[Dialogue] Virginia Pierce Update

[Beret Griffith]

Dear colleagues,
Here is an update on Virginia from Lewie Pierce. 
Your communications and expressions of care and concern are much appreciated.
Beret
_______________________________________________________________________________

From: "Lewis Pierce DDS" <lpiercedds at comcast.net>
To:   "Beret Griffith" <beretgriffith at charter.net>,
         "Ron Griffith" <mailto:rgriffith at charter.net>rgriffith at charter.net
         Subject: Virginia's health, etc.
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:10:10 -0600

Hello Everyone,
Yesterday we had the first Hospice Family Care 
Conference. This is a team from HealthEast, our 
hospital program. The team included the head care 
nurse, a social worker, a Chaplin, a bereavement 
specialist, our oncologist, Brian, Mary, John, 
Karen, Cindy, and myself. First the team gave an 
overview of the services hospice offers to the 
patient and all family members. Then Dr. Mulvey 
did an examination while the team and the kids 
went to another room to talk. Her vital signs are 
good. However, she has more pain, which the 
hospice team is managing it well. She sleeps most 
of the day, and is now upstairs in the bedroom 
all of the time. Her food and water intake have 
decreased and her energy level has decreased significantly.
As much as she would love to see and talk with 
people, with the small amount of energy 
remaining, she is intentional about talking and 
being with children and grandchildren at this 
point in time. Just to have them in the same room 
holding hands generates love and connectedness, 
which we have encouraged so much.
This morning Virginia and I had a reflective 
conversation on the family conference yesterday. 
We both came to the conclusion that Brian, John, 
Cindy, and their spouses have already taken 
responsibility for themselves and their children 
relative to Virginia's dying. Even though there 
will be great sadness, they will go on living 
their lives. That's wonderful! And it gave us 
both peace of mind and comfort, which we shared, 
in rehearsing again the beautiful family we have, 
and that our lives will live on in them.
In summary I would like to share a piece of 
poetry form Dag Hammarskjöld from his book, "Markings"
"You dare to say Yes--and experience a meaning.
You repeat the Yes--and all things acquire a meaning.
When everything has a meaning, how can you live anything but a Yes".
Peace,
Lewie
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