Jake (Rick & Joan's Son) here.......

On behalf of my Mom, it is with great sadness that I inform all of you that Rick passed today at 12:32pm. I find it incredibly hard to accept that such an inspiration to so many, has left us. Rick touched the lives of everyone he met, so many that never met him and, not just through his living through ALS,was truly an inspiration to us all.

Funeral details to follow.

Jake

Joan here..."We are all in amazement"

After all of us saying our goodbyes to Rick we are all in amazement how Rick pulled through the night. Rick has made it through the night and is fast asleep. He is very sedated. We are not sure what is happening right now. We will be know more later on this morning as the day progresses. All our children have surrounded him like precious jewels. We have spent an incredible hard night. Keep us all in your prayers.

Just when you think there are no more tears...they start all over again from deep within.

Joan here..."It's a New Day"

Yesterday morning Rick and I went over so many of the encouraging and loving emails all of you have been sending to us. I am so delighted that when he wakes up again this morning I will have a bunch to read to him over our morning coffee.

Rick keeps trying to sleep but keeps waking up every hour. He is having flem issues this last couple of days and I can hear him trying to swollow. The meds are there to help him in his fight for breath and his body from pain from all the uncomfortableness. I keep giving him something to sip on as his mouth is always so dry. He is exhausted in his being as he struggles for each breath even though he has his bipap machine on.

I laid in the brodi chair as close as I could next to him through the night but could not sleep more than a wink or two as I kept checking on him. I look over at him and see his utter helplessness and vulnerability and all I can do is cry. He is the love of my life. As Katie wrote in her letter to grandpa "He is the other half of my heart!". I listen to every breath he takes as it is so very precious to me. I hold his hand all night and when he wakes I am there. I promised him he would not be alone that there would always be someone here by his side. These are truly precious days and hours for us together.

This morning as I was laying there with Rick sleeping on one side of me and a big window on the other side I started to watch the sky being filled with the morning light. The whole sky was slowly being filled with the newness of this new day. I was reminded in that second that Today was a new day...God's mercies were new today...His grace is sufficient for today....at that moment Rick opened his eyes and looked over at me and I reminded him of how God's mercy and grace was new for him today. Together we watched the beauty of this new day beginning. We were given today and believe me I was rejoicing and thankful for God's gift to Rick and I of "TODAY".

Now an hour later...the sky is filled with clouds...Rick is fast asleep...but my heart is filled with happiness in that special time we shared this morning in receiving God's gift of one more day together!

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for Rick and I as we walk through this new day.

Joan here..."

We are in the dreaded last days, the days that we have spent in denial about, the days we didn't really want to talk about, the days that we did not want to believe would be......

We had a somewhat of a breakthrough today with Rick going to the pottie. Palliative Care Cheryl sat with me while we made our moves on dear Rick. He had so much anxiety about what was going to all happen to get him to go once again. He doesn't have much reserve to endure much moving or hoyering. We had to cancel his hair appointment today....Thanks Amber for being so understanding!!!!

As of today his meds have been doubled.
He wants to remain "with it" so he desperately tries to be brave and struggles through uncomfortableness in fear that he will no longer be with us. His meds are a double edged sword....they comfort him but also compromise his breathing....his breathing has so diminished that the whole thing is a revolving door.

He has his list of things that are important to him right now. One of the things important to him is that he will be able to continue to be brave. I told him today the trouble with him and I being the first borns in the family is that we always try to suck it up and be strong even to our detriment. I told him it was "okay not to be strong", "okay to cry" ,"okay to be sad" "okay not to be brave". I loved him just the way he is. He IS brave, he IS strong and he can have some down days...it IS okay!!!!!

He is now just facing the fact that he is sooooooo ill. This week he has taken a real down turn in his health. He isn't trying to be strong...isn't trying to give you a big grin....isn't trying.... he is resting in the grace of God, He just is!!!!!

If there are things in your heart that you really would like to say to my dear Rick....please take a few minutes and email them to me so I can read them to him....he delights in receiving emails and we go over them together in our ritual morning coffee together. It maybe through a straw and it maybe only a few sips now...but we still do morning coffee together! For that I am so grateful for. Thank you for keeping us in our prayers!
rfewster@mts.net

Joan here..."Never say never....it may come back and haunt you!"

How are we doing? Well.........we are doing great between us....but we do have some physical challenges that we are trying to overcome. For the last two days we have been trying to unplug Rick. If this gets a bit too much info please do not read further.

I have given Rick two enemas a day for the past two days...nothing is happening and he is in such discomfort. The last time this happened we spent days in the hospital unplugging him. Despite our 3 day strick bowel regime since last November we have once again run into the same situation.

We have been desperate to get things moving for him. Between the full time tube feedings, stool softeners and all the meds we are back to the plugged situation. This is about as descriptive as a person can get as to where things are at. We read about this issue at first diagnosis but never thinking it would happen to us. Well we are now here........can't believe it.....can't believe that I would even do this......but yes, I hand picked everything out that I could so Rick could find relief! What we don't do for love!!!! Just a reminder to everyone...don't ever say..."I would never!" because believe me........I am living everything I have said that I would never do!

We are only hoping now to avoid a trip to the hospital as we live in fear that Rick would never make it back. He is so weak in his body...in his breathing....he is exhausted!

He is a man full of joy and full of high spirits and wants to live! Please do continue to pray for him....that he would continue to live in the peace that passes all understanding.

He asks that I sleep next to him. So I sleep in a brodi chair...kinda a like a lounge chair with wheels...better than a hospital chair but that is about all. I sleep next to him so I can hear him breath and be right there when he wakes up...which is quite a bit. He gets frightened as he sometimes can't use his voice to call any longer at night as his throat dries out so bad. I then am near and give him his meds every 4 hours and a drink or whatever he needs. One of the sweetest things ever is sometimes in one of his middle of the night wake up times he tells me how thankful he is of the way I have taken care of him.

Home care has added another night and Sunday mornings for us. I have two sleep over nights a week now. Because of Rick's disease either I or a family member have to be present to administer the meds every 4 hours even though they may be here for the night. So far Jake and Val, Doreen and Wendal have taken the 2 and 6 am shifts for me for the first sleep overs.

After a very difficult day today with bathroom issues....our little Katie came bouncing in with her new delivered internet purchase...the violin....we were honoured to hear her first practise performance. Rick said it was the best violin playing he has ever heard! We both just cried as it was such a gift of love! It is the effort that counts these days!

Rick and Joan here..."Miscellaneous"

Rick's dad Wendal, his baby bro Garth, his sis Shirley, and his mom Doreen spending an afternoon with Rick. Rick was so happy to visit with them all. He is so appreciating the time he has with them.

Here is the sis Shirley that Rick teased all his life! She is now in a position to tease him. Payback time! LOL.... nothing like feeding the guy who tormented you as a kid!!!!

Here is Rick with Clif, Cianna Joan, Jen & Jorgina and our newest edition baby Cash. This last pic is so cute....Cianna Joan hiding and baby cash crying! The pics a person never gets to see...we usually only pic the good smiling ones! lol

Here is sister in law Nancy, Rick and Brother in law Bruce.

Rick and mom.

Nephew Matt and Naomi and Rick.

Bro Garth and Dad Wendal hoyering Rick up for the day. Nothing to simple about this one.

Katie has it in her heart to play a violin. She was so desperate that she bought a beat up guitar at the ALS garage sale in spring and added a metal clothes hanger to it and began to what she calls...playing the violin!

Through her determination she went on line as an 8 yr old and typed in violin under a 100.00. Yep...you guessed it...she found a site that caters to young beginners who want an instrument for cheap. She now has a calander and stroking off the days until her violin arrives!!! Remember...she was the one who had the dream of an ALS fundraising garage sale 2 years ago. Bless her determination and vision!!! I wish we all had such drive and confidence!!!


Our nephew David and his mom Kathy surprised us with a visit. David has been our computer wiz for years now. He has so generously purchase a new tech head gear software program that allows my brainwaves to control a computer. We will be reporting on how it works. It is on its way now.

Had a great visit with my brother in law Blaine and sister in law Carol.

They took time out of their busy schedule to come out and see me.

Now....here is the last but not the least!!! It is our grand dog Sebbie! Short for Sabastian Jacob!!! Rick and I call him a "heshe" dog. Don't even bother to ask why!

Anyways, he has found himself in a floating device pool toy that is just right for him. He spends countless hours coming over here for treats and to get special pats from our visitors!