Visits, meals & gratitude

Barbara’s hospital bed arrived Thursday and, after some technical support to work out mechanical problems, is now fully functional, positioned right in front of the big living room picture window. Barbara calls the bed her new ‘toy’, and says she is having fun playing with it. It is helping her stay more comfortable as she enjoys the view of their beautiful almost-spring garden. This weekend, as she moved from the bed to her chair and looked around the living room, she commented, “I’m having the best time, soaking it all in—all the things we’ve collected over the years.” The biggest challenge right now is finding the right balance between managing pain, nausea, appetite, and digestion, and that’s what hospice has such expertise in.

Thanks to loving help from Helen & Alissa, Barbara has closed her practice, though she was still having phone sessions with clients through Thursday.

Many of you who live locally have been asking about bringing meals, visiting etc. With input from Barbara, Van, and Betsey (who just left Sunday to return home to Minnesota after a wonderful 3-day visit), we’ve come up with some guidelines. Most importantly, please call Van to schedule, preferably same day or day before, as he needs to coordinate with visits from numerous hospice services, most of which are also finalized same day. Van's phone numbers:
home 650-328-1932
cell 650-248-8002

VISITS - Visits of about a half hour are welcome, probably no more than two or three in any one day, spaced to give Barbara time to rest. Please call before you come, either on the home phone (650 328-1932) or on Van's cell (650 248-8002)--though Van acknowledges that he's not always on top of cell phone technology. On days when she’s not feeling well, they may ask you to come at another time. Along with conversation, she would enjoy being read to. She’s keeping a book or two, including some poetry, by her bedside, so you don’t need to bring a reading, unless there is something special you’d like to share. As always, Barbara is finding the teachable moment, and recommends Final Gifts, which is one of the books by her bed.

MEALS – Please also call if you want to bring some food. It’s OK to knock on the door and say hi when you come by, or to just leave a package on the front porch. Please use containers that can be recycled or composted and don’t need to be returned. Light, nourishing , easily swallowed foods are best, in small-to-medium amounts. Soups with broth are very good. Although Barbara often enjoys what she eats, she doesn't have much appetite these days. Freezables can be a bit larger if you wish.

Barbara and Van deeply appreciate your loving concern and support—past, present, and prospective. They thank you from the bottom of their hearts.