Folks, this was one of the hardest weeks of my life. Val was incredibly, terrifyingly sick all week and we both just barely made it through. She was especially sick on the day of Betty’s funeral, which was lovely and moving and sad and celebratory. The Garrison family has lived Continue Reading
love
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
safely home
Dears, we have made it safely home to Portland. Our fabulous ground crew was waiting to wave us in, haul in the gear (including about fifteen heavy O2 tanks), bring us dinner, and envelop us in big hugs. The dog was ecstatic to see us and we to see her. Continue Reading
snow on Ksanka
We are still in Montana, taking care of one another during these rich days that are at once intense and domestic. Betty, Val’s mom, is holding steady in her weakened dream state, occasionally speaking, very occasionally occupying the same timestream as us. Val is very absorbed in taking care of her Continue Reading
Safely in Montana
Val is safely in Montana with her mom and family, Brooke is safely home, I am still in Portland, and the dog is on the couch. Phew.
sorrow and pie
My dears, It’s been a hard week or two. Val returned from Montana so glad to have seen her family, but exhausted and with a nasty cough. The doctor prescribed antibiotics, and Val felt improvement for a couple days, but since the weekend she’s been intermittently feverish, coughing more, breathing worse, Continue Reading
year end/year beginning
Yesterday, the last day of 2012, Val had her last radiation treatment. The staff signed a certificate for her and did a little clapping song like they do at certain restaurants on your birthday. Yesterday, Val had her last appointment with Dr. T, her Kaiser oncologist. Except that the substitute Continue Reading
breathing better
Improvements continue. Today Val is more alert, in a lot less pain, needing fewer drugs, and breathing so much better than last week it is truly amazing. Tonight she was quietly talking and laughing and even singing a little, with only the occasional dry catch or cough. She went up Continue Reading
Tabor top
Radiation side effects are beginning to make themselves felt: the sensation of something lodged in her throat cost Val some breakfast today and caused discomfort all day, and she is beginning to feel the predicted fatigue (on top of her current fatigue levels). But she was able to numb her Continue Reading
a little kind care
Our friend, ally and tenacious advocate Kyla got us an in-clinic appointment with Kaiser Oncology’s new (as of September) Palliative Care team. The doctor and nurse (the social worker was away) were compassionate, direct, and wonderfully useful in offering suggestions to help with Val’s pain, nausea, and difficulties breathing and Continue Reading