This morning around 6:00 a.m., Andrew felt like the time was near. He got the kids up to say goodbye, and pretty soon afterwords, MaeLynn passed on to the other side.
These past couple of days she's been having a really hard time breathing. I'm sure the lovely Logan smog has been no help. I talked to her for quite a while last night, and she sounded really rattly.
She was coherent till the very end, and that was a huge blessing. She was always so mortified when she'd find out she'd been doing something crazy.
It's such a blessing for her to finally be out of that constrictive body, but oh how hard to lose such a sweet soul. I guess she's not lost, just gone for a little while. God bless everyone.
I think the funeral will be on Saturday, but I'll let everyone know more details when we have more.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
January 21, 2011
So MaeLynn seems to be about the same that she has been all week. She's able to communicate fine... just really tired. She told me tonight that she spent most of the day in her chair. She doesn't have much of an appetite, either. She has moments of delirium, but they are very short-lived, thankfully. Andrew told me that she had a fight with a ninja the other day while she was blow drying her hair.
I keep thinking how I always post that MaeLynn loves to have visitors and phone calls, but I'm realizing that Andy needs the phone calls and visits just as much as MaeLynn. Even though he puts up a tough front I know this is really really hard on him. How could it be anything else. So..if you haven't already, let him know you care.
Thank heavens for good medications for MaeLynn, oxygen to keep up her energy, and sweet and helpful hospice nurses. Things are going as well as can be expected, and MaeLynn is not in pain. Till next time...
I keep thinking how I always post that MaeLynn loves to have visitors and phone calls, but I'm realizing that Andy needs the phone calls and visits just as much as MaeLynn. Even though he puts up a tough front I know this is really really hard on him. How could it be anything else. So..if you haven't already, let him know you care.
Thank heavens for good medications for MaeLynn, oxygen to keep up her energy, and sweet and helpful hospice nurses. Things are going as well as can be expected, and MaeLynn is not in pain. Till next time...
"Although the purpose of the suffering is not always apparent at the time, the Prophet Joseph had a singularly spiritual experience as he lingered in Liberty Jail. The Lord comforted him:
“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.”
“Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
“The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?”"
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
January 18, 2010
It was about this time last year that we were planning MaeLynn's gigantic birthday party!
MaeLynn started out the year okay. These last couple of weeks have been a little harder for her. Today Andrew made these posts on facebook:
"Her breathing is very difficult today, and her color is getting in the grey tones. She has a lot of swelling in her extremities, and she feels cold all the time. I'm not a doctor, but the prognosis seems very grim. I'm not making a prediction that this is the end for sure. Heaven knows I've been wrong before, but this just seems like it's worse this time!
If anyone would like to call her that is perfectly fine. She is sleeping alot, but you may get lucky! Visits are welcome also, just give me a call! (435)787-4127"
Andrew also told me that MaeLynn has been in and out of lucidity today. When she was having a "better" moment, she told him that she felt like the end is near. He says she gave him her "two weeks notice"...but who knows.
MaeLynn is a tough cookie! She's sweet and positive, as usual. She's just not awake very much. She and Andrew want to thank, once again, everyone for their thoughts and prayers and kind deeds.
This is for MaeLynn along with all you who've done so much:
"At the final day the Savior will not ask about the nature of our callings. He will not inquire about our material possessions or fame. He will ask if we ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry, visited those in prison, or gave succor to the weak. When we reach out to assist the least of Heavenly Father's children, we do it unto him. That is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ." ---Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
MaeLynn started out the year okay. These last couple of weeks have been a little harder for her. Today Andrew made these posts on facebook:
"Her breathing is very difficult today, and her color is getting in the grey tones. She has a lot of swelling in her extremities, and she feels cold all the time. I'm not a doctor, but the prognosis seems very grim. I'm not making a prediction that this is the end for sure. Heaven knows I've been wrong before, but this just seems like it's worse this time!
If anyone would like to call her that is perfectly fine. She is sleeping alot, but you may get lucky! Visits are welcome also, just give me a call! (435)787-4127"
Andrew also told me that MaeLynn has been in and out of lucidity today. When she was having a "better" moment, she told him that she felt like the end is near. He says she gave him her "two weeks notice"...but who knows.
MaeLynn is a tough cookie! She's sweet and positive, as usual. She's just not awake very much. She and Andrew want to thank, once again, everyone for their thoughts and prayers and kind deeds.
This is for MaeLynn along with all you who've done so much:
"At the final day the Savior will not ask about the nature of our callings. He will not inquire about our material possessions or fame. He will ask if we ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry, visited those in prison, or gave succor to the weak. When we reach out to assist the least of Heavenly Father's children, we do it unto him. That is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ." ---Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Article from Herald Journal
Two Sundays ago, this article was printed in the Cache Valley Herald Journal:
A WONDERFUL YEAR IN SPITE OF SAD NEWS
This has been a wonderful year for our family. Last Christmas we were pretty sad, thinking that this was the last Christmas for MaeLynn. We struggled with the thought, "What do you give someone who is dying for Christmas?" We all chose gifts with that in mind and I will never forget the looks on Kendall's and Ellie's faces as they helped MaeLynn put on her necklaces that they had chosen for her. These necklaces will be theirs one day to always remember that they have a very special angel watching over them.
It seemed that every time we had a reason to get together and celebrate something this year there was that sadness knowing that MaeLynn would soon be gone, we all struggled with it, except MaeLynn. She approached every opportunity to be together as a family with an air of happiness and excitement. She was just happy, and many of us didn't understand how she did it. One day I asked her about it and she told me that once she had decided on her treatment, she was totally at peace and she just wanted to see her family grow closer together and to not let her diagnosis interfere with all the happy moments. I thought about that and she was right, we needed to just forget the sadness and enjoy the moment what ever it was. That was the beginning of our "wonderful year." We took every opportunity we could to just be together. We found excuses to celebrate---often even when there seemed to be none. MaeLynn wanted to celebrate the entire year while she felt good, and so we had her 30th birthday two months early in January. We have had extra Valentines, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving celebrations just for her. When the real holiday arrived we had a "real bonus" and celebrated yet again.
Looking back now on a year full of celebrations we have all noticed the same thing. We have learned to focus on enjoying every day no matter what it was. We have learned the value of love, and expressing that love to each other. We have learned to not look backwards on missed opportunities, but to always look ahead for the next happy moment. We gave each other extra hugs. We gave presents that really meant something special. We all learned the value of serving others---together. We even reached out and asked hundreds of our friends to join us in some of our celebrations. Through it all we laughed, cried, held hands, hugged, sweated, froze, and prayed. This Christmas we all know that the gift that means the most is the gift of family.
There have been hundreds of people who have given us their time and love this year. We have been the recipients of countless acts of kindness and service. We can't begin to thank the many volunteers who have been there to help us at every turn. We have had a truly wonderful year, and the lessons MaeLynn has taught us will forever be in our hearts. Christmas is not about the gifts, but rather in the giving. Our prayer for all of you is that you too have felt some of these yourselves, and that each of you will also have a most wonderful year in 2011.
Note:(Our daughter-in-law MaeLynn Harris was diagnosed with terminal neuro-endocrine cancer 18 months ago and has outlived the doctor's prognosis now by over six months. We are planning on celebrating another Christmas together with her this year.)
Lee Harris Family, North Logan
A WONDERFUL YEAR IN SPITE OF SAD NEWS
This has been a wonderful year for our family. Last Christmas we were pretty sad, thinking that this was the last Christmas for MaeLynn. We struggled with the thought, "What do you give someone who is dying for Christmas?" We all chose gifts with that in mind and I will never forget the looks on Kendall's and Ellie's faces as they helped MaeLynn put on her necklaces that they had chosen for her. These necklaces will be theirs one day to always remember that they have a very special angel watching over them.
It seemed that every time we had a reason to get together and celebrate something this year there was that sadness knowing that MaeLynn would soon be gone, we all struggled with it, except MaeLynn. She approached every opportunity to be together as a family with an air of happiness and excitement. She was just happy, and many of us didn't understand how she did it. One day I asked her about it and she told me that once she had decided on her treatment, she was totally at peace and she just wanted to see her family grow closer together and to not let her diagnosis interfere with all the happy moments. I thought about that and she was right, we needed to just forget the sadness and enjoy the moment what ever it was. That was the beginning of our "wonderful year." We took every opportunity we could to just be together. We found excuses to celebrate---often even when there seemed to be none. MaeLynn wanted to celebrate the entire year while she felt good, and so we had her 30th birthday two months early in January. We have had extra Valentines, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving celebrations just for her. When the real holiday arrived we had a "real bonus" and celebrated yet again.
Looking back now on a year full of celebrations we have all noticed the same thing. We have learned to focus on enjoying every day no matter what it was. We have learned the value of love, and expressing that love to each other. We have learned to not look backwards on missed opportunities, but to always look ahead for the next happy moment. We gave each other extra hugs. We gave presents that really meant something special. We all learned the value of serving others---together. We even reached out and asked hundreds of our friends to join us in some of our celebrations. Through it all we laughed, cried, held hands, hugged, sweated, froze, and prayed. This Christmas we all know that the gift that means the most is the gift of family.
There have been hundreds of people who have given us their time and love this year. We have been the recipients of countless acts of kindness and service. We can't begin to thank the many volunteers who have been there to help us at every turn. We have had a truly wonderful year, and the lessons MaeLynn has taught us will forever be in our hearts. Christmas is not about the gifts, but rather in the giving. Our prayer for all of you is that you too have felt some of these yourselves, and that each of you will also have a most wonderful year in 2011.
Note:(Our daughter-in-law MaeLynn Harris was diagnosed with terminal neuro-endocrine cancer 18 months ago and has outlived the doctor's prognosis now by over six months. We are planning on celebrating another Christmas together with her this year.)
Lee Harris Family, North Logan
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