It is with sadness that we write this posting. It is with a
sense of grace that we write this posting.
From the weekend of the funeral:
From Christmas:
L.’s mom, the kid’s Nana, passed away just prior to this
year’s Thanksgiving celebrations (November 23, 2013). The funeral was then held
on the 7th of December 2013.
Nana was first diagnosed with non-smoking lung cancer in
January 2012. She was on a genetically matched oral chemo drug for cancer treatment that was quite effective until
June of 2013. At that point, she decided to proceed with a more typical round
of chemo. We knew this when taking the Alaska Cruise via Holland-America. In
fact, she was recovering from her first treatment when we went. It was
important to her for her grandchildren to see the glaciers (something so
remarkably old) before they melted. We also knew this through out our cruise down to Gig Harbor and back. A reality of the cruise that L. and J. lived with was thinking through alternative plans. "How do we get L. to her folks if her mom takes a turn for the worst?"
Nana continued this round of chemo through
the summer but it was found to be ineffective by August. She tried another round of chemo
(different concoction) just before visiting us for the Fall Birthday
Celebrations. She was so nauseated on the way home, that after much thought and
prayer, she decided to proceed with Hospice care. Our experience with Hospice
and the Hospice Team was absolutely fantastic.
We made a trip over to the Eastern side of the state to
visit with Nana and Poppy in October. This was a good time to be together. It was
the last time J. and the kids would see Nana. J. was quite aware of this and
thinks Nana knew this, too. We haven’t asked the kids if they felt this way.
In November L. and her sister both traveled to Nana and Poppy’s
home to spend the long weekend with them together.
Nana died very peacefully and gracefully on November 23 with
Poppy, her husband of 47 years by her side. Nana’s funeral was held 7 December
2013, and while full of grief was a great time to be together.
We all came back over a few weeks later to spend Christmas with Poppy and Aunt S.
Nana was quite an amazing woman. Though we write this at a
later date (postdating this entry) we continue to miss her and are grateful for
knowing her and the way she touched our lives.
From our October visit:
From the weekend of the funeral:
From Christmas:
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