Friday, January 23, 2009

Tribute to my brother Dick


Walter Richard Spaid 1928-2009
Tucson
My brother, Dick, died last Wednesday. He went very peacefully in his sleep. However, he had been in a semi-coma since the Sunday before. I am comforted by the knowledge that he is in peace and in heaven with his wife, parents, family & friends that have gone before him. However, there is a huge gap in my life without him. He will live forever in my heart and mind and the memories we have of him are precious to us. I am so glad we moved him down here from Alaska. One, because he was finally warm; two because we were able to spend so much more time with him. I saw him at least once a day and usually more, and we did so much as a three-some, Al, Dick and myself. He had a wonderful life and we were happy to be part of it.

Dick was born in Simla Colorado in 1928. After graduation from high school he married his sweetheart, Imy. They struggled as all young couples do, Dick finding work in Nebraska. Finally he decided to enlist in the Air Force in 1951. They already had their first child Bobby Dean by then and Imy was not in good health as she had a bad heart. In 1952 they were stationed at Luke AFB, AZ and shortly there after welcomed another son, Bruce. From Luke they were stationed several different places including Texas, Michigan and their first tour in Alaska. They all fell in love with Alaska. In 1962 the AF moved them to Edwards AFB, CA where they had a daughter, Janice Jo. Dick spent three years at Edwards before being sent to Viet Nam for over a year. After Viet Nam he was sent to Wichita Falls, TX and then back to Alaska. From Alaska the AF sent him to Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson where he retired from the Air Force and didn't waste any time going back to Alaska. He spent the next 34 years there. Imy died in 1986 and Dick stayed in Alaska where he worked for the Post Office. Dick had a major heart attack in 1981 and had struggled with a bad heart from there on. But it didn't slow him down from his love of fishing, camping, being outdoors and his gardening,and he loved spending time with family and friends. He was a lot like our father in his disposition as well...a kind and gentle soul.

His care giver here, Pat, was so wonderful to him. And Hospice was great as well. I don't know how we would have managed without them. We can't thank them enough.

His son's Bob and Bruce are here now and I am glad to have them here. They are comfort not only to each other to me as well. We have some work to do, the paper work alone is almost over whelming. But some how we will manage it, we always do.

So rest in peace Dick. You had a good, long life. I will always miss you and love you.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Why can't I get a Break?

TUCSON
Yes, Tucson! We never made it to Lancaster! I can't believe my luck!

Thursday night Al started to cough...all night long. About 3:00 a.m. I got up; got dressed, loaded the dogs in the car (not for protection, but for company) and set out to try and find ANYTHING that was open in Blythe that could possibly have some 1.)Nyquil or 2.) Cough Syrup. KNOWING, there wouldn't be a drug store open, but hoping the Albertson's was a all night/24 hour store..not at chance. After wandering the streets for a while I came up on a "stop and rob", aka, mini-mart. Yup, they had Nyquil and cough syrup, for a high price, but I wasn't quibbling at that point. Back to the hotel (both killer dogs asleep in the car) and doused Al with some Nyquil. He finally went to sleep and we both got about 3 hours of sleep. However, he was still coughing and I had a nagging feeling that this was not a cold.

I finally got up and went in search of coffee...found a Starbucks right across the street and it was like a magnet...Venti please! Came back to the room and Al was not any better, but not any worse. I finally told him we were NOT going to Lancaster. After thinking it over I didn't want to give everyone there a cold, if in fact that was what he had. But more so, I had a gut feeling (I hate those--thanks mom!)that this was not a cold, but congestive heart failure. I really hate it when I am right sometimes! But back to the story. I called our doctor in Tucson and amazingly enough, got an appointment for 3:45 p.m. I got us loaded into the car and we were hell bent for Tucson. I rolled into the medical center parking lot at 3:36 p.m. WHEW! And, as I suspected, yes, Al is in fact in congestive heart failure. Al's kidneys are also beginning to fail due to long term diabetes, therefore he is in double trouble. The doc decided that he wouldn't put Al in the hospital, but try to keep him home and try some different medicine. If that doesn't work, then he will hospitalize him, but I am trying to keep him home. Al has been on a no salt diet (ICK) for the last 10 days and is doing fairly well on it, however, I know it is hard for him. He won't exercise, says it hurts his knees to walk very far, etc. None of this looks good, does it? CRAP! The new meds, plus an increase in the lasix Al takes is making him run to the bathroom a lot more...so he is getting some exercise from his chair to the bathroom! Hopefully he is getting rid of excess fluid as well. The doctor said he had at least 20 pounds (yes, 20) of excess fluid to get rid of. If these pills work I may beg the doc for some for me (just kidding). At any rate, Al is one sick person. And yes, I am worried sick as well. He is still coughing up a storm and I can't sleep for fear he will choke, so I am sleeping with one eye open and both ears open. I think I may have gotten about 2 hours sleep last night. I tried to take a nap this afternoon but either Al would cough or the dogs would bark....there is just no sleep in this house for me.

AND I REALLY DISLIKE BLYTHE. I realized while we were there that Blythe was where we were a few years ago when we got the phone call that Jennifer was so very ill with DVT and in the hospital. That town holds no great memories for me! From now on I will drive miles out of my way to avoid that town!

So, so much for our quick get away. My brothers condition is about the same...he is hanging on for dear life. I didn't see him today...I didn't dare leave the house. I did go out and trim a tree/bush that was taking on my car every time I drove out of the driveway and watered our plants, but that is as far as I got from the house. At least our weather here has been absolutely beautiful this week...in the high 70's or low 80's all week..can't complain about weather!

So, to the Pengilley's, we are sorry we didn't make the memorial for Joe. And to Glennie, Fred, Carl, Ruby, we are sorry about missing dinner tonight. And to Billie and Dan...we will see you some year! And to everyone who has called, emailed, etc, thank you for your support...it means a lot to me!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Ever been to Blythe, CA?

Blythe,CA
Yes, that is where we are tonight. We are on our way to Lancaster, CA to attend the memorial service of a good friend who died last week. I tell you, so far this year stinks!

If you have ever been to Blythe, you know what I am talking about...and if you have never been to Blythe, don't bother! We left Tucson late this afternoon and by the time we got here I was done driving for the day.

My nephew from Alaska is got in to Tucson today and he will stay with his dad until the end. My brother seems to be doing about the same. He is eating very little and drinking very little, but he has the determination to live a bit longer, which is fine with me. The Hospice nurse told me yesterday that every time she leaves my brother she is sure she won't see him again, yet he is still with us. He continues to amaze me.

We SHOULD be in Hawaii right now. Darn, I hated to cancel that trip, but knowing me I would just be worried sick about my brother while I was there, so it is best we cancelled. BUT, all I can think of is the nice tropical breezes, hearing the surf, etc. Maybe next year........

So tomorrow it is on to Acton, CA where Billie and Dan live. We are looking forward to seeing them and other friends. Also I hope to see my youngest brother while there. We will see how it goes.

So until next blog........stay safe and happy.

Friday, January 09, 2009

I am not liking this year so far

Tucson
Okay...I am ready to skip 2009. This year has really started out bad, bad, bad. Outside of the mess in Seattle with the snow, then floods, etc. things here aren't good either.

My brother Dick is failing...but not fast. He is so very sick; renal, liver failure and congestive heart failure, plus diabetes and he has 4 leaky valves in his heart and he is 80 years old. The doctors have taken him off all his meds and he is on "comfort meds" only. He isn't eating hardly at all...oh, he will eat ice cream, with peaches some times, sometimes plain; but not very much. We haven't gotten him to eat anything of substance for a few days now. He was so sick over last weekend. I cared for him on last Saturday and he wouldn't drink or eat anything...not even ice cream. I called Hospice a couple of times and the nurse came out once, took his blood pressure and glucose readings. BP was low, so was the blood sugar. I helped him to bed around 9:30 p.m. and I checked on him every hour. At about 1:30 a.m. I went in to check on him and found him laying on the floor. He had slid out of the bottom of his bed. Of course, I was scared silly. I called Hospice and in turn 911. EMT's came out and helped get him up, nothing broken, thank goodness. So off to the ER we went and spent the night there. I learned I could sleep on those nasty plastic chairs that they have in ER....just not for very long. After 8+ hours, they basically sent him home to die. The doctor said there was absolutely nothing they could do...his BP at one point was 47/30. They did give him a litre of normal saline to hydrate him. That began his rally. The doctor said he would do this, just can't guess how long the rally will last. Knowing my brother, it could last a while...he is very determined to live. Anyway, we brought him home and he slept most of Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday he was sitting up talking, but very confused and not making much sense. His son from San Diego was here and we were both amazed at how much improved my brother was. Today, he is sitting up talking rationally and about back to where he was before all of this started. However, I have been told not to get my hopes up...it is just a matter of time.

In the mean time, I took Al to the doctor yesterday and his blood pressure was 192/121!!!!! The doctor just about flipped. Al's labs show is kidneys are also failing due to diabetes and the meds used to control them. He is only additional lasix (water pills) and potassium pills and increased his blood pressure meds. AND NO SALT AT ALL. Now, those of you who know Al, know how that went over! I have to watch him like a hawk and have started to cook without salt..(ick).. the salt substitute is icky. He can have 1 gram of salt a day...and let me tell you that isn't much. And everything has sodium in it! I have scoured the shelves at the grocery store for low sodium stuff...and haven't came up with very much. Something tells me this is going to be a real battle. I have moved all the salt/seasonings with salt into another pantry/storage closet, but I don't know if that will do the trick.

And then today we received a phone call that one of our friends from Lancaster had a heart attack and died last night. CRAP! And he was only 60! I was totally shocked!

So, can this year get better???? Can't get much worse...or can it? Probably.

On another note, we have had AL's cousin Neal and wife Bobbi here for a few days and that was a bit of a break. They have a big 5th wheel trailer like ours and they parked in our drive and they were nice to have around. They stayed in their "house" and visited with us. They are now in Deming, NM for a few weeks...and they are full time RVers so who knows where they will go next. They always have a spot here.

And our friend from Yuma, Dick and his grandson Corey and another friend were here for 5 days hunting javalina. No javalina tho...I did see two coming up our road, but that was after dark and they can't hunt them then. Smart pigs! Corey lives in Colorado and he was a nice young man...14 years old and very polite and well mannered. He can come back and visit us.

And on that note, I am going to go rest...something I haven't gotten much of lately. All my kids/friends and family are telling me to take care of myself, but sometimes it is really hard to do when you are worried about those you love. It's gotta' get better.

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