[Oe List ...] Ron Griffith Update

[Ester Mae Cox]

Beret.... my heartfelt best wishes to you and Ron..... I know it's a tough
time, but you seem to be "attacking it" with good hearts and minds and
spirit.... Keep it up!
Ester Mae Cox
-- 
Ester Mae Cox
2330 265th Street
Peru IA 50222-8299
(515) 462-6798
missestermae at gmail.com


On Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 10:43 PM, Beret Griffith
<beretgriffith at charter.net>wrote:

>  Dear Friends and Colleagues,
>
> A lot has happened in the past few weeks. Mid-January Ron was hospitalized
> at Rochester Methodist Hospital at Mayo to treat a severe reaction to
> chemotherapy. We returned home on Friday January 23rd with encouragement to
> contact hospice.
>
> The next week we had an appointment with Ron's oncologist at Mayo.
> Basically chemotherapy is toxic to Ron's body and doing more harm than good.
> He recommended stopping treatments, both infusion and pills. There is the
> option of entering a Phase 1 drug trial - the first trials after testing on
> animals. Phase 1 trials are not designed for effectiveness of a drug but to
> determine safety and tolerability, have the most potential risk and the
> least likelihood of benefit, adding only a couple of weeks to life.  Ron's
> quality of life will be best without any further treatment and hospice care
> will be the most helpful in extending the length and quality of his life. At
> the end of the visit with his doctor, Ron asked that since he is no longer
> on chemotherapy and his liver isn't in as much danger, if he could have a
> martini. The doc had a good laugh and said "yes". So we had martinis that
> night and Ron had his first solid food in a while, a well chewed olive...
>
> Ron's spirits, mind and sense of humor are all in good shape. He is on a
> liquid diet because of obstructions in the intestinal tract caused by both
> the cancer and chemotherapy. The Hospice crew is great and are helpful with
> nutritional information, general encouragement and now pain management. Last
> week Ron began experiencing significant pain, is receiving pain medication
> as needed and remains comfortable. We are out and about some, taking in
> local concerts when possible and are both enjoying visits from friends and
> family. Of course Ron loves talking with people and a few folks stop by
> every day to talk.
>
> Next week Ron will be speaking with members of Junto, a group of men in
> town who meet regularly for an evening of conversation about education,
> philosophy, spirituality, practical application, invention, wisdom-sharing,
> poetry, music, and politics. The invitation says, "Imagine that this older
> brother is struggling with  terminal cancer, and that he has the courage,
> insight, humor and energy to share his life's story, reflections, and
> emotions with you while he lives" - it will be a great evening.* *Ron
> plans to begin his story with the Prologue to *Saviors of God*. The
> invitation came via our former UMC pastor, an Academy grad, now the District
> Superintendent and another man who was in the Faith Journey Retreat that
> John and Lynda Cock offered through our church in the spring of 2007.
>
> We are treasuring our time together and are being well cared for by kids,
> grandchildren, extended family, friends, the food co-op community, the
> Northfield community and...of course our foundational community - all of
> you. We are grateful for your presence, for the notes, poems, prayers,
> books, music, stories, and good wishes many of you have sent our way.
>
> Grace and Peace,
> Beret & Ron
>
>
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