Saturday, November 28, 2009

Fundraiser for Shauna

This is Shauna's friend, Paris. Shauna has asked me to post the following information on her blog.

I wanted to let you know about a book I have created on Shauna's behalf. It is an 8 1/2" x 11" soft-bound printed book that combines many of Shauna's amazing Galapagos photos with selected writings from her blog. Many of the writings are from her experience with Write Around Portland.

With her permission, I am selling copies of this book as a fundraiser for the Shauna Berglund-Immel Lifeline Fund. My cost for the book is $22 plus shipping (approx. $2). Any donation in addition to the $24 will be donated to Shauna.

This book has been a labor of love and a celebration of my friendship with Shauna. I would be greatly touched to share this book with all who love and support Shauna.



If you would like to order a book, please contact me via email:

parisdukes@comcast.net

You may make checks payable to me, Paris Dukes, or send payment via paypal at
jandpdukes@comcast.net. My address is:

12235 SW Fulmar Terrace
Beaverton, OR 97007

I will forward any donations (not including the price of the book) to the Immel family as the orders come in.

Thank you for your continued support. Your donations will be greatly appreciated. Please contact me with any questions.

Fondly,
Paris


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Hospice

So here I am. On hospice. But at home. Where my husband and my family are my caretakers. Wondering how I got here. Why I got here. Wanting to go back to how things were, even a few months ago. When I was free. Independent. A social butterfly. A soccer mom. On the go. Multitasking. Not being fed intraveniously, on a short leash because I have an NG tube hanging out of my nose, hooked up to a pump 24/7. Back to when I was just Shauna with stage 4 cancer, not Shauna, homebound on hospice. It's really cramping my style.

I've not settled in well. Into this lifestyle. I'm not used to being homebound. On a short leash. Going from the couch to my bed to the couch again. I've been angry. And depressed. Distracted. Unable to concentrate and enjoy things I used to. Like reading, blogging, writing, crossword puzzles, facebooking and the sort. I just don't find joy in them anymore. So I've been watching TV and too much of it. And it isn't pretty. Any of it really. It gets old really fast.

So there is no resting on hospice. You have a revolving door. They start calling you at 830am to make appointments and then a steady stream of hospice nurses, infusion nurses, chaplains, social workers, physical therapists, bath aides etc. visit you throughout the day and week. It gets quite tiring. Especially if you're not feeling well. Sleeping through the night is impossible, hooked up to TPN, my liquid diet, from 6pm until 1030am the next morning. Infused daily through my port in my chest. On top of being hooked up to the NG TUBE suction.

So that's my life lately. Exciting. NOT.

xoxoxox
Shauna