Celebration of Gramma D's life on May 4th at 2pm

We will be holding a “celebration of life” service for Doyle Doherty on Friday May 4th at 2 pm at the Carnation LDS church.  32751 NE 45th St., Carnation, WA 98014.  If anyone has any questions they can call Rosie at 206/940-4270 or email essentiallyhealing@gmail.com.  Eva will be out ot town until just before the service, but can be reached at egremmert@comcast.net if needed.

We will be having a luncheon following the service for all of mom’s friends.  If people are hoping to attend we would love to have an RSVP (essentiallyhealing@gmail.com) to better plan the head count for the ladies that will be serving.  Please let us know how many are attending - we can't wait to share and celebrate with you. Please help spread the word to others who knew and loved her. 

If you can not attend, but would like to share a memory with us, please email it to Rosie at essentiallyhealing@gmail.com.  Donations can be made in her name to American Cancer Society or United States Figure Skating Memorial Fund.  Cards may be mailed to 35702 NE 80th St, Carnation, WA 98014

We are looking forward to sharing stories, much laughter, and probably a few tears. We have felt the great outpouring of love from everyone who has sent her letters, emails and cards over the past 3 and a half months.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Gramma Doherty has flown away to her Heavenly Home.  Sweet release and tears of joy.  What a sacred experience as she was surrounded by her daughters Eva and Rosie and granddaughter, Karen.  (Gramma always called her the favorite Granddaughter... Karen would always reply, "Gramma, I'm your ONLY granddaughter!)

She was welcomed home just before 11:00 PM on Sunday, April 22nd.  We are making plans for a memorial service and want you all to come and share your memories of her with us.  We will post the information here in the next few days.

April 24, 2011 - Darren and Doyle celebrating their birthday!

Thank you for all your love, cards, concern and prayers on her behalf and ours.  We read her every card and email that was sent.  She laughed and smiled and knew of your love.  You have helped carry us all though and we are so grateful. We are so happy that she is happy and dancing again. 

April 20, 2012

It is just a few days until Gramma Doherty's birthday (April 24!) and we are getting closer and closer to another big day for her... As one of her Grandkids calls it, "her Heaven Day". She is pretty much sleeping all the time and her pain is well managed by wonderful people at her care facility. We did get a reaction out of her when her son-in-law joked about how he wasn't going to have to share their birthday anymore... It was a nice moment. We all draw near to keep her company as she finishes this marathon. We have witnessed sweet moments of connection and know there are loved ones waiting to receive her when she leaves us. Noah wanted to see Gramma Doherty today "before she goes to live with Heavenly Father" so I thought I'd better take him in one more time. She hasn't really looked at anyone with much recognition or opened her eyes for any length of time for a couple days. When Noah took her hand and started talking to her, she opened her eyes, turned her head and looked right at him while he held her hand and told her about his jeep he'd brought along and about his field trip he went on yesterday. It was beautiful. As you probably know, she loves to travel and we have been blessed with sacred moments this week as we help her prepare for her last trip in this life back to her Heavenly Home. Please join us in praying that she can begin her Eternal Journey soon. Thank you for the prayers, love and support.

March 23, 2012

I just realized that it has been almost 3 weeks since we last posted and many of you are probably wondering how things are going... 
Gramma D is still hanging out at the Life Care Center of Kirkland and still loves all the cards she gets.  We will move her soon to a smaller Adult Family home that will be a little closer to us where she can get hospice care.  When we actually move her is a week-by-week decision. Her oncologist added a longer-acting pain medication and that seems to be helping.  If you want to call her on her phone, the first half of the day is better.  We are all focusing on spending time with Gramma and enjoying the good times as they happen. 

Thanks again for all your love, prayers and support!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

We so appreciate all the the calls, emails and cards to Gramma D and to us expressing your love.  Gramma D is happy to be back at the care center and they take very good care of her. 

We wanted everyone to know that more and more of the time she is telling us (and visitors) things that are not accurate.  She still remembers people and how she knows them pretty accurately, but frequently has facts and details mixed up.  She does not reason correctly much of the time either.  We have decided as a family that rather than correct her (like about the date, time, facts or details about a story,  memory or even something that just happened) that we will just change the subject.  This works pretty well. Very short visits and calls are best at this point. 

She also has started suddenly lashing out and demanding people to leave.  We just want to let all of you who care about her to know in case you are visiting her or chatting on the phone and things "go south" so to speak.  Please know that she still cares about you and that it is the cancer affecting her thinking and reasoning. 

She just finished a series of radiation treatments that were specifically to reduce her pain.  She does seem to be in less pain and did not seem to have any side affects so that is wonderful. 

You can always post in the comments below or send Rosie an email at essentiallyhealing@gmail.com and we will to read it to Gramma D.  Thanks again for your love and prayers   =)

Monday, February 27, 2012

Another update! Gramma D is being moved back to LifeCare Center of Kirkland today.  She was happy there before this stay in Evergreen Hospital and was well taken care of.  She is getting a couple more radiation treatments just for pain control. 

Again thanks so much for the cards and love!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

First of all, we want to thank everyone for their prayers and concern about Gramma D and our families.  We can feel your love and support.  Gramma D loves, loves, loves her cards.  She has an entire stack and more come every day.  If you want to be sure she gets them even as she is shifted from location to location, please mail them to Arden & Eva’s home. (35702 NE 80^th Street, Carnation, WA 98014)  We are putting them all into a binder for her so she can pull them out and enjoy them whenever she wants. 

On Thursday, we went to see Dr. Golden, Gramma’s oncologist.  It was decided to run some more scans to see why some of Gramma’s symptoms have gotten worse.  The best way to get the scans was to admit her to Evergreen Hospital so she could have IV medication for pain control.  Unfortunately, the scans showed that multiple other vertebrae in her back are now compromised with cancer even with the radiation we had done a few weeks ago. It has also spread more in her hip as well.   As her doctor put it, “at some point you just can’t stop the train”.   Although some more radiation is going to be done, it is strictly for pain control.  

Gramma will be moving to wherever we can help her be the most comfortable and that will change as her needs change.  We will be sure and update here whenever there are changes.  She still has her cell phone and enjoys calls although she does get tired. 

We have been blessed with many sweet moments the last few weeks and we are so grateful for this time we have had with Gramma D.  We are making every moment count and enjoying every minute we have with her.  We know many of you have shared memories with her and we would love to compile your stories and memories of her.  Please email them to Rosie at essentiallyhealing@gmail.com or post them in the comments box below.