This is a journal kept by Dan’s caregivers during the last three months as they gave him 24-hour care.
Please feel free to add your thoughts to the blank pages at the back.
It helps so much to know that others loved him…
Thank you, Dan’s Mom, Lyvonne
Jan. 16, 1987, Friday 4:15pm
Dan is sleeping. (pah!) (Clare)
9:00pm
It snowed all afternoon – beautiful! Michael Hofmann spent last night here – Dan has had dinner and is going to sleep now. I’m going to sew awhile until Darrel comes home (hopefully). -Lyvonne
Feb. 10, 1987
No one has written in this log in over a month – what’s up? Too busy? Well, I’m gonna sit right down and tell anyone who opens this how beautiful they are, and how blessed I feel I am in knowing each and every one of you. Thank you! You’ve (we) shed a precious white light on a very tragic situation. Incredible. I love you all! -Patti
Feb. 11
We just got back from UMC – and 2 pints of blood. Dan’s first trip down these steps in a wheelchair with Bill K. (a real adventure – bumpy) and first trip up the steps coming home – (smoother) thanks to Michael H. on the other end.
Dan’s dad came by the hospital to see him and spent some time. “He cried…” was Danny’s comment after he left. Those were precious, valuable tears that Dan longed to see, to let him know his dad Did love him. Wonderful!
2 pints are much easier than three.
Getting Danny to the car was easy but the wheelchair wouldn’t squeeze into my trunk – Claire & Michael materialized at just the right moment and rescued us. Yea!
Problems starting and re-starting the I.V. but once more Rayn persevered. -Love, Lyvonne
Feb. 22
I’m hung over, Dan’s feet hurt, Darrel’s making coffee. Happy Sunday! -Anne
Feb. 23
Quiet evening – Dan is sleeping peacefully – Had a great evening talking with Lyvonne and listening to Darrel’s stomach growl. I’m going to go home and try to fix my jair to look like one of the “Happy Goodmans”. – by the way – I like your entry, Anne! -Jan
Feb. 24
Bill took Dan to hospital – Transfusion day. Michael Tamarack met us there and Wayne, Carol H. & Amy, Dan’s dad, Clare and Spot (I mean Elizabeth). Slow blood today – almost 2 hours per unit – Rayn even used a pressure bag on the last one. God home and ex-pastor from Phoenix – 20 years ago and his 23 daughters were waiting. Horrible timing! Dan would maybe have only tolerated them under better conditions, but this was awful. Darrel and Elizabeth covered for me so I could take them away to see Dan’s brothers, so he wouldn’t have to deal with them. He’s pissed at me for leaving. Yuck! Back now and he’s sleeping – meeting at Clare’s tonight -= hope I can go, but may need to stay and do penance. I don’t want Dan angry at me now.
County nursing supervisor talked with me today regarding Dan – wanted information to help others.
Great meatloaf Darrel! -Lyvonne
Wed. 25 Feb 87 2:30pm
Michael Hofmann has the flu and wasn’t able to come around this morning. Oh, and Chee came up with some lame excuse for not showing up at noontime. So, Spottie and I (and Mike the nurse) have had a lovely day with Dan.
Dan has been awake most of the morning and very on top of things (i.e. the dresser, the VCR, the piano, etc.) -Love, Clare
Feb. 26, Thurs.
Midday and it’s raining and thundering outside. Inside it’s warm and very peaceful. While Dan was awake we had a gentle conversation about dying. He told me he hated it when “people” say things like “I could walk outside and get hit by a car.” I understood. I said it was a weird