March 23, 1992 Orem, Utah
Dearest John; Roy, Patrice, Emily & Timothy; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
This will be a short letter and I know you will all understand. We have been in touch with each one of you this past week so I know that you know what is going on but I want to record it for my journal.
A week ago today, March 16th, about noon, Daddy started to hemorrhage. I have NEVER seen so much blood - first I called Bob but he was in surgery and his answering service said they would give him the message. Next I called Dr. Brown, the oncologist, and he was out of the office for the day but I explained what was happening to his nurse and she said that would have to be taken care of by his urologist, Dr. Middleton. I called his office but he wasn't available. In the meantime, Daddy just about fainted in the downstairs bathroom so I called John and he was home in about five minutes. John got him into the couch and then just by coincidence, Ramona & Winston came by with some applesauce they had made for him.
Bob got the message and called me and said he would get in touch with Dr. Middleton - it kinda' makes me upset that doctors can get in touch with other doctors but their patients can't. Dr. Middleton prescribed some antibiotics for him because he thought it was a kidney infection so Bob called in the prescription to our pharmacy. John had to go back to work but he came home early and stayed with us for the rest of the day and ran all our errands.
Daddy was in so much pain and there was so much blood and in desperation I put on pain patches before the time they were supposed to be put on. He had three pain patches put on in about the time one and one half were supposed to be put on. Thursday morning I noticed some small rock like things in his blood and saved them for Bob to see. Bob says he is pretty sure they were kidney stones and that Daddy had probably passed even more than we saw. With all the pain medication he was on he wasn't in a lot of pain from about Tuesday on.
Bob came down to stay with us on Thursday and what a great relief that was!!! They called Ann from Viewpoint after I called John in an emergency so she came over and then Jean came but none of us really knew what we were doing. Bob taught me so many things to do for Daddy - he hadn't had his teeth brushed for four days it never occurred to me to brush them. Everyone is so much more gentle than I am - it is my nature to be rough I guess, even though I don't mean to. Daddy prefers even John to do things for him rather than me. He said I cut him when I shaved him this morning and I thought I was doing a good job!!!
You have all been SO wonderful and we love and appreciate you more than you will ever know. Roy & Patrice, we have loved your thoughtful phone calls - talking through things with me has really helped.
Bob & John stayed with Daddy on Saturday while Ann & I went to a luncheon and fashion show over at UVCC. It was WONDERFUL to get out. When I got home they took a break and went over to Lehi to fly Bob's airplane on our farm over there. They agree with me that we could really have some fun family picnics over there so I am not going to lease it after Wilford Brimley's lease runs out on July 1st. That will be the Mellor Hyannis Port - Ha!!!
Bob stayed Thursday, through Sunday and I hated to see him leave but really there wasn't anything he could do. We talked it over and decided to take off all Daddy's pain patches on Saturday night - he didn't even know me and that was hard!!! He has become nocturnal and talked to me all night Saturday. Yesterday, Sunday, I could seen him "coming back" and he is normal today and that's wonderful. I have had to give him two Percocets about every eight hours and I don't think that's bad.
Bob brought Brett with him and he stayed here Thursday night and then Ron came for him early Friday morning and he stayed the rest of the time with the Woolleys. It is SO fun to see Brett and Jimmy play together - they look like twins. Ann has been here every day and sometime they came with her.
We are now waiting for a hospital bed to be delivered. Ann & Ron called last night and said they felt like we really needed one. I hesitated at first but I can see now that Daddy will be so much more comfortable in one. I have rearranged the furniture in the den so they can put it right by the window and Daddy loves that place better than any place in the world. He will be able to look out at his daffodils.
I want to hurry and get this in the mail before our mailman comes so I'll close for now. I promise to keep you all informed so don't feel like you need to call.
We love you all very much - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.