[Oe List ...] Ron Griffith Update

[RICHARD HOWIE]

Dear Beret and Ron,
We raise our glass, light our candle and keep you and all the family  
in prayer during these sacred moments.
Love, Grace & Peace,
Ellen & Dick Howie
On Feb 10, 2009, at 11:43 PM, Beret Griffith 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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