Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Mature and Complete
I woke up this morning to face another day. Another day since mom moved on from this life. A day where I don't have to be anywhere or do anything for the first time in a while. A day with time to think and just feel. Since then a world has gone on that I didn't even notice. Our gladiola flowers have bloomed in the front of our house. I'm a sports fan and evidently the NHL & NBA have champions and Tiger won some golf tournament. There's been flooding in the mid-west and something about a presidential election. Then there's the rest of the world. It just keeps on keeping on and so are we.
One thing of importance that keeps coming to my mind is continuing on with the things Gene wants to have continued. So I take this moment this morning, as I drink my cup of strong coffee with her, to lift up the Youth Missions in Memory of Gene Booth fund. This effort is incredibly important to her. The Youth Missions is one of the most important tools we have to equip our childern with the experiences they need on their way to become mature and complete. I know there are many children that are in financial situations at home that make a missions trip impossible. With your contribution, no matter how small, we will be able to help send these children on those missions.
Send your check to:
Youth Missions in Memory of Gene Booth
C/O North Atlanta Church of Christ
Attn: Linda Lindsay
5676 Roberts Dr
Atlanta, GA 30338
You can also make your contribution online at http://nacofc.org/online-giving.shtml
Click on Online Giving and you will be taken to the secure online form. As part of the security process you will have to take a quick five minutes to build a profile. It takes as much time as it does to fill out a check and put it in an envelope and stamp it and put in a mailbox. Get the idea? I've done it and proven this works.
One thing of importance that keeps coming to my mind is continuing on with the things Gene wants to have continued. So I take this moment this morning, as I drink my cup of strong coffee with her, to lift up the Youth Missions in Memory of Gene Booth fund. This effort is incredibly important to her. The Youth Missions is one of the most important tools we have to equip our childern with the experiences they need on their way to become mature and complete. I know there are many children that are in financial situations at home that make a missions trip impossible. With your contribution, no matter how small, we will be able to help send these children on those missions.
Send your check to:
Youth Missions in Memory of Gene Booth
C/O North Atlanta Church of Christ
Attn: Linda Lindsay
5676 Roberts Dr
Atlanta, GA 30338
You can also make your contribution online at http://nacofc.org/online-giving.shtml
Click on Online Giving and you will be taken to the secure online form. As part of the security process you will have to take a quick five minutes to build a profile. It takes as much time as it does to fill out a check and put it in an envelope and stamp it and put in a mailbox. Get the idea? I've done it and proven this works.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Services
Gene's viewing will be Tuesday, June 17 from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm at the Roswell Funeral Home, 950 Mansell Rd, Roswell, GA 30076 (770-993-4811).
Gene's memorial service will be Wednesday, June 18. An additional brief viewing will be at 10am and the service begins at 11am at North Atlanta Church of Christ, 5676 Roberts Drive, Atlanta, GA 30338. After services a lunch will be served.
Gene's graveside service will be Saturday, June 21 at a time to be announced at the Willow Springs Cemetery, Willow Springs, MO.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to:
"Youth Missions in Memory of Gene Booth"
c/o North Atlanta Church of Christ
5676 Roberts Drive
Atlanta, GA 30338
Attn: Linda Lindsay
Or online at: http://nacofc.org/online-giving.shtml
Gene's memorial service will be Wednesday, June 18. An additional brief viewing will be at 10am and the service begins at 11am at North Atlanta Church of Christ, 5676 Roberts Drive, Atlanta, GA 30338. After services a lunch will be served.
Gene's graveside service will be Saturday, June 21 at a time to be announced at the Willow Springs Cemetery, Willow Springs, MO.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to:
"Youth Missions in Memory of Gene Booth"
c/o North Atlanta Church of Christ
5676 Roberts Drive
Atlanta, GA 30338
Attn: Linda Lindsay
Or online at: http://nacofc.org/online-giving.shtml
Friday, June 13, 2008
And That Too Is Ok
Gene is sick no more. She has a new body and is doing what she did for all us here; preparing things for everyone. She did it here and I know she's working with God to get things ready for all of us there. That's her nature. A true servant. A true child of God. A saint.
Gene gave her last breath today at about 5:10pm. She was never alone. George and I walked her hand in hand to the gates and the Lord took her home. We then do the things family and dearest friends do at that point. We hold each other tight and pray together some more. We stand fast in the Lord as he gives us the strength, courage and peace that can only come from him and we go on. That's what Gene wants too. Some would look to me and ask what are they going to do without her. Gene wants us to go on.
So go on we will. At times we will be shelfish and cry and mourn our loss and that's ok. But then we will look to God and know that it is all going to be all right. We may not understand now and we may never understand, but we will be reassured that the God that does know all is in control and that too is ok.
There have been many folk that have been angels from heaven during this entire time. God has shined through you more than you know. They took turns with us helping Gene during these incredibly difficult times. They brought food. They held our hands. They gave us hugs. They cried with us. And ALL OF YOU prayed unceasingly. God is good. God is great. All praise and glory be to God.
I'll miss you until I see you again Mom.
Love,
Dane
Gene gave her last breath today at about 5:10pm. She was never alone. George and I walked her hand in hand to the gates and the Lord took her home. We then do the things family and dearest friends do at that point. We hold each other tight and pray together some more. We stand fast in the Lord as he gives us the strength, courage and peace that can only come from him and we go on. That's what Gene wants too. Some would look to me and ask what are they going to do without her. Gene wants us to go on.
So go on we will. At times we will be shelfish and cry and mourn our loss and that's ok. But then we will look to God and know that it is all going to be all right. We may not understand now and we may never understand, but we will be reassured that the God that does know all is in control and that too is ok.
There have been many folk that have been angels from heaven during this entire time. God has shined through you more than you know. They took turns with us helping Gene during these incredibly difficult times. They brought food. They held our hands. They gave us hugs. They cried with us. And ALL OF YOU prayed unceasingly. God is good. God is great. All praise and glory be to God.
I'll miss you until I see you again Mom.
Love,
Dane
Tough Decisions
Today has already been a day of tough decisions. Decisions of what the next steps to take are based on how Gene is doing. Based on how the cancer is proceeding. Based on her wishes. These are tough decisions. Let's address these one by one.
George called me again this early a.m. as Gene's condition continues to degrade. Her breathing has become more and more strained by anxiety. We are giving her more meds to try to ease that anxiety and the strain on breathing that causes. This will give her more comfort and reduce the natural anxiety that comes with difficulty in breathing. Her vitals are more erractic. Her comfort is priority number one at this point.
The cancer is proceeding uninhibited. It is now pressing in even more on her lungs, taking up more and more room that the lungs would normally occupy and use to expand into. Currently her blood/ox levels are slightly depressed from last nights reading however they are still at an acceptable good level. The blood work this a.m. has shown that the oxygen/CO2 levels are good. The first round of chemo still has shown no effects on the cancer. We will proceed with the second round today in hopes that it will also assist in giving her comfort with breathing by reducing the cancer growth or at least slowing it down.
Pray for comfort. Pray for strength. Pray.
In His Shadow,
Dane
George called me again this early a.m. as Gene's condition continues to degrade. Her breathing has become more and more strained by anxiety. We are giving her more meds to try to ease that anxiety and the strain on breathing that causes. This will give her more comfort and reduce the natural anxiety that comes with difficulty in breathing. Her vitals are more erractic. Her comfort is priority number one at this point.
The cancer is proceeding uninhibited. It is now pressing in even more on her lungs, taking up more and more room that the lungs would normally occupy and use to expand into. Currently her blood/ox levels are slightly depressed from last nights reading however they are still at an acceptable good level. The blood work this a.m. has shown that the oxygen/CO2 levels are good. The first round of chemo still has shown no effects on the cancer. We will proceed with the second round today in hopes that it will also assist in giving her comfort with breathing by reducing the cancer growth or at least slowing it down.
Pray for comfort. Pray for strength. Pray.
In His Shadow,
Dane
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Thank you!!!
George wanted me to relay a huge thank you to everyone wanting to help out somehow. The food is overflowing so we can back off on that a tad. People have been signing up to watch over her when we take a brief respite so with more family coming into town we can back off on that a tad too. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For everything everyone is doing. We cannot possibly repay you or thank you enough. We are blessed to have such dear friends. Thank you God!
Things get confusing sometimes
For instance, this morning I thought we were going to start the next round of chemo. I misunderstood. It will be sometime tomorrow. I apologize for relaying that confusion. I'll know more from George after he visits tonight and talks with the doctors.
In the meantime, today was a day that was more of the same as this morning. Gene's respiration gets so aggitated that she has to be given a muscle relaxant so the involuntary breathing can do the job it was designed to do. We can tell when she is getting to that stage with higher blood pressure, higher pulse, and bouts of respiration where she doesn't take a breath for longer than normal only to hit a bout of rapid breathing trying to catch her breath. The blood/oxygen is still very good though. Even after the muscle relaxant is given her vitals still vary from moment to moment. She does not eat anymore and has been put on a "nutrient fluid". She continues to be in a prone sitting position and does the "moan" breathing. Some have told me that's the resting sound a cancer victim makes at this stage.
Most of the time Gene is right on the verge of unconsciousness. If you call to her she'll briefly emerge from the haze to recognize you, say hi or that she feels fine or whatever and then she's right back into the murky waters that define someone who exists between dreams and reality. When asked she repeatedly tells us she's not in pain. Thank God.
Also tomorrow more family comes to town: her mother, twin sister, brother, the other sister and a neice. I think that will lift her spirits to see loved family.
I love hearing all the prayers that are coming in from all over. One little girl even made up a song for Gene. Her parents are going to record it for me. Keep the prayers coming. We need them every moment of every day.
In His Love,
Dane
In the meantime, today was a day that was more of the same as this morning. Gene's respiration gets so aggitated that she has to be given a muscle relaxant so the involuntary breathing can do the job it was designed to do. We can tell when she is getting to that stage with higher blood pressure, higher pulse, and bouts of respiration where she doesn't take a breath for longer than normal only to hit a bout of rapid breathing trying to catch her breath. The blood/oxygen is still very good though. Even after the muscle relaxant is given her vitals still vary from moment to moment. She does not eat anymore and has been put on a "nutrient fluid". She continues to be in a prone sitting position and does the "moan" breathing. Some have told me that's the resting sound a cancer victim makes at this stage.
Most of the time Gene is right on the verge of unconsciousness. If you call to her she'll briefly emerge from the haze to recognize you, say hi or that she feels fine or whatever and then she's right back into the murky waters that define someone who exists between dreams and reality. When asked she repeatedly tells us she's not in pain. Thank God.
Also tomorrow more family comes to town: her mother, twin sister, brother, the other sister and a neice. I think that will lift her spirits to see loved family.
I love hearing all the prayers that are coming in from all over. One little girl even made up a song for Gene. Her parents are going to record it for me. Keep the prayers coming. We need them every moment of every day.
In His Love,
Dane
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