Update on my Grandmother

After spending all week down in Southern Oregon, Galena and Caedmon and I drove back home last night. My Grandma hasn't eaten for nearly a week – with the result that the cancer isn't really growing anymore, but only because she's slowly starving herself to death. She's not in a lot of pain, but it's very sad to see her so weak.

The latest update from my uncle, who's still down there, and with her every day:

It feels so strange doing family updates – Mother always did that. She is growing weaker by the day, but still talking and answering questions, and asking lots of questions.

Today she cried so much. Said her emotions were flowing.

We had another 30-40 people through the house to see her.

One sad note was watching Mother's dishes and decorative collections being distributed to family members. Mother asked us to start taking things home. I carried out some of Mother's prized red dishes to the car and bawled on the steps. It really brought home that this is it.

Lloyd was able to identify one of the folks' 1935 wedding gifts and packed it up. Mother told the story of how they got the cake stand – originally made in 1855. Each member was told if they took something, it could not end up in a garage sale.

She can still share and enjoys visiting at times, but other times she starts dreaming, she says, and talks about things that we do not understand.

She wants to get out and help us. Worries about the house.

Wants the noise to be kept down.

We had a grand church service with her last night.

Most of the family left up north for a few days of work. Lloyd is still here keeping Amber and Dad company. Amber looks so tired. Her family came over for a couple of hours to be with their mother.

The Mail Tribune came out and did a story on hospice and our family. They are doing a story on nurse shortage. Wonder how it will play out.

As Mother would have written,

Sad in Phoenix,

Larry.

Some more pictures from our time down there: