And Then

By Wednesday morning, Dad's painkiller dosage had been inched up a few times to make sure that he was being kept comfortable. He slept very deeply for the entire day, and he appeared to be at peace and without pain.

Ron Vogan passed away on the evening of Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at the age of 64.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial visitation next Tuesday, July 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at Weaver Family Funeral Home in Campbellford. A memorial service will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, at Weaver's Chapel. For details, please visit www.weaverfuneralhomes.com.

More of the Same

POST FROM STEPHEN:

Dad continues to sleep most of the time. After visiting him yesterday, we felt that he was sleeping more lightly than before and was waking more frequently, apparently with some discomfort. Today, the nurses increased the painkiller dosage slightly to try to compensate.

When Mom and I arrived today, Dad happened to be having a wakeful moment. He clearly recognized us and gave us a bit of a smile. Jonathan and Jacinta arrived shortly after, and we had a few minutes all together with Dad awake and aware that we were there, before he drifted off to sleep again.

Dad's sister, Clara, is coming to stay with Mom on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then sister-in-law Bridget will be arriving on Thursday. I am heading back to Toronto tonight and returning here by Friday. I will update the blog with any news on the weekend.

Comfortable Sleeping

POST FROM STEPHEN:

With the switch from morphine to the new painkiller, Dad slept very deeply for the rest of Thursday -- which was a relief after the events of the last several days. The doctors then wanted to try reducing the dosage of the painkiller to see if they could allow him to be conscious some of the time while still managing his pain.


After the dosage was reduced, Dad woke up Friday morning but was in some pain and was still somewhat confused and upset. The nurse gave him "a little something" to help him relax, and he promptly fell back asleep for another six hours. By the time he awoke again, he was clearly in a lot of pain. We asked if he would like an extra boost of the painkiller, and he was able to say yes; within a few moments of receiving the boost, he was back to being sound asleep.


Today he slept very comfortably for almost the entire day. He awoke very briefly in the middle of the day and needed an extra boost of the painkiller, but he immediately fell back asleep. We are expecting that this is how the next few days will continue. All of the family is in agreement that we want to make sure Dad is kept comfortable and free of pain. When he is asleep, he appears to be very peaceful, and we are taking some comfort from that.

Back in Hospital

POST FROM STEPHEN:

Over the last few days, the side effects from Dad's increased morphine dosage had become much more significant. His state of confusion had progressed to the point that he was having delusions and was becoming paranoid. He started to distrust the various caregivers (including Mom), and he was getting increasingly upset over imagined problems. He'd also been restlessly moving around and trying to do much more than he should, and we've all been getting worried about his safety.

Last night he did not sleep well, and even with multiple boosts of morphine throughout the night, he was still uncomfortable and in pain in the morning. After consulting with the VON and the personal care workers, Mom decided to call for an ambulance to take Dad back into Campbellford Hospital. The doctors have now replaced his morphine with hydromorphone, a similar drug that is supposed to have fewer of the side effects. He has now been sleeping very soundly and peacefully for the afternoon and evening. We are hopeful that returning him to hospital and switching his medication will help to keep him more comfortable and settled.

More info to follow in the days to come.

More Morphine

POST FROM STEPHEN:

A few days ago, the home care nurses decided it was time to increase the amount of morphine that Dad receives. The good news is that this change appears to be keeping him free of pain. Unfortunately, this also means that he is groggy much of the time and is starting to get confused very easily. He is sometimes able to focus on a topic for a few minutes, but then he will become distracted and will start to mix up details of the conversation. He is remembering some things that are happening but is forgetting many other things. And there are moments when he realizes he's getting confused and not making sense, and then feels very upset.

He is checking his email only sporadically now, and he's having trouble understanding what he's reading. If you'd like to contact him, it's probably better to give a phone call to the house rather than emailing. And if you call, it's a good idea to talk to Mom and share information with her as well, as Dad may have trouble remembering what you talked about later.

Dad seems to still enjoy seeing visitors, but short visits are probably all he can manage at the moment, and with only one or two people at a time.

Jonathan and Jacinta came for the afternoon yesterday, and we had a nice quiet Father's Day together.

Anne and the Art of Motorcycle Riding

POST FROM STEPHEN:

Anne

Mom is now back home after a couple of days away with her friend Sandra. While she was gone, Bridget did an excellent job keeping an eye on Dad and the household of animals. (Thank you, Bridget!)

Ken, Tom, Violeta, Jayden and Abbie also came for a visit today. Violeta brought along her scissors and gave Dad a much-needed professional haircut and a trim for his scruffy beard.

Motorcycle Riding

Cal zoomed in this evening on his shiny new motorcycle and took Dad out for spin. It took a bit of work (and some help from the Red Cross personal care worker) to get the IV bags and pumps and tubes safely arranged; but once Dad was on the bike, all you noticed were his dark sunglasses and his cooool attitude!

Day 2 without Anne

Hi
It's Bridget blogging for Ron.
We are settling in to an early night after another busy day. I didn't finish out yesterday as Ron was on the go most of the day. Barb, Brenda and Linda came for a fun visit and Gord Reid and Brian Finley were here for a time working on lighting for Westben.
This morning started with the Red Cross support worker, Gord Reid continuing his accelerated course in working the lights at the theatre and an uneventful afternoon with a visit from the VON nurse Amy.

He's at my Mercy

This is Bridget at Ron's. I am here to understudy Anne for a few days. We waved goodbye to Anne and Sandra about a half hour ago.

Hot and Humid Monday

POST FROM STEPHEN:

Dad's been having a busy, tiring day and asked me to post an update for all his fans.

He's had several visitors recently to keep him entertained. Yesterday, Ken and Bridget (Ron's brother and sister-in-law) came in the afternoon and stayed for a dinner of Chinese takeout. Today, he had a good visit with Mark and Samantha Cameron and their daughters, Mackenzie and Delaney. Dorothy Peters (next-door neighbour for the last 30+ years) came by with fresh strawberries from Bill Little's farm. Sue Gibb (with whom he worked at CDHS for many years) came by bearing beautiful flowers. And Murray Fischer (former CDHS teacher, choir director, and the man who 24 years ago complimented my technique in curling, the only sport I was any good at in high school) just arrived with his wife, Connie.

Dad will be back on the blog soon with further colourful commentary. Visitors at the house continue to be welcome and appreciated. If you'd like his undivided attention, you can always call ahead to plan a time when nurses or other visitors aren't around.

Sunday Trots

Two kinds of trots happened this weekend.

I've not been doing the one kind enough and I know I did promise to talk about them less but the nurses have threated medical action if I go more than 4 days without any.  It was particularly difficult for Anne but we managed to do some.

The other kind happened when Tom Sherry trotted his horses over here and took Anne, Sandra, Stephen and me for a trot behind his team to visit Muriel Godden.  It was a truly wonderful thing to do - thanks Tom.

Saturday's company

We had a lot of visitors on Saturday.

First of all, even before Saturday we were thrilled to welcome Sandra Neill from Whitehorse, Yukon.  Sandra lived in Campbellford from 1972 to 1985 while her husband Doug taught at the same school as Ron.  Anne and Sandra have remained close friends ever since and they were planning to go to the Stratford Festival.  She will stay for several days.
 
Stephen has been here since Friday night.

There was also company earlier in the week that I may not have mentioned.  I've lost track but will post this for now and be back after supper.

On Saturday:

Cal was here (with car not motorbike)

Clara and Dan along with Brandon, Rona, and Ethan came down from Clara and Dan's cottage.

Deb and Bill Hughes with daughters Julie and Christie were here as part of a short holiday to Quebec.

Wayne rented a car and took a drive in the country just to see us.

At one point the VON was here at the same time as all of these so that there were as many as 15 people here at once.

We also had two Red Cross home care workers, one in the morning and one at night.

Maybe I am the lucky one

Maybe I am the lucky one.

At least I have Anne looking after me - who will look after Anne? (Stephen, I guess, but that likely won't be the same as a spouse.)
Most of the time we have decided that this is OK.  Everyone dies, I'm just doing it a bit earlier than average.

We just said goodbye to J & J.

Today we had a VON and a Red Cross volunteer in as well.  I'm impressed by the amount of home care available.

More care and family is coming tomorrow.

Regards to all.


Ron

I'm never satisfied

Hi

Somewhere upstairs there is a wireless keyboard that is nicer to use than this one on the laptop.  I'll get it set up this weekend and it will make blogging easier.  Today was a good day.  I kept down everything I've eaten although I have not eaten a lot.  I am tired though so may quit for the day.  Anne just came in with strawberries from a neighbour so there is another reason to quit and enjoy the comforts of home.

ttyl

Ron

Home on Wednesday

I must have goofed.
I know I wrote a blog post earlier today (Thursday) but I cannot find either it or the draft that it usually automatically makes.  Likely, I lost it when I had a phone call or a visitor earlier today so I will make a point of sending this short one now before something else happens.  It was too late to blog when we finally got set up Wednesday night.  I am home, all is well (sort of) and I am doing OK.  More later.

First Tuesday Back Blogging

When I fired this thing up a short while ago it said I had used 95 percent of my free data so I suppose it will start costing my sister and brother-in-law more money now.  I hope it is a small amount.  Anyway, tomorrow I'll be blogging for free (sort of) from home.

Ben and Ana have some news that a very elated Bridget just passed along to me.  They are expecting a girl next fall.  I think Ben has a maternity blog somewhere but I don't seem to have a link to it.  He has some Smug Mug picture pages but you will need a password for them.  Mayella and Ana and Bridget are all walking on air.

The move home tomorrow may take most of the day tomorrow so I won't likely blog until evening.  They won't start disconnecting anything in the hospital until all the stuff is ready at home so they are guessing 6 pm before I am up and running there.  So the best way to contact us on Wed is by phone.  Home looks good.

I'm going to clean my teeth and do other bedtime things.

Best wishes

Anne's Appointment

POST FROM STEPHEN:

Mom had her appointment with the specialist in Peterborough today. Essentially, there is not much new information to report yet.

The doctor confirmed her diagnosis of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) and said that the scan suggests the affected "precancerous" area looks to be about 3 cm in diameter. He still needs to confer with the radiologist, but it looks like the plan will be a lumpectomy of the affected tissue (which would be a day surgery) followed sometime after by 3 to 6 weeks of radiation treatment. Another option would be a full mastectomy (with no radiation); this would be necessary only if a large percentage of the breast tissue needed to be removed, but it was also presented as an option available to Mom if she chose. In either case, the prognosis for recovery is excellent, and this has all been caught at about the earliest stage possible.

After reviewing things with the radiologist, the doctor will contact Mom later this week to confirm her treatment plans. The surgery could be scheduled for as early as the end of June, but she will find out and decide more within the next week.

Monday Evening

Hi

Most of you have noticed that Stephen may not have much of an update about Anne posted yet.  I think he is working on his post while I do this one.  The trip was a bit disappointing for her as she didn't learn as much as she had hoped but what she did learn will be posted by Stephen soon.

I did manage today to put my doctor on the spot more than I mentioned earlier but am having trouble figuring out how to say it.

Essentially he admitted that my blood tests were not showing enough improvement for Kingston to do anything to improve my comforts much.  I'll go home with a pain med pump and a nausea med pump as well as a rehydrate IV but there is not much chance that they can do anything else to help me other than wait and adjust the med levels when necessary.  So, basically, they are sending me home to die.

I'm cool enough with that as there had not been any real hope of recovery for some time, so I'm content to "get 'er done" or at least let it happen.  I'm not doing anything to speed it up.

As for timing, they don't know of course and are reluctant to guess but I won't likely be longer than several weeks and I won't be out and about much in the meantime.  We are trying to arrange a ride on Cal's motorcycle as a bucket list item but not sure we can do that.

Speaking of Cal - he is wonderful!!

In the meantime I get all kinds of offers of what people can do to help but honestly cannot think of much.  Most food does not appeal.

You are all wonderful and we do thank you for all your offers of help.

Thanks to my brother-in-law Dan for getting and funding the Internet dongle and to nephews James and Brandon for delivering it.

ps When you put a comment on the blog it gets emailed to me too.  Also, if you are logged in to any google account it will display your name instead of making the comment anonymous.  If you are not a google user, it would help if you sign your comments.

Cheers

Hope to be Home on Wednesday

I am still in Campbellford Hospital.  The home care people want another day to get ready so I'm scheduled to go home on Wednesday, June 6.

So if you are passing through town on Monday or Tuesday you can visit me in the hospital or on Wednesday at home.

It is awkward to describe how I am as it can change throughout the day.  Pain control is good, except when I crank up the morphine pump I get sleepy.  I still get nauseated but for briefer moments than before.  I am better hydrated than last week and am not so constipated.  My colour is better.  Stephen and Anne are here now and are headed for her appointed consultation this afternoon.

Stephen will post an update after she is back home.

Thanks for all the best wishes.

Ron

Why blogging is better than email

Mainly because
- everyone sees the blog - use email only if you really want a private chat.
- if I am emailing I can't be blogging.
- I'm way behind answering email.
- Thanks to David Cope, whose email topic, along with others, includes the words "don't bother replying".
 - Anne treats each email like a mini essay to write and will never get caught up.

Please don't take this as a whine - I do take the email as a sign that you care and want to help even though there is really nothing anyone can do.

And then I read more of the emails and feel that I was whining. Some of the emails are truly beautiful and inspiring.  Feel free to keep them coming but replies may be scarce.

regards

Ron

Blogging is back

As of 12:05 am on Monday June 4 I am blogging live again.  This time is also thanks to my sister, who has arranged for a 4G Internet stick at some unknown and likely unreasonable cost.

Friday in Campbellford Part 2

I am back.

Stephen has keep you up to date so there is not much else to say except thank you again for all your kind wishes and offers of help.

Anne, Dan and Clara are out having local Chinese food.  They brought me some takeout that I ate first.  Very good s and s chicken balls.

Enjoyed it very much.

Tiring - got to go.  Will blog from home next Tuesday, June 5.

Cheers

Friday in Campbellford

Hi

I'm still in Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) and expect to come home on Tuesday.

I'm able to do this in the hospital because Clara has configured her cell phone to be a wifi hotspot.  Otherwise I do not have any Internet access here at all.  I'll take a look at email after I post this.

We are working on getting my meds to work with each other and to work on IV and needles so that I don't have to take any pills and risk throwing things up.  My last throw up was yesterday's breakfast, which I tossed right in front of the doctor.  That got his attention and the invitation to stay here through the weekend.  I think we are very close to getting it all right so that I can go home.  By Tuesday they will have more home care arranged than they had before (and I thought it was good before) as well as some relief time for Anne.

Of course Anne has her visit with her cancer doctor on Monday and then should have a better idea of what he has planned.  I guess Stephen has already posted this for us all.

I shall go and read what Stephen has posted before I do any more.  I'll be back in a few moments.