A Message to the Sandpiper Family

Judy has sent out an email to update how they are dealing with his throat cancer. Tony & Judy lived this past winter season on lot 407. Sad tidings....

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Hi All......

We ended up in the ER yesterday AM and Tony was admitted with pneumonia......

Hospice will come by later today and finalize his admission into their program.....they gave us a booklet about the physiological stages of dying and following the path in the book, and although miracles do happen, he is likely only days from passing....a social worker has stopped by as well and provided additional support and Tony's brother in law has been great with details (knowing what to do and who to contact in the area, etc)......his sister is understandably having a very hard time and their family just this past Monday lost an uncle as well,

Tony is on a morphine pump and a patch for continuous pain management and getting fluids because he was terribly dehydrated (we just couldn't get him to eat or drink - apparently according to the hospice booklet, that is the natural progression of dying - and one aspect that families seem to have the most difficulty with)....he is receiving antibiotics for the pneumonia via IV as well....for the most part, he is as comfortable as can be expected....the folks at the hospital in Houston have been great....

the past 48 hours or so have been especially bittersweet.....we have laughed and cried and loved so much....this disease certainly leads family members to the 'letting go' stage more easily - what pain is endured by the patient!!!!

there are still many details to work out and while I have given some thought to what I will do after Tony is gone I haven't figured it all out just yet....

guess this is all for now......will keep you posted.....thanks for all of the support you have given us in the short time we have known you, and for the wonderful thoughts and prayers sent our way.....

I don't have my Sandpiper directory with me so there are many folks I wanted to include in this email, but unfortunately couldn't, so please share my email at your discretion......

Thanks again for all you have been to Tony & me.....Judy