Dear Friends,
As you know, Dan has been battling brain cancer for the past five years now. He has been in hospice three and a half months now since the beginning of December. He started out at home but, after having a seizure at our home on New Years Eve, he was no longer able to stay at home. He and I reside at a hospice home where he has full time 24/7 care. I can’t say enough about how great the care is here and how loving and caring the staff and volunteers are here. They are all amazing people.
For the past several weeks, I’ve been receiving private messages and I have seen that several of you have posted messages on Dan’s wall sending our family blessings and well wishes. We are grateful for both. Many have expressed how much they miss his blog and others have asked if he will blog again soon.
First of all, we would like to thank all of you for following his blog and thank you also for the blessings and well wishes. We are truly blessed with much love and support from so many family and friends. I can’t thank you enough!!!
I wish I had better news but, unfortunately, Dan is much too weak to continue with his blog. He is completely bedridden now and has been for about a month. He sleeps almost all the time now and has lost his appetite. It is very sad and so difficult to see this happening to such an amazing and caring man who is loved by so many. Even those last two blogs that went out were actually previous blogs that I found in his notes so we posted them. He would ask (a while back) for his iPad but, would just put it down and go to sleep. He wanted to write but, just didn’t have the energy.
I’m sorry that Dan’s blog seemed to end so abruptly. I know many of you looked forward to reading it. Dan had no intention to ever stop writing. The blog was his passion. The disease took over and weakened him to the point where he could no longer write. I want you all to know that Dan loved every minute that he spent putting his blog together and choosing the appropriate music to go with it. He put so much pride into it as he had done with everything all of his life. It was very special to him because in his mind, this was his job. He wanted to help people and he wanted people to keep the faith and never give up as he never has throughout this horrific disease. He wanted you all to know that no matter what, you should always stay positive and be good to others because life is too short. He always said stay focused and follow Jesus. This is Dan’s message to everyone he meets.
God puts angels on this earth who go to heaven once their job is done here on earth. When I say “angels”, I’m referring to good people. A hospice employee once told me that when her grandchildren ask what she does for work, she tells them that she helps angels go to heaven. I thought that was a beautiful description of what hospice is all about.
We all have a purpose in this life so remember to cherish each moment and never take life for granted and always treat others how you would like others to treat you.
God Bless You,
Love, Janet