Carol Ann, as I sent you privately earlier; our hearts break for your huge loss and love in your life, John! It's so hard losing folks on the holidays! My mother-in-law died at thanksgiving time. I sent you my online sympathy poem collection earlier as well.
We are here for you day/night; just reach out when you feel up to it ok Carol Ann. love, Bettyg
ALL,
please extend your heartfelt sympathies to our lyme member, carol ann, whose belove hubby john died right before noon! carol ann is a newer member, and has been our/gary geden norbut's resource about esphagus surgery; see below comments i'm just copying here ok!
diane has a nice lengthy post she wrote up telling some of the things gary had to say.
i was the 1st to respond afte the post, and also gave him the very sad news of CAROL ANN'S husband, John's, passing away at 11:15 am today after going into a coma last night.
it has been carol ann whose husband, john, went thru his own esophagus removal 2-3 years ago. so she was helping gary/us by descibing what to expect and what to do to help gary be comfortable, and ENCOURAGEMENT!
i'll post something so prayers can be headed carol ann's way! ****************
late this afternoon note she sent me
At 11:15 this morning my wonderful husband and a marvelous father passed away quietly at El Camino Hospital...I am heartbroken.
There are no plans for the funeral yet. It will take place at Los Altos United Methodist Church and be handled by Spangler Funeral Home in Los Altos.
******************** a note today at 734 am
Dear All,
John had a severe pulmonary embolism yesterday afternoon. He is in a coma, but not on life support measures.
I am extremely sad...It hurts so much to see him like this. He is getting excellent pain control and the nurses here, as usual, are marvelous. His last words to me before slipping into the coma were "I love you"...I love him so.
My mom arrives this morning from Atlanta and John's kids along with their mom, Karen, arrive this afternoon. From here we go one minute at a time...
Please keep all of us in your prayers and pass this along to anyone that you think would like to know.... Much love, Carol Ann
[ 24. December 2007, 12:47 AM: Message edited by: bettyg ]
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
I am so sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with her and her family.
Posted by cbb (Member # 788) on :
Carol Ann, So, so sorry to hear of this tremendous loss. Will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Will pray that you receive the strength you need to get through such a difficult time.
Posted by Melanie Reber (Member # 3707) on :
Dearest Carol Ann,
Please accept my most heartfelt condolences on the loss of your husband.
Keeping you and yours in my prayers, Melanie
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
Betty,
Thank you for passing on the very sad news. If you talk to Carol Ann, please let her know that our thoughts and prayers are with her at this very hard time in her life.
Cathy
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
I am so sorry Carol Ann- you must miss him so much- I am glad you have your dear children but I wish you had him too- I am so sorry- With hugs- Sarah
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm so sorry, Carol Ann. Please know that you and John and your entire family will be in my prayers.
It's so wonderful that his last words were "I love you." You'll never forget those words of love.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
thank you ALL for your heartfelt comments above.
i'm going to wait until after Christmas before I email carol ann the link i started here, so she can read each of her comments!
she needs extra time with her kids/extended family membes. i just wanted to start someting here since she was our ESOPHOGUS EXPERT helping gary/us understand what was going on with him, and PROVIDING encouragement and hope to our dear gary! thanks again all!
[ 23. December 2007, 02:53 PM: Message edited by: bettyg ]
Posted by lymeladyinNY (Member # 10235) on :
I'm so sorry for your loss, Carol Ann. May God hold you and your family during this difficult time. Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I'm sorry, Carol Ann, for your great loss. I know you all tried so hard.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Here are John's funeral arrangements at this time.
Carol Ann is such a remarkable, wonderful, compassionate wife/mom, etc.; I really admire you Carol Ann for your composure of copying with the bad/good times, and taking it as it comes.
I will send her this link now since the funeral will NOT be for 2 weeks due to holidays! This way she can read each of your comments, and feel the sincerity in which they were offered to her/family! ****************
for those of you who know CAROL ANN WELL, you may send me a PRIVATE MESSAGE asking for her address or phone no. it was also in what i'm posting, but i will NOT post that! thanks! *****************
12-23-07, 230 am
I'm sorry to have been so long to get back to you with our plans.
With the vagaries of the holiday season, we haven't been able to schedule a service for John until January 6th. It is what it is.
We will have a viewing for the family this Wednesday , then we'll regroup after the first of the year for the service.
It will take place at Los Altos United Methodist Church here in Los Altos, CA. I'm not certain of the time, but am guessing early afternoon. I'll send the time to you all when I know for sure.
Spangler Funeral Home will handle the arrangements.
I have not been able to write the obituary yet, but plan to get to this tomorrow.
I want you all to have Christmas with your families...If you are able and want to join us on the 6th, please do.
Call or email if I can help with arrangements for you.
We are all very sad and tired, but joyful to be with each other. Having all five of our children home is a wonderful thing for me. The house is full of life and the kids are remarkable people individually.....I don't know where I would be without them. My mom is a blessing as well.
I miss John terribly. Thank you for your words of love and support. I can't tell you how much they help.....
Much love, Carol Ann Carol Ann Schaffner Wampler ************************************
Posted by aiden424 (Member # 7633) on :
Carol Ann, I'm so very sorry for your loss.
Kathy
Posted by Doomer (Member # 11013) on :
Carol Ann,
Wishing you strength and the love of your family to get you through this very difficult time. So sorry to hear about your loss.
Doomer
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
F I N A L P L A N S !!
Dear All,
We will have a viewing at Spangler Funeral Home in Mt. View, CA, on Castro Street on Wednesday after Christmas from 1 to 3.
The funeral will take place on January 6th at 1:30 at Los Altos United Methodist Church In Los Altos California.
John's children will head back to Chicago to spend Christmas with their mother, grandparents and extended family. I am so grateful that they could be here this week and happy that they will be at home for Chrismas.
Michael, Kate, Mom and I will be in Los Altos for Christmas and through the New Year....
If any of you can come we would love to have you....I haven't managed to write an obituary yet...I'll get it done tonight.
If you know of anyone who should know of our plans, please forward this information.
Much love, Carol Ann
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
For those of you who haven't recognized Carol Ann, Carol Ann is account
Breathwork
on LymeNet.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Carol Ann, may you and yours find some PEACE during this difficult time. May the Lord carry some of you burden during this mourning holiday.
Pam
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
sarah, THANKS so much for looking up her nickname; i couldn't remember!! i've just known her as carol ann. Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
UPDATE: i just got the below from carol ann; she also attached 2 photos of her hubby, john; 1 when she 1st met him, and a recent one in his dress suit. he was a very kind looking soul with grey beard; i know he would have made a good santa claus.
what made her smile were the various photos of cats/dogs in ALL positions!
Dear Betty,
You've made me smile...and that's not so easy to do today! You have been a wonderful friend...I can't thank you enough...It's tough right now and will most likely be tougher for a little while...please know that when you don't hear from me I am still reading..still hearing from you...I'm just not as able to respond now as I have been...It'll get better, I'm just not there just now....You are a peach...
Much love, Carol Ann
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
THANK YOU, SARAH!!! I didn't remember a person with a screen name of Carol Ann....though there may be one!
Hang in there, Carol Ann! We love you! Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Carol, I'm so very sorry. May you find comfort and peace. You and John have helped Gary so much.
Michelle
Posted by GEDEN13 (Member # 4151) on :
i've been hoping all this is a bad dream.it's not..
my prayer's go to you and john ,carolanne... .be well carolanne. your light will brighten again . gary
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
gary, great seeing you on the board expressing your sympathies to carol ann on her loss of beloved hubby, john!
i felt so bad telling you this on your site, but felt you needed to be told the bad news. carol ann posted regularly to you inspiring you.
gary, have they set another date for your next stretching surgery? you're continuously in my thoughts and prayers big guy!! Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
CAROL ANN:
i have great sympathy in my heart for your loss.
i do not know you but wish you the best in getting thru this terrible moment in time.
my father had esophagus cancer and died after 2 long terrible years. it is a terrible loss seeing a loved one go from fit to total devastation. i would not wish this on any person. this is a horrible disease and in the end the loss is devastating.
may god bless you and the soul of your husband. the emptiness will pass with time. but the loss of friend ,companion and soul mate will never leave you.
my heartfeat wishes are with you in this time of need
docdave.
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
So sorry for your loss Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
carol ann just sent me john's obituary that she took to the newspaper to be appearing on wed!
John Millard Wampler, 52, died December 21, 2007 in Los Altos, CA, after battling esophageal cancer.
He was raised in Nashville, TN, by Dr. Jack and Nancy Wampler and attended Montgomery Belle Academy, Vanderbilt University, where he participated in the theater program, and the Owen School Of Management at Vanderbilt University.
John was a Certified Financial Planner with Aon Corporation and Met Life and an Internet Community Architect.
He was an integral part of TalkCity, Liveworld and the Brainstorms community and will be missed sorely.
John was a rare friend with great integrity and compassion. A Southern Gentleman and loving father.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Ann Schaffner, and five children, Sarah Wampler, Kate Schaffner, Sam Wampler, Michael Schaffner, and Ben Wampler.
He is also survived by Sarah, Sam and Ben's mother, Karen Mabie of Chicago. John's sister, Whit Trumbull, her husband Ed, and their three children, Lucy, Jack and Collin. of Durham, NC.
A memorial service will be held at Los Altos United Methodist Church, Jan 6, at 1:30.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave, Los Altos, CA, 94024. 650-948-1083
Blessed be the memory of John. Bettyg Posted by breathwork (Member # 567) on :
Betty had told me that there were messages of encouragement here, but I had no idea what a wonderful job of sharing my journey she has done...and what an outpouring of love and support was here for me right now...
Oh Betty, you are a kind soul..and a generous friend...thank you from the bottom of my heart...
And the rest of you....well, I'm overwhelmed...This is lymenet at its best...offering love, support and guidance when one of us is in need....You honor me...
I'm doing OK one day at a time...twenty years in AA is a great primer for dealing with this...the twelve steps have saved my bacon since John died....My friends and family are marvelous. My brother hugged me and didn't let go first for the first time in our lives...that is magic for me.
Many blessings have come from this...I have to find those to keep me on an even keel sometimes....finding this item tonight is one of them...
I'm off tomorrow to Oklahoma to see my son settled into his second semester at the Univ of Oklahoma...and to see my uncle, the orthopedic surgeon for his opinion on my dislocated shoulder...needs surgery, torn tendon and arthritis...it happened the week after John died.
It will be good to be with my son and my family!!!
I love you guys...This item is a gift for me...
Love, Carol Ann
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Carol Ann,
It's so good to see you back, and you are MOST WELCOME! I'm glad I could be of help during your worst time in your life.
I enjoyed your heartfelt words to Tim whose 18 yr. old son, Adam, died; and you comforted him so much also!
Best wishes on your shoulder, and being with family! see you later as you feel up to it! Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
<<<<< Carol Ann/Breathwork and Family >>>>>,
Chere~ I am so sorry to hear of your loss,and will keep you and yours in prayer.
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