I was noticing as I got out the winter clothes a couple of weeks ago, that Clare now fits (although barely!) in the dress I bought for Samantha for Dad’s funeral. It’s funny the way time works, and the things that remind us.
Tag Archives: Dad
A Photo Update…I hope
Let’s see how far I get with this – we’ve been too busy living to spend time writing about living lately! So here’s what I’ve got saved up…
According to my camera, this is from last June. But I think the date is wrong, and it was actually October. Either way, it’s been a while since I went through the pics on the camera!
Re-membering
“My great-great-grandmother, great-grandmother, grandmother, mother are all alive for me because they are part of my story. My children and grandchildren and I tell stories about Hugh, my husband. We laugh and we remember–re-member. I tell stories about my friend, the theologian Canon Tallis, who was far more than my spiritual director, with whom I had one of those wonders, a spiritual friendship. I do not believe that these stories are their immortality–that is something quite different. But remembering their stories is the best way I know to have them remain part of my mortal life. And I need them to be part of me, while at the same time I am quite willing for them all to be doing whatever it is that God has in mind for them to do. Can those who are part of that great cloud of witnesses which has gone before us be in two places at once? I believe that they can, just as Jesus could, after the Resurrection.”
Requiem
Sorry, everyone, for the long silence. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, and I promised myself I wouldn’t write until I could be reasonably sure I wouldn’t be immediately interrupted. We spent most of last week in Texas, because on October 21 my father passed away. Even though we knew he had cancer and this was possible, it was not expected at the time or in the way that it happened, so it has still been a bit of a shock.
Update on Dad
Here’s the email my mom sent out, it tells the story better than I would trying to explain it. The chemo is getting harder, but otherwise things seem to be looking up.
“Just wanted you to know that Eldon had a PET scan last Friday and an Echo cardiogram Tuesday. They both came out good. The doctor was pleased. The cancer has shrunk in most spots. There are still two spots on the lungs. Eldon will have two more treatments and another PET scan after that. He may need only the two treatments instead of the original four more.
Round 4
Here’s the latest on my Dad. He had his stint taken out yesterday (and replaced? I haven’t called to find out if they had to put one in again) and today he has his fourth round of chemo. Here is the novena, which I will be starting again. The good news is, this is the halfway point for the treatments they have planned.
Sorry the posts have been few and far between lately, the girls aren’t sleeping as much as they had been. Or maybe I’m sleeping more… : ) There are pictures coming, but I have to do them from Craig’s computer, which means in the evening, which is really hard. But soon…
Pirate Prayer
Ah, it’s been a while. Things have been slightly crazy. Dad had his third chemo treatment, and that is still going as well as can be expected. He’s tired and sick, but still in good spirits.
Craig’s mom needs prayers now, too. She had a biopsy done Tuesday and will find out September 9 if is it something they will have to treat. In the meantime, she’s recovering from the biopsy and the anesthesia, and trying not to worry too much about what the test results will be. When it rains around here, it pours!
Round Two
A couple of people have asked me how my Dad is doing. Well, I things seem to be going about as well as they can at this point. His hair is gone, but he hasn’t really suffered the nausea that tends to come with chemo, and says he feels pretty good. (He actually sounds better than before he began treatment.)
He had his second treatment yesterday, so (a little belated), I’m starting up the novena again. It’s here if anyone cares to join in.
Thank you for all the prayers and concern, it really does mean a lot to me and my family.
One down…
The news so far for my Dad is good. He is in the hospital and they did one dose of chemo (apparently there are four doses in each round, and they expect to do six rounds total) and that went very well, so they expect him to handle the treatment pretty well. Mom says he looks and sounds better than he has, so that’s good news, too. He should be home Thursday or Friday, and then he gets a couple of weeks off before the next round of treatment. Thank you so much for all the prayers, I know they are helping!
Novena
Since my dad starts his chemo tomorrow, I thought it would be a good time to start a novena for him. I picked St. Joseph, since Dad used to teach industrial arts and enjoyed carpentry until he got sick. Maybe in a few months he will be able to get back to his shop!
Here is the novena I’m doing, but I found several others, so if you want to pray any of them along with me I would love the company!
