Thank you

Thank you everyone.  The support shown to Shawna and her family has been amazing and inspiring.  I have heard many times how hard it has been for those who couldn't attend the service.  It was a beautiful celebration of Shawna's life.  Shawna picked the music, scripture and other details that made us feel so close to her.  Nothing more so than a breathtaking video of her from a church service earlier this year.  Her words were so profound, so honest, and so true.  Her voice pure and full of love and faith.   Beautiful words were spoken by Will, family and friends.  The worship team she spent so much time with sang just for her.  The love in that room was tangible with hugs, stories, tears, and laughter at the reception.  Thank you to those who attended, and for those who could not, please know your love and best wishes were felt from afar.

There is a special service to remember Shawna at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances on Sunday, November 4th @11:00am.  The address is 209 Victoria Avenue.  Phone # is (807) 274-5233.

It has been an honor and privilege for me to contribute to this blog.  Alexis will have this always as a way to remember her Mom's journey and read posts from those who loved her through it.  God Bless.

Terri 

Service details

Our chance to gather together to say goodbye to Shawna is a precious time.  Please join us at 1:00pm on Saturday October 20, 2012 at Bow Valley Christian Church, 5300 - 53rd Avenue N.W. in Calgary.

Thank you for respecting the family's wishes of privacy and peace during this time.  Will and Alexis are holding up well and now welcome phone calls from those who wish to offer expressions of love and support.

If anyone has any questions, please leave a message on the blog with contact information and I will contact you directly to help out any way I can.

God bless each and every one of you who have been on this journey with Shawna.  What an honour it has been for us to be on this journey with her.

Terri

Peace

Shawna died peacefully in the late evening of Monday October 15th. 

In her final days, as all those before, she was surrounded by love.  Her last day included time with Will and Alexis and the constant attention of her parents.   

It is time now to pray for rest for everyone who has lovingly cared for her.  Linda and Willie have been completely devoted throughout this journey. I have witnessed mothering at it's most profound, most loving, and most difficult. Linda has cared for Shawna tirelessly with grace and gratitude.

The staff at Sarcee Hospice provided wonderful comfort to both Shawna and her family.

I will post details regarding the funeral service when they are finalized.

Thanksgiving

Thank you everyone for your continued love and support, your birthday wishes, and ongoing prayers.  Today is Thanksgiving, and I know Shawna would want us all to be truly grateful for our many blessings.  I know she is grateful for her family - her devoted husband Will and amazing daughter Alexis.  Her Mom and Dad - Willie is back in Calgary and he and Linda are by her side through this journey.  Derek and his family supporting and loving her from afar.  She is thankful for the staff at Sarcee hospice who are giving her wonderful care.  She is grateful that her symptoms are relatively well controlled - medications being changed and adapted as her symptoms change.  She is thankful for the wonderful flowers from friends and family, Alexis' beautiful decorations and the yummy treats she has been enjoying.  Most of all, despite this long fight, she is thankful for 38 wonderful years with a beautiful family and amazing friends.

Linda has been spending most nights with her.  Sharon, Christine (back in town for a few days) and I are taking shifts to give Linda some rest.  She enjoyed her birthday last weekend.  Will and Alexis spent the afternoon with her and brought scrumptious cupcakes.  Linda, Sharon and I spent the evening with her.  We watched her blow out candles and shared one of her favourites, carrot cake.  She even sang Happy Birthday with us.  Amazing voice, even now.

This is a slow journey, but we are grateful for every moment we have with her.  I know many of you have been awaiting news - thank you for your patience and respect.

Terri

News from Shawna

Hi Everyone.  Shawna has made some notes with her Mom with news she wants to share.  I will write as she has dictated so you can hear it directly from her...

- sleeping going better with Mom staying in the room with me.

- Dad left for home Saturday.  He had certainly got to know his way around calgary; thank goodness for the GPS!

- helped Alexis with math homework the other night - felt good to tax my brain.  Math was one of my favorite subjects in school.

- Alexis seems to be settling back into the school routine.

- soccer tryouts are over - she is waiting for her game and practice schedule.

- guitar lessons will be happening again this year.

- Will is busy working out the house routine.

- my room in the hospice is quite large and nice and bright.  Sharon re-arranged my room.  I have family pictures, beautiful flowers from friends and a Build A Bear from Alexis to keep me company.

- my friend Emily (Queen's roommate) was visiting until Saturday and Nat (other roommate) was here earlier last week.  On Wednesday, Emily and I enjoyed a tea (weekly event at the hospice) and of course dessert.

- some days I am more alert than others, but all-in-all I have settled into my new home.


Shawna's symptoms are being well controlled.  The staff at the hospice is fabulous.  Sharon and I spent the evening Friday (Sharon overnight).  The palliative care physician was in and was amazing.  He answered all of our questions, and was fantastic with Shawna.  He even drew a graph at her request to better explain the information he was giving.  Her Mom will be sleeping at the hospice with her to provide support throughout the night.  Will and Alexis will visit after school, maybe for some more help with homework!

She has asked that people not visit unless someone contacts you.  She is only able to visit for a few minutes a day and she would like to spread it out.  So as she requests to see people, we are phoning and scheduling visits.  Thank you!!

Shawna is up to date with the blog posts - she enjoys them all.  Thank you for the words of love and prayer, scripture verses, and the funny stories.  She loves hearing them all, and I think all of us who love her love reading them too!

Terri

At Sarcee Hospice

Shawna made the decision yesterday not to wait for a bed at Rosedale hospice.  She felt she needed to go sooner and asked for the first available bed at any hospice.  At around 1:00 yesterday afternoon, she made the brave walk down the stairs, lay on the stretcher and rode in the transit van with her dear friend Natalie to Sarcee Hospice.  Natalie was able to spend yesterday and today with her before flying home.  Emily is en route here today and will stay to be with her until the weekend.  Christine had to say goodbye to flew home and be with her family.

So far it has been a rough transition for her, with a bit of confusion and disorientation.  The palliative care physician visited today and reported that this may be alleviated with a change in medicine and a couple days of adjustment.  Will, Alexis, Shawna's parents and Sharon took shifts yesterday.  We will take turns spending the night with her to ensure she's not alone.

There is evidence of slow changes, but despite her wish to be with the Lord her body is not quite ready to let her go.  We're encouraging her to spend her time with loved ones, doing things she enjoys as much as she can.

All the blog posts are being read to her, so for those words of love and encouragement, we thank you.  Her smile is still radiant, her beauty shining through.  I will update again as new information arises.

Terri

UPDATE  - Shawna just phoned.  She wants everyone to understand that she may communicate by text to you, but she is having a hard time putting thoughts and words together.  She may be texting during the night as she is often unaware of the time.  Her messages may be confusing or disorganized, and she just wanted for everyone to be aware.  She contemplated not using her phone at all, but I assured her everyone will be thrilled with any message she sends us and we'll treasure every letter and word.  Thanks everyone.

Transitioning to hospice

After much thought and prayer, Shawna has made the decision to go to hospice.  The home care team is aware that she will take the next available bed at Rosedale Hospice.  This won't happen today, but could be as soon as tomorrow or Monday.

She just phoned me and has requested prayer for this transition - for herself, Alexis and Will.  She also requests prayer to feel peace now with this decision.  She is doing okay today, with symptoms under control.

Will post again after the move to let everyone know how she is doing.

Terri