changes

Dear hearts, Things are changing quickly these days. Val’s symptoms have begun worsening much more rapidly. As of the last couple days she can no longer get out of bed. She fights constantly for oxygen. The medicines for pain, nausea, anxiety and breathing leave her groggy and often cause hallucinations. Continue Reading

Betty’s letter

Val’s mom Betty married her second husband, Val’s father Miles, in 1963. They spent their summers in northwestern Montana on the cattle ranch where Miles’ parents had lived since 1938. In 1967 (two years before Val was born) Betty wrote a letter to her younger sister Lois, describing her delight in summer Continue Reading

in the blender

Dear friends, here are a few updates: Radiation: The radiation oncology team was able to map out a radiation plan for Val. The trick was to avoid major risk of damage to her trachea, esophagus and heart, yet still target the tumors constricting her breathing. Val has now done eight Continue Reading

missing Betty

Friends, Still no time to write, but I know people worry, so I just wanted to say Val and I are still here. Lots of big events in the last couple weeks, too big to encompass in hurried snippets. The biggest event is that the very beloved Betty Garrison, Valerie’s Continue Reading