Post by SFX on Oct 24, 2011 23:17:01 GMT -4
[shadow=grey,left,300]"An Irish Blessing "[/shadow]Blessing>www.andiesisle.com/ThisBlessingIsForYou.html
- Dedicated to "Frank Cassidy", from The 20th Maine Company B Volunteer Reenactors -[/color]Frank's Journey>www.caringbridge.org/visit/frankcassidy/journal[/size][/center]
From: Katherine Cassidy [mailto:katherine.cassidy@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2011 12:11 PM
Subject: Your notes and postcards, please!
Dear Frank's Friends -
I learned a new level of 'scary' last night. It's being on the phone with a triage nurse at 12:30am, getting talked through how to give morphine to my husband, if he needed it. Astonishingly, Frank's pain eased just five minutes from when that would happen, and we settled into sleep.
These are becoming the difficult days - and nights - that we knew were ahead. We had wanted to accompany the UMM Ukuleles to the ceilidh in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, this weekend, but we cancelled with huge regrets. Because we were with them there in 2009 and 2007, we knew the place and the plans, and imagined all they were enjoying, as the hours passed. We look forward to hearing all the new stories.
I am figuring out now how to make Frank's days the best they can be, from our living room. We will have a hospital bed delivered on Monday, for downstairs. We have the fabulous Hope Pratt as our hospice volunteer, and also visits from Community Health and Counseling Services nurses. It's all a learning experience for both of us -- and I have to say, it's the best learning experience I've ever known.
I wish we had a daily routine, as we've had for years, but we don't anymore. Frank continues his knitting, and we continue to watch "West Wing" DVDs (though we're in the last, seventh season now). Frank has kept his humor, and his kindness, and his appreciation for all the little things.
Here's my newest thought. Given that Frank isn't even reading his email anymore -- can some of you please send him postcards and hand-written notes? Just something so he knows our friends are hanging in with him. For his 61st birthday last June, I asked you to send him birthday cards while we were on the road, in Eugene and Chicago. You sent more than 150 of them, for his most incredible birthday ever. Now, please consider dropping a line of greetings, support, humor and strength to Frank -- from wherever you are, to our house.
I know that hearing from so many of you would brighten his days again. Thank you so much. Meanwhile, Frank has been knitting hedgehogs -- a pattern he picked up last month in Scotland.
with love and gratitude,
Frank and Katherine[/b]