Wednesday, October 13, 2010

He's up the trail

Ben died this afternoon at 3:00 p.m.at home. His passing was peaceful and, mercifully, rather quick. The funeral will be at noon on Wednesday, October 20th, at the Parleys 6th Ward, 2350 South 2100 East in SLC. Our family will greet friends at that same location Tuesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:45 until 11:45 a.m. Thanks again for all of your wonderful concern and support.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Bottom Line

The medical treatment “doors” which I needed to be open at this point in the journey are not open and they are no longer a future option. The lesions in my brain, despite stereotactic radiosurgery, continue to cause swelling and frequent, serious headaches which require steroids to reduce the swelling and relieve the pain. The steroids make me ineligible for the Ipilimumab treatment option. I have virtually no appetite, so my weight and energy have steadily declined to the point that my body would not be able to tolerate the very intense tumor infiltrating lymphocytes procedure in Houston. The “bottom line” is that my life expectancy is now short, so I now begin to move sooner than I would like toward the end of this journey but to the beginning of what will surely be an exciting new journey without the pain and stress of the past few months. I will be delighted to be free of pain but I shall very much miss family and friends (for a season), biking, early morning “Dawn Patrol” in the snowy backcountry, the chance to help create a respected structural engineering business, hikes to Grandeur Peak with Allison, soccer games, violin recitals, Christmases, Hebgen, etc. I hope I will be allowed an occasional “hall pass” to observe from afar the significant future events in the lives of my family.

Allison and I are deeply grateful for the love and support which we have received from medical professionals and wonderful friends and family, near and far, during the past 15 months. It has made the journey less difficult. Thank you!

Although my mortal life has been shorter than I had hoped and anticipated, I have been greatly blessed. I have a truly remarkable wife; three bright, good children with great potential; faith in the Resurrection and eternal family relationships; six siblings who have loved, challenged and helped shape me; parents and in-laws who have loved, encouraged and cared deeply for me; great, faithful, loyal friends; wonderful business associates: and more than a few sacred times when I have known, by the Spirit, who I really am, the purposes of life, and the truths of eternity. I'll be just up the trail and around the bend...