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
Shawna, Will & Alexis 2011
The 3 of Us
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
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
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
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Quick note
Thank you to everyone who has been providing food - it has been fantastic! However, they're running out of room to store it so they've asked if everyone can hold off on deliveries for a week until they can get through some of it.
Thank you. Everyone has been amazing!
Terri
Thank you. Everyone has been amazing!
Terri
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Tuesday September 11th
An emotional 24 hours. Our Shawna is strong.
Will had his surgery yesterday morning and reports were that all went well. Once Shawna had the relief that he was okay, she felt it was time to be with the Lord. She spent much time praying yesterday and made it clear she was ready to go. She communicated this to her parents, Will and Alexis. Christine noticed a sense of disconnect with everyone and then a significant change in her breathing, so Sharon and I joined them and spent the night. Shawna was very much at peace. But, after more than 9 years of training her body to fight, it wasn't ready to let go. So she awoke this morning, and has had a fairly stable day. She drank and ate a bit, and had some special time with Alexis and Will, who is home from hospital and doing well.
This is definitely a difficult time for her. She is finding it hard to be "in between", but realizes that God isn't ready to take her home. Although she is grateful for time with her family, she is definitely tired and ready to be done. And so, we live each day with thanks that she's here, supporting, caring for and loving her.
If it looks like she'll be brighter for the next while, she may call for visitors. Some changes have been made to her medication to better manage her symptoms, and home care has been a great support. Continue to pray. Shawna and Will want to say thank you for all the food that has been dropped off, all of the prayers and offers of help and also for everyone respecting their wishes and not phoning or texting. Thank you!!
Terri
Will had his surgery yesterday morning and reports were that all went well. Once Shawna had the relief that he was okay, she felt it was time to be with the Lord. She spent much time praying yesterday and made it clear she was ready to go. She communicated this to her parents, Will and Alexis. Christine noticed a sense of disconnect with everyone and then a significant change in her breathing, so Sharon and I joined them and spent the night. Shawna was very much at peace. But, after more than 9 years of training her body to fight, it wasn't ready to let go. So she awoke this morning, and has had a fairly stable day. She drank and ate a bit, and had some special time with Alexis and Will, who is home from hospital and doing well.
This is definitely a difficult time for her. She is finding it hard to be "in between", but realizes that God isn't ready to take her home. Although she is grateful for time with her family, she is definitely tired and ready to be done. And so, we live each day with thanks that she's here, supporting, caring for and loving her.
If it looks like she'll be brighter for the next while, she may call for visitors. Some changes have been made to her medication to better manage her symptoms, and home care has been a great support. Continue to pray. Shawna and Will want to say thank you for all the food that has been dropped off, all of the prayers and offers of help and also for everyone respecting their wishes and not phoning or texting. Thank you!!
Terri
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Saturday September 8th
Shawna is still at home and she has made it very clear that is where she wants to be as long as she has full support for medication administration (all subcutaneous) and general care. Home care only provides 72 hours of RN care the whole time she is at home, so we are using those hours wisely. Christine flew in last night and her parents arrive today. Between Sharon, Christine, myself and her parents, we'll provide her around the clock care for now. A few very special people have also offered to help, and they will be added to the rotation as we sort things out. All of this will hopefully be arranged and finalized soon.
I had the night shift last night, and she was relatively comfortable. She had breakthrough morphine and gravol this morning, but otherwise her scheduled meds kept things under control. The RN coordinator is there now, sorting out some additional meds and making sure we have what we need. Christine is there today and Sharon will take the night shift.
Will is scheduled for surgery for his bone flap on Monday and prayerfully all will go well and he'll be discharged home Tuesday. If Shawna should deteriorate quickly, the surgery can be changed last minute. Shawna's brother Derek, flew in yesterday from Ontario and has been able to have some quality time with her.
Yesterday a Hospice Calgary counsellor spent the morning with Will and Shawna to make a plan and offer support as they prepared to talk to Alexis. That conversation was had yesterday after school. Alexis is doing as well as can be expected. We had a snuggle on the couch and played a bit of Wii before breakfast. What an amazing little girl.
They continue to ask that people do not phone the house or text Shawna's cell phone. The phone continues to ring quite a bit during the day and they would like to minimize noise and disturbance as much as possible. If you like, post questions on the blog and I will check the posts regularly and someone will respond/answer as soon as we can.
Terri
I had the night shift last night, and she was relatively comfortable. She had breakthrough morphine and gravol this morning, but otherwise her scheduled meds kept things under control. The RN coordinator is there now, sorting out some additional meds and making sure we have what we need. Christine is there today and Sharon will take the night shift.
Will is scheduled for surgery for his bone flap on Monday and prayerfully all will go well and he'll be discharged home Tuesday. If Shawna should deteriorate quickly, the surgery can be changed last minute. Shawna's brother Derek, flew in yesterday from Ontario and has been able to have some quality time with her.
Yesterday a Hospice Calgary counsellor spent the morning with Will and Shawna to make a plan and offer support as they prepared to talk to Alexis. That conversation was had yesterday after school. Alexis is doing as well as can be expected. We had a snuggle on the couch and played a bit of Wii before breakfast. What an amazing little girl.
They continue to ask that people do not phone the house or text Shawna's cell phone. The phone continues to ring quite a bit during the day and they would like to minimize noise and disturbance as much as possible. If you like, post questions on the blog and I will check the posts regularly and someone will respond/answer as soon as we can.
Terri
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Update
I just left Shawna. She has asked me to update the blog. She managed to write a bit herself, so I will quote her here and fill in the blanks after....
"Had hoped to perk up a bit @ home since d/c from hospital, but really feeling quite low in energy and relying on strong meds to control the headaches & nausea.
- Had hoped to be able to visit with more of you, but find talking quite draining. Also, I have double vision in my left eye from pressure on the nerve, so reading, typing and texting are also challenging."
That's as much as she was able to write. I laid in bed with her tonight and had a long talk. She has taken a significant turn for the worse this week. I called her Mom and Dad, who will be returning to Calgary. They have started giving Alexis more information and will give her the full story tomorrow. She said she feels such a change in how she "feels on the inside". She has fought for so long, that she's not sure how to let go of the fight. She feels she has less time than she expected.
She knows everyone will understand that she is no longer having visitors. She has asked that no one call or texts. She will contact people as she has the energy to make arrangements for a visit. The plan is to talk to home care to discuss maximizing their services. The decision may be made to go to hospice, but we're praying that she is able to stay at home.
Terri
"Had hoped to perk up a bit @ home since d/c from hospital, but really feeling quite low in energy and relying on strong meds to control the headaches & nausea.
- Had hoped to be able to visit with more of you, but find talking quite draining. Also, I have double vision in my left eye from pressure on the nerve, so reading, typing and texting are also challenging."
That's as much as she was able to write. I laid in bed with her tonight and had a long talk. She has taken a significant turn for the worse this week. I called her Mom and Dad, who will be returning to Calgary. They have started giving Alexis more information and will give her the full story tomorrow. She said she feels such a change in how she "feels on the inside". She has fought for so long, that she's not sure how to let go of the fight. She feels she has less time than she expected.
She knows everyone will understand that she is no longer having visitors. She has asked that no one call or texts. She will contact people as she has the energy to make arrangements for a visit. The plan is to talk to home care to discuss maximizing their services. The decision may be made to go to hospice, but we're praying that she is able to stay at home.
Terri
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