Again Bill, I find your willingness and ability to share your thoughts and feelings about your journey through this stage in your life brave. Many people find it difficult to read, I would imagine since dying scares so many. As a retired RN with 41 yrs of full time service under my belt and having often worked with folks in hospice and palliative care, i find your bare honesty poignant. I wish you comfort, love, and many blessings for you and your family.
Wishing you peace at this time. If I can offer any consolation or reprieve, it's that your words in this trying time feel even more alive. I wanted to comment to let you know that your efforts and time are being heard and read.
Dear Bill, I am a family physician who has followed your writing for a long time, each post resonating with your love for the Lord and life and your family and friends. Today, you wrote of Bartimaeus, the same scripture passage explored at our worship this morning. The Lord has given you vision in your suffering state that illuminates Christ’s sacrifice for us all. Please know your writing is holy sacrament to this reader. Thank you for sharing as you are able. Emily
Emily, thank you for those kind words. Going forward, I encourage you to comment more: I would value your perspective as both a Christian and and an FP. I know your comment 'your writing is holy sacrament' was meant to be hyperbolic, but my writing has been worth the effort if even one person benefits from it. So thank you for letting me know.
Yesterday, I went to the funeral of a man who had lived a good and caring and giving life, got dementia, and then died. His son spoke at his service, saying that his dad didn't lose his memories, but rather gave them all away to his family and friends, where they are kept and treasured. This wasn't his attempt to sugarcoat the awful reality of dementia. The son said it-- dementia sucks!
I do think this man stayed engaged with his world and loved ones as best he could, which gave him and them comfort and strength. Your stories give us comfort and strength. I have taken to heart your words about how the sick have gifts to give. This message matters. Thank you so very much. You are in my prayers.
Thank you, Catherine, and I am sorry for your loss. You are correct: Dementia sucks! From your description, your friend handled his illness in the most noble way possible.
Your reflection is truly inspiring. Thank you for offering comfort to all who struggle with suffering. You are in my prayers. God bless you and your family.
You have people you don't know reading your words and praying for you and your family. Suffering itself is isolating. And you have shown that your condition separates you even further. Apart apart from the written word. When that leaves you and you cannot communicate, I will continue to pray that God provides you company.
We muddled through. Safely, I think: no known super-spreader events in the chapel. Successfully, though, I am much less sure about. My role as the parent of young children (and the much longer interval until they were vaccine eligible) ended up informing my behavior and advocacy more than any expertise or insight I might have been able to add as a scientist. Then we ended up moving away for unrelated reasons just before the Delta wave. Our new congregation had to replace our rabbi and we're still finding our feet in terms of community programming outside of services. I fear we are more atomized than before and it gets harder and harder to counteract those trends.
Again Bill, I find your willingness and ability to share your thoughts and feelings about your journey through this stage in your life brave. Many people find it difficult to read, I would imagine since dying scares so many. As a retired RN with 41 yrs of full time service under my belt and having often worked with folks in hospice and palliative care, i find your bare honesty poignant. I wish you comfort, love, and many blessings for you and your family.
Wishing you peace at this time. If I can offer any consolation or reprieve, it's that your words in this trying time feel even more alive. I wanted to comment to let you know that your efforts and time are being heard and read.
Dear Bill, I am a family physician who has followed your writing for a long time, each post resonating with your love for the Lord and life and your family and friends. Today, you wrote of Bartimaeus, the same scripture passage explored at our worship this morning. The Lord has given you vision in your suffering state that illuminates Christ’s sacrifice for us all. Please know your writing is holy sacrament to this reader. Thank you for sharing as you are able. Emily
Emily, thank you for those kind words. Going forward, I encourage you to comment more: I would value your perspective as both a Christian and and an FP. I know your comment 'your writing is holy sacrament' was meant to be hyperbolic, but my writing has been worth the effort if even one person benefits from it. So thank you for letting me know.
Yesterday, I went to the funeral of a man who had lived a good and caring and giving life, got dementia, and then died. His son spoke at his service, saying that his dad didn't lose his memories, but rather gave them all away to his family and friends, where they are kept and treasured. This wasn't his attempt to sugarcoat the awful reality of dementia. The son said it-- dementia sucks!
I do think this man stayed engaged with his world and loved ones as best he could, which gave him and them comfort and strength. Your stories give us comfort and strength. I have taken to heart your words about how the sick have gifts to give. This message matters. Thank you so very much. You are in my prayers.
Thank you, Catherine, and I am sorry for your loss. You are correct: Dementia sucks! From your description, your friend handled his illness in the most noble way possible.
Thank you for continuing to write despite your weariness. Your clarity of thought continues to be a forceful influence to your readers.
Dear Bill, this is stunningly beautiful!!
Your reflection is truly inspiring. Thank you for offering comfort to all who struggle with suffering. You are in my prayers. God bless you and your family.
Bill, my heart is broken, but also filled by your courage. Peace, my friend.
Dear Bill,
You have people you don't know reading your words and praying for you and your family. Suffering itself is isolating. And you have shown that your condition separates you even further. Apart apart from the written word. When that leaves you and you cannot communicate, I will continue to pray that God provides you company.
Much love, grace, and peace.
Aimee Patterson
❤️❤️🥲🙏. Always in my heart🌸
I wish you peace of mind and as much physical reprieve as possible. Your courage and clear-mindedness remain an inspiration.
Thank you, Chaim. I have been meaning to ask, did your congregation come through the COVID-19 pandemic safely?
We muddled through. Safely, I think: no known super-spreader events in the chapel. Successfully, though, I am much less sure about. My role as the parent of young children (and the much longer interval until they were vaccine eligible) ended up informing my behavior and advocacy more than any expertise or insight I might have been able to add as a scientist. Then we ended up moving away for unrelated reasons just before the Delta wave. Our new congregation had to replace our rabbi and we're still finding our feet in terms of community programming outside of services. I fear we are more atomized than before and it gets harder and harder to counteract those trends.
Beautifully written., about such a wrenching experience. The love of your family is a blessing.
Your writing is a gift to all of us. Sending sincere gratitude, and wishing you peace.