not much breakthrough pain.  They get to it before it's out of control.  She also has a couple of infections going on, and is on antibiotics for those.  She's a little flushed and warm from the infection, so actually her colour seems good (although I know it's not good, really!)

I'll check in with her again shortly to see if she wants me to post anything else.

Still here

I am still in the BC Cancer Agency.  We've decides not to do any more treatment, so I'm palliative. No more radiation, chemo, poking and prodding.  Just being kept comfortable and out of pain.  Love my methadone and hydromorphone.   I'll probably move to a palliative place soon.  Right now I'm on an air bed and watch the mountains.  Lots of family and friends visiting.  Even a choir with Jan Alexander.  Many links between my circles.

New infection

Mae and Darline came together and left me mellow after more TT.

Then things went sideways. The nurse started washing me and realized it is infected where the lymph node tumour has broken threw at top of the leg.  Pretty intense for the next couple of hours.  Several nurses, pain and symptom management staff and doctors worked on cleaning the leg, groin and tumours. My meds have been changed a bit.  I'm in a sling that helps with moving me and get a fancy new bed tomorrow.

Dairy queen

Had a good visit with Matt.  Pru massaged my feet and cut the nails.  Boy, did that feel better.  John stayed for a while and shared drug stories.  We take several the same for similar reasons.

Pam dropped by between dinner and bingo at her Mom's.  I was just eating dinner when Maureen came up with some Dairy Queen soft ice cream.  I could feel my Dad watching.  Perfect.

Made some phone calls and caught up on my newspapers.

Top of my leg has hurt all night.  Glad when Lynne came in after her morning Radiation and did some TT.  Bit hard swallowing today.

Doing okay

Lots of visitors made the day go quickly.  They all bring something else to talk about and stay different lengths of time. Listened to the Loins lose and the Canucks win.

Feeling better each day.  The kitchen staff keep tempting me with what they think I will eat.  Today's nurse gave me a good wash.  I was ready for sleep again.

Bad days

My second chemo went well, bit thing started falling apart by Wednesy.  I was taking Methadone with Hydromorphone as a breakthrough.  My Bach was bad all day.  I finally woke up to a team working on me.  The nurse had found me barely breathing. I got 3 doses of Narcan.  Threw up a few times.  Pru was here and helped a lot with cold comprises and her soothing voice. 

The next few days I was pretty dopy and not eating.  I was still getting up to the bathroom,it barely going.  Yesterday I went to Radiaion for some setup CT Scan. Came back and the nurses decided I needed a catheter.  Five of them tried for 1 1/2 hours.  Everything was so swollen and painful.  Time togoback for Radiation with the really good porter, Deepak. Once I was set on the bed it went well.  Some pain at the end that improved when I was back on the stretcher.

A couple of doctors tried the catheter but had no luck.  Was throwing up due to the Radiation.  Finally, a urologist came from VGH with the right tools and had that litle sucker right in. 

Slept well and now not constipated.  

Karen came for a visit. Getting a lot more serious.  Looks like I won't be going home.  Chris and Yuriko brought me a wonderful shawl that Patience knit for me and we talked a bit about palliative. I think I'm ready for it.  We has a good visit.  Pru was next and helped set up for lunch.  I've eaten more today than I have for ages.  

It's taken hours to write this.