Sad news about PCat (pantrycat)

[Cherie]

I just got off the telephone with Sheila and she related that she was unable to wake Chris this morning. Tried CPR to no avail. When the paramedics arrived, he was flat lined and they could not start his heart. He was snoring lightly at 4:30 this morning when she got up to get a drink and use the bathroom so she moved him a bit to minimize the snore. He had his oxygen on. She says he apparently had another massive heart attack and just slipped away in his sleep.

He was 56 and she is a widow at 52.

[JDPhD]

:( Loss is difficult at any age. Please pass along my sadness for her loss, and good wishes of encouragement that she may be comforted. http://bestsmileys.com/flowers/12.gif

[Nancy T]

Cherie, thank you for this news, although it's very sad to hear. If you contact Sheila, please give her my condolences. Poor Sheila, she has been through so much. I can't imagine.

Nancy T.

[Cherie]

Will do. This weekend is busy getting family in from far and wide to say goodbye to the body. Then cremation and a memorial service in the near future.

He had 18 hospitalizations for heart attack, by-pass, pacemaker, defibrillator implant, and congestive heart failure in the past two years.

She's had her MS diagnosis confirmed, breast cancer, mastectomy, reconstruction and now severe bone pain in the last month and they are looking to see if the cancer has returned. All this in the past three years.

I must say, she is handling this with a greater degree of grace than I might if the situation were reversed. Nancy, I will definately tell her.

[Nancy T]

Thank you, Cherie. My gosh, I did not know that her husband had been through so much (I was not reading the forum too consistently or fully), and I am really sorry to hear she has been having pain and a possibility of her cancer returning. How much bad luck can a person have?

How are YOU doing, Cherie? It's good that you're here and posting information for people. I hope the forum comes back soon. It's really strange and disconcerting when you've "seen" people almost daily on a forum and then they all just disappear.

All is well with me here (been very busy). Hope to see you soon on the original site. I will be thinking about Sheila and sending her good thoughts for her health and for a slow but sure recovery from her difficult loss.

Best wishes,
Nancy T.

[lady_express_44]

Hi Cherie,

Please pass on my condolences to Sheila. So sorry to hear of Chris' passing. :(

Cherie

[Cherie]

Cherie and Nancy, your condolences will go in the note I send tomorrow. Trying to send something or call daily for a while.

I'm doing better...I think. The AFO and crutches seem to be causing me to be a bit more prone to injury and I broke 4 more bones in the foot about 6 weeks ago as well as a chip in my wrist and one in a finger in a fall. MRI three weeks ago showed that the fractures in the foot have healed slightly askew but two of the metatarsals (long bones in the foot) no longer have marrow in them to produce new bone. They have cysts instead. Cannot be tended surgically because of the nerve deficit.

So...I'm pretty much walking without the aids again and using muscles that have not been used for the year since the bad breaks and am becoming stronger. None of the docs seem to agree on how I should approach this but my neuro has given permission for me to cautiously follow the route I'm now taking. The ortho says, "YOU have MS. It's progressive and a chronic illness. You will only get worse." Not listening to that man unless what he has to say pertains directly to bone healing.
Cherie

[Lady]

Hi Cherie,
Oh Cherie how sad. I am so sorry to hear about Sheila's husband Chris. Please let PC know she and her family are in my thoughts and prayers. I will say a prayer for Chris.

I just got here and what a sad first post. I am happy to hear you are in survival mode. Take care..
Lady

[Cherie]

If anyone knows Sheila well enough to want to send a card or note, PM me and I'll give you her address.

Welcome Lady!!!

[Nancy T]

I broke 4 more bones in the foot about 6 weeks ago as well as a chip in my wrist and one in a finger in a fall. MRI three weeks ago showed that the fractures in the foot have healed slightly askew but two of the metatarsals (long bones in the foot) no longer have marrow in them to produce new bone. They have cysts instead. Cannot be tended surgically because of the nerve deficit.

So...I'm pretty much walking without the aids again and using muscles that have not been used for the year since the bad breaks and am becoming stronger. None of the docs seem to agree on how I should approach this but my neuro has given permission for me to cautiously follow the route I'm now taking. The ortho says, "YOU have MS. It's progressive and a chronic illness. You will only get worse." Not listening to that man unless what he has to say pertains directly to bone healing.
Cherie

Cherie, I am sorry to hear you have broken more bones--what a disappointment that must have been, after all you've been through with that foot.

I hope your strategy of walking without the aids works out well. I guess using muscles is a good thing, right?? but please just don't fall anymore!!

Hmmm, the orthopedist sounds like he is seriously lacking in bedside manner and knowledge of what to say to patients--not to mention making statements on a subject that he's not an expert in! You are wise not to listen to him on that!

Take care Cherie/clinical1 and all (good to see you, Lady and Cherie/lady express)!

Nancy T.

[Rocking4Epilepsy]

I am sorry to intrude here but I saw this post and wanted to send my thoughts to the family.

Is any of them need to chat please tell them I am here to listen .

HUGS

[Cherie]

Thanks. Sheila has avoided Chat and skype to date but I think now that Chris is gone, she may have time to get acquainted these ways.

And Nancy...the only reason I was with that ortho is that he is the only one in this area who uses the bone growth stimulators in his practice that the specialist recommended. He's also supposed to be the best of the 5 in the practice at replacing hips (which , he tells me, is not far in the future). But we've had a couple of confrontations so far where he told me to do something that just was wrong for the healing and the MS. I called his PA in (great respect for him) and told them both why the suggestion was inappropriate and what might be appropriate and the PA had his say which I followed.

[agate]

pcat (Sheila), I'm so sorry to learn about your terrible loss. I hope that you have support from the people close to you at this sad time.

--And your birthday was on July 29? Please accept very belated birthday wishes!

[Cherie]

Talked to her today. She said the phone is not stopping ringing and her sleep is limited as a result. Wake and Cremation Saturday. Apparently, he tended to financial matters pretty thoroughly ad she has discovered that no longer is a concern which is a relief. Expressed gratitude for the cards, letters, thoughts and prayers.

[vlys]

PC,
I'm so sorry to hear of the passing
of your dear husband.
My thoughts & prayers to you.

vlys

[Cherie]

I spoke to her on the 9th. She is starting to experience that lull post funeral when people are not there all the time or calling or bringing food. So lonliness is setting in. If anyone feels they knew her well enough and would like to send a note or card, PM me for her address. I know it would lift her spirits.

[SallyC]

I spoke to her on the 9th. She is starting to experience that lull post funeral when people are not there all the time or calling or bringing food. So lonliness is setting in. If anyone feels they knew her well enough and would like to send a note or card, PM me for her address. I know it would lift her spirits.

Cherie, thanks, will you PM me her e-mail addy. I don't do snail mail anymore. I even pay my bills electronically.:rolleyes:

[Cherie]

Sending it to you now.

[skyspirit]

:grouphug:
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

[Moonwolf]

Condolences to PCat. Grieving hurts. My thoughts are with her.


Take care, Cherie, and tell those muscles to behave themselves!

[Av8rgirl]

Hi Cherie

I remember PCat. Please send her my condolences.