Several years ago my Mom was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. It is a progressive disease of the lungs, and there is no cure. Those with it have between 3 to 5 years.

The treatment is basically oxygen therapy until your lungs can no longer function, then...

"Nana Ruth" has been on oxygen for 3+ years now, and the disease has ramped up. We checked her into Methodist this past Friday. She won't be going home. She'll be moved into a nursing care facility soon, and we're talking to the hospice people tomorrow about end-of-life plans.

Those who have met my Mom have experienced her drive, fierce independence, and "Joie de Vivre". The hardest thing for her has been dealing with the gradual loss of her ability to tend to everyday things, do things she enjoys, and recently just care for herself. This drive is now a good thing, as she's turned it the other way into accepting what's happening and is willing to accept help. "Mind is good, body is shot".

I'll keep y'all posted as we know more.

Very sorry to hear this, John. This is never an easy road. Been thru it with my Dad and Mother-in-law. Our thoughts are with your entire family.

Sorry to hear about your mother John. Hospice will be great help for your mother and the rest of the family.  They helped my mother for several years and did a wonderful job.

So sorry John, I too have been there.

Hang in there.

Bob

John

Having spent a little time with Nana Ruth and you guys at the cabin 'up nordt', she's a strong independent woman and she will finish this part of her journey with her head held high.  She reminded me of my own 'short and spunky' mother who passed away from ovarian cancer 16 years ago, so I had a mental bond with your Mom.  

As things get harder here in the coming time, think of the times together and all that you did for her during the good times.  That will help you on the other end.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.

Stan

Thoughts and prayers go out to your family.

Sorry to hear about your mom.  We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.

I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but she sounds like quite a mom.

Positive vibes and prayers sent to you and your family John.

Sorry to hear about your Mom John!

Shannan’s uncle just passed away yesterday in hospice care.  He was stubborn and wouldn’t allow it sooner but was great for him pain wise, comfort, care level, etc.  Wish he’d have done it for months versus a week. 

Amazing what a week under intense hospital-level care can do. The underlying problem/disease hasn't (nor will ever) go away, but now she/we have another baseline to work from.

She's in much better spirits, visibly and physically stronger, and some of the difficulties she had previously have subsided. We're moving her Monday to a different Senior living building. It's within the same "system" as the apartments she's in now, but this campus has a section that have more intensive/attentive care capabilities apartments - and will work with the hospice people.

Anyone want to adopt a 13yo, sometimes cranky but affectionate cat?

That's good news, John. Good for her.
Sorry we can't help with the cat. Barb is allergic to them.

Mom's settled in at her new digs... "The Glenn... Minnetonka".

She's already .... They're in for a wake-up. Everything except for her physical strength is 100% - there's NO problem with her lucidity, or with her reasoning - which is something that the people on this unit don't seem to be used to. She won't settle for the "status quo"... especially at the prices they charge.

She's already got a meeting set up with the director(s) of this/that/and the other thing and is gonna give 'em an EARFULL about her first 24 hours in the new place tomorrow.

(I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for a few days... they've got to learn more about her, her needs, and expectations. She definitely doesn't fit into the "mold" of an elderly person passing time until they're called up!)

Wishing all the best to you and family John

Mom's getting settled into her new "digs". We've brought over some of her furniture, pictures/paintings, etc., and made her room a bit more "homey".

The care staff at the new place have been getting a dose of "The Rath of Ruth"  - she is not your typical elder in nursing care. The biggest difficulty has been meals. She likes her meals hot, the meat with a little juice/tender (not incinerated), the veggies a bit crisp (not boiled into mush), and some spice/flavor (not bland). We're working on it with the chef. (He's actually a great guy, and is going to  with the care staff - they tend to get complacent with the elderly and forget their duties)

Sheryl & I have been busier than a one-legged guy in a a... you know.
Afternoons & evenings have been spent packing up her apartment. I shouldn't complain too much, as we've got it pretty easy - Mom did a major "blow-out" of stuff when she moved from her townhouse to the apartment.
We've got a mover lined up for tomorrow (7/3), and they'll take her stuff to a storage unit near our house.

Today is my day... There will be a tractor-trailer in front of my house by noon!

Appreciate for the updates.

Many of us have or will go through this in one form or another.

This triggers memories, mostly savored, for many of us.

Your approach is healthy and puts a positive spin on one of life's most difficult challenges.

Thank You

We care.

Karl

It is with heavy-heart I need to tell you that "Nana Ruth" passed away this morning sometime after 6am.

She already had everything planned out and set up, save one thing - her final disposition. We don't know where she wants to be! She had no religious requests, and had stated "Funerals are for the living, I don't really give a rip... I won't know one way or the other."

We're bending towards a bio-degradable urn with a seedling in it. We'll plant her on the cabin property and let a tree grow in her memory... this way we can remember her as a part of what she loved to do - gardening - and we'll have an recurring reminder for generations to come.

Sorry to hear about your mom. Will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.

John D wrote:

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It is with heavy-heart I need to tell you that "Nana Ruth" passed away this morning sometime after 6am.

She already had everything planned out and set up, save one thing - her final disposition. We don't know where she wants to be! She had no religious requests, and had stated "Funerals are for the living, I don't really give a rip... I won't know one way or the other."

We're bending towards a bio-degradable urn with a seedling in it. We'll plant her on the cabin property and let a tree grow in her memory... this way we can remember her as a part of what she loved to do - gardening - and we'll have an recurring reminder for generations to come.

---

 Dang, sorry to hear this. The urn sounds like a good plan and probably one she would approve of.

Do you have a memorial planned ?

Sorry to hear about your mom.

Planting something at the cabin to remember her is a great idea.

Sorry to hear that John.

My sympathies, John

Sorry to hear about your mother.  You and your family have our sympathies.

God bless you and your family John.

Very sorry to here this, wish you and the family well.

Sorry John, the tree thing sounds like a great idea to me as well.

Enjoy and cherish those memories, as we approach the last phase memories are the things we value most.

Tina and my thoughts and prayers are with you and the family John. 

At least any further suffering is done, and she's now in a better place.  She was a special lady, and Tina and I were lucky to get to know her a little bit at Saratoga North.

John,you Sheryl and the family are in our thoughts and prayers.

I would like to thank all of the Northstar Members for your kind words during this difficult time. Mom's passing was a blessing for her, as it ended some unimaginable suffering. A comfort to us was that we had time to prepare - both mentally and worldly - and the incredible forethought and planning my Mom did in the prior years. A Bio-Urn is on it's way, and our thought is to inter Nana at the cabin over labor day weekend. There's this little "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree/tenacious/I'll never give up" pine seedling growing in one of her gardens. We're going to move it to a clearing in the lot to the North, and it'll become the Nana Tree. Thank You All again for your support during this difficult time.

A Bio-Urn is on it's way, and our thought is to inter Nana at the cabin over labor day weekend. 

We had a nice little gathering/ceremony after lunch today. The "kids" are up at the cabin with us, and we made Nana a permanent part of the lakeshore.

Mixed emotions this Labor Day weekend... Tomorrow is Sheryl & my 30th Anniversary. Our kids will be with us, so I think I'll be celebrating life!

That's a great view for your Mom and sounds like she would be very pleased from what you have said previously!

Thoughts are with you and the family!

Happy Anniversary!

Burying a parent brings on 50+ years of memories and it's a strange emotion/knowledge to know you will never see them again.

Happy anniversary. Enjoy the time with your children.