outsidevoice

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Late Wednesday night around midnight the phone rang. We knew why the phone was ringing before we even answered it. (And, really? Does anything good EVER end up on the other end of the line when it rings at midnight? No. It doesn’t.) “Hi, Pam? It’s Maurice. Gene has passed.” And there it was. The [...]

My father in law has battled stage 4 lung cancer since a surprising diagnosis in April of this year. A few days ago, after several painful days in the hospital and his blessing, the family started hospice for him and was told it would only be a matter of days before we lost him. It [...]

I have this saying that I seem to use with abandon, “Every day is a new day.” I’m usually using it in a somewhat sarcastic way by giving it as an answer to the question, “How’s work going?” “Well, every day’s a new day.” I believe I’ll retire that phrase after this ordeal. Because, not [...]

Mom was moved to ICU today. When I arrived this morning, her pulse/ox was only at 88 (normal is mid-nineties), which means she wasn’t getting enough oxygen. After a chest x-ray that was ordered “Stat”, we got a radiologist’s report that things hadn’t changed much. Which in this situation was a blessing. Couple that with [...]

I left Little Rock today. In my rearview was one very tired, beaten down patient and her equally tired, frustrated (and a bit sad) husband. I spent most of my breath uttering the words, “Okay, what do you want me to do?” because, seriously?, I offered very little except a warm body, which was enough [...]

Live from Little Rock – it’s…oh, my G-d it’s Little Rock. Yep, I’m here. First, let me say that Little Rock is a lovely little town. Everyone is very nice. Really nice. Like, cars actually stop and wait for a pedestrian to cross the street nice. It’s unnerving. Rush hour traffic is 4 cars waiting [...]

I haven’t written about my mom’s battle with myeloma in awhile because, well, there hasn’t been much to write about. She was recovering from her first stem cell transplant for the better part of a month and half and then was dealing okay with the remnant effects of that. Mom and Dad had to return [...]

Well, SnakeWatch 2006 continues. But! Before we were completely freaked out by Snakes On The Porch, we had a very big couple of days around here. First, the Mighty Mighty Benjamite got blessed and his Hebrew name this weekend. It was a lovely ceremony filled with friends and family and Husband and I almost got [...]

Mom and Dad left for Little Rock on Tuesday to begin Round Two of the treatment regimen. The upside on this one is that they only have to be there for about two weeks and then get to come home for about a month. The downside is, well, it’s damn hard to go back enthusiastically. [...]