[Oe List ...] Ron Griffith Update

[Sharry Lachman]

Thank you so much, Beret, for this heart-warming report of your  
recent days with Ron and his amazing journey with cancer. So good to  
hear that you've been able to treasure your time together and are  
being well cared for. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Blessings and love to you both, Sharry & Wesley


On Feb 10, 2009, at 8:43 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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