I will post this to the caring bridge site, yet Gary won't be able to see any comments since he is in the hospital so I thought I'd also post here.
February 29, 2008
As of the last writing in January Gary was exeriencing pain and had doctor's appointments scheduled and tests to be run.
As I write today it is very difficult for me to have to tell all of you who have prayed, sent cards, letters, notes, gifts and so many well wishes and blessings from our Lord and Savior to Gary for his continuing success with recovery.
However, Gary has taken a turn for the worse. I felt something was wrong when he didn't return my calls or emails (his email box is full) so I called his sister today to see how Gary is doing.
Unfortunately, and as I sit here crying for a dear friend, last Thursday Gary blacked out, was in severe pain, and he fell. It wasn't until they got him to the hospital that they realized he had fractured two bones in his foot.
Along with this they performed a CAT scan and found a mass of cancer around the esphogeaus in his chest area where surgery was performed.
Gary cannot handle the feeding tube at this point because of the pain and the respitory people are coming in and out constantly to remove the increased flem built up in his throat.
Gary is very restless and cannot speak. His voice is very raspy Teresa said and it is hard to understand him.
They also performed another stretching of his throat and have taken biopsies. There was mention of chemo, yet his sister said as of last night they didn't think he would make it through the night.
Thankfully he did and God willing he will survive. Teresa will let me know later today / tonight what the doctors are saying. She is on her way to the hospital again today. He is once again at St. Luke's in Bethlehem, PA.
I ask and beg for all the prayers and all the strength we ALL have to send it to Gary because the outcome at this point is, we might very well lose him.
I can't write anymore and will continue to keep everyone updated as Teresa informs me.
Diane
Diane
[ 05. March 2008, 12:26 PM: Message edited by: Lou B ]
Posted by Draba (Member # 14589) on :
I hope he is able to heal. I will keep him in my thoughts,
hugs,
-Draba
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Thanks SO much for the update. It's really appreciated. I had that sinking feeling when he didn't return emails recently. He is in my thoughts.
Michelle
Posted by LisaS (Member # 10581) on :
I m so sorry to hear this. All my prayers are with Gary right now. God Bless Him. Posted by Niere (Member # 14387) on :
I just saw this. I'm not familiar with Gary but I wanted to tell you that I have personal experience with St. Luke's Hospital.
As far as I'm concerned, St. Luke's is one of the best hospitals if not the best hospital I have ever come across. It far surpasses anything we have here in RI.
My father had to spend a great deal of time there due to illness. My experience was that the doctors and the nurses at that hospital are amazing.
If I needed to be in the hospital, that's where I'd want to be.
I will keep Gary in my prayers. Posted by stella marie (Member # 7216) on :
to gary and his family.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
what is FULL MAILING ADDRESS FOR ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL PLEASE!!
i want to get a card off today for him/sister.
Diane, thx so much for typing this very painful note to those of us who are close to Gary!
i was just thinking i hadn't been over to caring bridges to send him a note lately and waiting for an update.
i'll copy this and send to those on my LYME GROUP LIST! thanks.
Gary, my very dear friend; you are in my thoughts and prayers daily and may God turn this around and get this in control again so you may have QUALITY OF LIFE which you so richly deserve.
Hang in there my friend; besides your dogs, jr. and jake, WE ALL CARE AND LOVE YOU FOR THE PERSON YOU ARE!!!
Bettyg Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :
A message I received from the EC List Group from Les. He has provided information about how chemo can keep EC at bay. I will try to get this information to Gary's sister to see if this is the option she was talking about.
Let us keep our hopes up that Gary can tolerate additional chemo.
Thank you Les.
Diane, I am not making light of Gary's plight. I am not one that can see the future any better than anyone else but hope exists. I hope Gary recovers. I doubt there will be more surgery - metastatic EC simply does not respond to it but chemo is another story. Chemo can keep you going even in cases where it cannot kill off the EC. Proof? I am living proof - having gone through my 69th cycle of chemo on Tuesday (at this stage of my battle, my cycles are 3 on, 2 off and occasional long breaks to recover). I started chemo in 2003.
Oh I know that no one would want to be told that chemo was in the indefinite future. Yet if it is something that Gary can tolerate, and if it at least holds EC at bay - there is hope. As I said, I'm living proof.
Posted by sonwithlyme (Member # 10942) on :
Please go to Gary's page and sign the guestbook. Gary is in need of a miracle right now. Miracles do happen. Please go there now and show him our support! www.caringbridge.org/visit/garynorbut Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
I* too would like to send Gary a card. It would help if someone could post the address to St. Lukes.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Sending prayers and asking for His Grace and Divine Intervention for our friend.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Adding my prayers. God Bless Gary.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm very sorry to hear this. Give Gary my best and the Lord's best! Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Hey G...
Hope that you are feeling MUCH better soon!
Sending more love and prayers your way too!
Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :
It's really not that hard to go to google and plug in St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, PA to get an address, but here it is.
St. Luke's Hospital 801 Ostrum St Bethlehem, PA 18015 (610) 954-4300
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
diane,
god bless you for putting the complete mailing address up for us to send gary/teresa get well cards and THINKING OF HIM.
i'll go to his site before i forget!! Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :
March 1, 2008
I just spoke with Teresa, Gary's sister, and there is no change with Gary. They are keeping him comfortable for now with pain medication.
At this point, he is not a candidate for radiation or chemotherapy. The cancer has spread to his spine.
Teresa and Gary's mother will be going to the hospital tomorrow (Sunday) to arrange for hospice care for Gary.
Again, it is with great sadness that I bring this news to you for our wonderful friend.
Let us just keep hoping for a miracle and keep Gary and his family in our prayers.
Diane
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I would suggest the book "Final Gifts" for Gary's family, and pray for an end to his suffering and a peaceful and beautiful passing to the other side, with loved ones holding his hands and being with him as he completes his journey in this world.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
diane, thanks for the update today; i just got done writing my card/short note to gary/family and will get it mailed now! betty Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
Sending a card to Gary too.
Before he went into the hospital he was talking about painting his bedroom. Was he joking?
Or did things go south quickly?
What will he be able to do now?
Posted by lymeladyinNY (Member # 10235) on :
So deeply sorry to read this. I haven't ever communicated with Gary but I most certainly feel sorrow at this turn in events.
God bless.
- Lymelady
Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :
Kam,
Yes i truly think things turned bad quickly. Because shortly after the surgery he was walking the dogs and i believe he did actually paint his room. He was moving around and sounded real good everytime we spoke.
Even in January when I posted about his soreness and doctors appointments his spirits were up even though he was in pain.
So to answer your question, I would have to say from experience with cancer is that it can definitely come back with a vengence without 'any notice'.
I can confirm this with his sister, but again even talking with the him end of january he was doing ok we thought.
I will continue to keep everyone here on lymenet and posting on his caringbridge site informed as I talk to his family.
Diane
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Prayers up.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
thinking of you Gary and praying often for my dear online friend.... Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :
Spoke with Teresa again last night. Gary's mom and Tersea have decided not to arrange Hospice care for Gary, but rather keep him in the hospital.
They believe that moving him to another facility, even while associated and close to the hospital, would at this point not be helpful for Gary.
He is getting great care where he is and because of the pain moving him they just felt it would be best to keep him where he is at. The cancer is moving to quickly.
Gary has some sort of patch on his neck that is helping with the fluid and flem build up to help him breathe. The respitory treatment was too painful.
Gary is under alot of pain medication but he did open his eyes for a little while and knew his Mom and Teresa were there yesterday.
However he still really can't speak due to the pain and fluid in the upper respitory area.
Right now the only thing they can do is to keep him comfortable.
Again, continue the prayers for Gary and his family and pray for peace and stregth during this very difficult time.
I (Robin) will post to caringbridge this information and any other info I receive from Teresa today.
It would be great if we could send our well wishes on the caringbridge site as well so the family can have something to print and keep from all of his lymenet and other friends.
i saw like 4-5 greetings on caring bridge for GAry; keep the notes coming gang!
Gary helped us when we were down; let's help him, Mom, and Teresa now! Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :
March 3, 2008
Spoke to Teresa this evening, and the hospital and the hospice center asked her to come to the hospital to discuss the care for Gary.
After long discussions about the care that the hospital can provide versus the hospice center, it was decided that the Hospice Center is truly the best place for Gary's care.
The Hospice center has much more people that will be more attentive and around the clock care for Gary and help to the family.
Teresa agreed after viewing the Center and she said Gary's room is big with a nicer bed and a TV (since Gary's last month at home on the couch he had it on 24/7 Teresa said - LOL) and comfortable chairs and of course the fact the hospice center definitely has more caretakers/ caregivers for Gary and to his family.
Gary is still the same, in and out throughout the day, alot I think due to the heavy medication.
And I forgot to mention that one of Gary's brother's was also with Teresa and her Mom the other day, and Gary's sister will be flying in from Colorado tomorrow. So Gary will be able to see some of his family that he hasn't seen in awhile. A very good thing !
Therefore, if anyone sends any cards or letters the new address where Gary is located is:
Hospice of the VNA of St. Luke's 2455 Black River Road Bethlehem, PA 18015
Once again any notes you want to send please write them on caringbridge for Gary and to his Family, so again, it can be printed out and saved for them, letting them know we all care for Gary and his family. Or if you'd rather send cards or letters to the family at their home you can use the address in Upper Black Eddy on the CaringBridge main page and the Hospice address above.
Thanks, Diane
Posted by PinchotGail (Member # 5066) on :
Thanks Diane for keeping us up to date!!
You and Robin have been so great with posting all the details, and I just want to thank you both for doing that!
It's so upsetting to hear about his terrible pain.......I wish he could be in LESS pain, but sounds like they are really keeping on top of his comfort and taking good care of him.
Thanks for the address.....card going out in tomorrow's mail.
Gail
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
i love also the aspect of posting messages to his CARING BRIDGE site where they can print off ALL NOTES as a keepsake later which shows how special GARY IS to the lyme community and in general with his great humor!!
i see lou bachman took time to post there too!! way to go Lou@!! Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
up for more greetings to be entered on gary's caring bridge site! thanks everyone!
you ARE making a difference in a family who is learning to accept their loved one, gary, is dying from lyme and cancer complications.... Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :
March 5, 2008
Teresa called this morning.
It is with great sadness that I bring the news of Gary's passing early this morning around 3:45am EST.
Gary truly was a funny guy, always joking, telling his stories of his dogs and gardening, and of course could get somewhat irritated at all of us. That's what made him so special.
Know that even when Gary found out about his EC cancer, he was determined to beat it and from May 2007 until this morning, he sure damn tried.
However during this last month of his life he started to suffer, so I am greatful to our Lord he took him so he would no longer suffer and he is at peace without any pain.
All our prayers should be directed to his family during their time of sorrow and grief.
I will post the funeral arrangements as soon as Teresa lets me know probably sometime later today.
Gary my dearest friend, Rest in Peace and know you were truly cared about from all of us. I know you can hear me - be happy now!
Love, Diane
Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :
Please post your condolences to the caringbridge site.
I will be printing it off for the family next week.
Thanks Diane
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Ohhhh...I am so sorry to hear this. I will post to the site this evening.
Thanks for keeping us posted. I'm so sorry!
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
My prayers to the family and friends of Gary...
Our loss is Heaven's gain.
So sorry to hear this, but so glad he is released from his suffering.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by LisaS (Member # 10581) on :
These are Garys words to me in an email, I hope its in good taste to post them, I put them on caring bridge also but I thought these words from him were so touching, especially now...
" please , i am not preaching , but , i truely believe everyone has this inner being..a soul?? gaurdian angel?? anyway , it help's pull you through certain time's and thing's....pave's the way..hard to put into word's..you will know when it happen's to you..you must believe.."
I believe he is in Heaven now, and finally not suffering. May he be in peace now.
Posted by Meg (Member # 22) on :
This saddens me deeply, and he will be so very missed.
Posted by pab (Member # 904) on :
I'm happy to know that Gary is not in pain. I'll really miss him here.
Peggy
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Gary, may you rest in peace; and I know you are loving the NO MORE PAIN!
lisa s, i loved gary's words you copied to caring bridge site; i was so touched by gary's caring words.
diane, are you able to edit any posts there...MINE; i used size 4 and when previewing it was fine. but when it posted, it went SUPER LARGE overlapping one line to next, and it's completely ILLEGIBLE.
it ended up posting twice too!
so i copied it all and tried for 3rd time being in size 3; and it refused to accept it! so after 45 minutes, i gave up.
if you are able to edit mine to size 3 so it's LEGIBLE for Mom, Teresa, and niece, PLEASE do so!
Gary went so quickly; I'm so glad he didn't lie around in months of incruciating pain that they could NOT manage.
thanks Diane for posting this very sad message to us all.
iceskater called me too; i'd just woke up and was on here sharing my sympathy note to family that i mentioned above when she called.
Gary, we will miss you alot; you added SO MUCH HUMOR to this lyme board! We will NEVER forget you. Bettyg Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
Ouch Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Would someone please tell this lyme brain how to sign the guestbook?? It asks for a password. Where do I go to get one!??
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
tutu,
you must REGISTER just like you did on lymenet...
it asks for your email, then your password..
so look for REGISTER, and do whatever it asks of you.
later, when you sign in using your EMAIL that does NOT show up on board unless you chose to, when you type the 1st letter of email, it appears below, just click on it.
hit next, then it asks for password which you must type in.
then it will bring up gary's story, and ask you to sign guestbook; click on guestbook.
i chose arial which is legible, BUT DO NOT CHOSE SIZE "4" ...
it combines 2 lines together as one making it illegible; check mine out for oh my goodness look!
good luck tutu/others for registering. then whenever you go to ANYONE'S caring bridge site, it will bring up your email after typing 1st work, etc. and you do NOT have to register to go to someone else's page to write a note! Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Gary- MAy you rest in peace.
Melissa
Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :
Teresa has provided the following information on Gary's funeral arrangements.
Johnson Walton Funeral Home 24 Church Road Milford, New Jersey 08848
908-995-2393
There will be a viewing on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 1:00pm at the Funeral Home.
Then family and friends will leave around 1:45 to the cemetery where at 2:00pm a Catholic Priest will perform a short mass service at the gravesite.
I would encourage anyone who would like to send flowers to the funeral home please do so for arrival by Saturday morning. And of course, if there is anyone who wants to attend, the family would appreciate that as well.
God Bless, Diane
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
What sad sad news. Prayers up.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
to GARY'S SON, JASON,
all, Jason sent me the nicest PM about how glad he was that our lyme community was there for Gary during everything.
Jason, with your permission, I'm posting this here, and if you would like, we all could tell you so much more about your Dad since you only met him once!
"I am Gary Norbut's biological son. I searched him out on the internet to gather a little more information on his conditions before his death this morning.
I'm glad you could all provide him with some support and activity in his everyday life. We only met once. I also have a sister who never met him at all.
Thank you for all your support for him during his battle with RSD, cancer and Lyme Disease. I'm sure it meant a lot to him.
also, 3rd time's a charm but i still could not get this on gary's caring bridge site site saying i was over 5000 characters or used HTML; which i didn't on either one .... so I'm going to post this here instead.
I hope; copying/pasting what I typed earlier in size 3; hope it is LEGIBLE this time for the entire family to read. It wouldn't post again!
I also just got a private note from Gary's son, Jason; "I'm glad you could all provide him with some support and activity in his everyday life." Jason, we are glad we could help him and HE could HELP US also; a win-win situation!
Gary, Mom, & Teresa,
My heartfelt sympathies to you all on your deep loss of such a special son/brother/uncle! Gary, you finally got what you wanted after giving the fight of your life ... pain free days/nights!
I know you'll be continuing to teach others about lyme, esophagus cancer, etc. doing it in your new "angel" ways!
You made your mark on earth and especially our chronic lyme world.
I loved how Lisa S. posted your own comments to her in her sympathy note to your family; very touching reading them!
To your family, I'm including a link to a huge collection of sympathy poems and a few others that might make you chuckle; sorry this caring board will not accept links in messages!
But since I'm now posting this on lymenet; I'll include my direct link to sympathy poems plus!
This week I sent you 4-5 in my letter to the hospital. One that I think Gary would really like is this one: I'M FREE AT LAST!
I'M FREE AT LAST Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free, I'm following the path God laid for me. I took his hand when I heard him call I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day To laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way, I found that place at the close of day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss. Be not burdened with the times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full, I savored much, Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief; Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, he set me free. Author Unknown
Again, we loved Gary; you couldn't help but take him under your wing.
FYI, last year I have a public lyme disease display and special section of FACES OF LYME. Gary sent me the photo of him and his dogs, Jake & Junior! He wanted to be represented, and he was!! It is the photo HE sent me that was copied to the front page here!
Thank you all for sharing him with "us"; he made each of us better! We'll miss him and continue thinking of him.
Look for those "pennies", he'll be dropping them in special places for you all! with love,
BettyG, Iowa lyme activist
[ 06. March 2008, 06:09 PM: Message edited by: bettyg ]
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Piece and comfort to your family Gary go with God Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
So sad to hear.
I will miss Gary tremnedously!!
May Gods love follow Gary and his family!!
Posted by mtree (Member # 14305) on :
Dig.....and to all of you who have lost your friend Gary.
I am so sorry for your loss........
as I was reading the posts......I could visualize everything that happened to Gary......
My father last february......with cancer was admitted to St Luke.s hospitol....(he lived right by there)......battling cancer for years.....
after a day....hospice came in......to talk about going home......
my father took a bad turn........
instead of bringing him home with hospice......we decided to send hime....(by ambulance) to the hospice care center.......
at first we were uncomfortable about him not being home.........but after seeing this place and the love and care that was there was so much more then we could do at home........
he was only there for 2 days and passed........comfortably...loved and with dignity.....(my father kept asking to be shaved...even when he was on morphin)...
the nurses at St.Luke's were amazing......
....and the hospice care center was an incredible option for such a sad time.....and made his transition so much easier for him and us his family.....
did I want my father to die.....no... but if it was gods plan....then Im so glad he was where he was........
I never knew your friend Gary........but I will tell you ......that if he died at the hospice center...I do know that..he was well taken care of.....and died in comfort and peace......
mtree
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Still can't find where to register. Man, I knew I was bad at new sites, but I can't even find where to register??? Makes me feel really stupid!!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lymetoo:
Still can't find where to register. Man, I knew I was bad at new sites, but I can't even find where to register??? Makes me feel really stupid!! /QUOTE]
tutu, i may have misspoke adding to your confusion; here's what to do ok.
click on gary's site: this is page to SEND MESSAGE!!!
CLICK SIGN MY GUESTBOOK which is below gary's HOME address in penn.
now, it asks for your email; type in & hit next now it tasks for your password; type in/enter.
now you should be able to type your note; note it shows it as TIMESNEWROMAN, so suggest changing it to ARIAL; size 3 ******************************
or you'll get a overlap of lines like me if you use size 4 !!!
then preview it; any changes edit it above; when done SAVE, and it posts promptly
hopefully this will work.
fyi, go to lower LEFT hand corner below the current journal notes giving all funeral details, etc. Betty
--------------------------------
Diane or Robin,
could you find our from Gary's family how checks should be made out?
or not knowing Gary's financial situation, is there a memorial of any kind OR just needed to help pay bills???
whatever you find out, can you add it to the JOURNAL on left with all the other funeral details? thanks my friends!
Bettyg, Iowa friend
Posted by iceskater (Member # 8655) on :
Rest in peace, my friend. I will miss our email pen palship. May your earthly suffering be over and eternal comfort be yours.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
diane or robin,
please send me an email to my home address;
WHO should checks be made payable to the family member??
yes, i understand NO MEMORIALs; fine, but this money can then go towards his bills, BUT I NEED A NAME PLEASE! ****************************
Diane and Robin,
THANK YOU FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL JOB YOU 2 DID THIS PAST YEAR ON CREATING GARY'S CARING BRIDGE SITE AND KEEPING IT UP TO DATE FOR US, GARY'S LYME FRIENDS!
yes, i'm shouting with JOY for caring about each other, and during the deepest, darkest days that sometimes leads up to our death from lyme complications!
[ 11. March 2008, 05:40 PM: Message edited by: bettyg ]
Posted by sometimesdilly (Member # 9982) on :
i just saw this sad news.
to Betty and Ali in particular- i'm very sorry.
I know both of you cared about Gary and demonstrated that by moving mountains to be there for him. His loss must be especially painful to you both.
hugs- dilly
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
dilly, thank you so much! gary was one of the men to pm me late at night when i started. had many conversations with him then.
then he was off the boards for quite awhile.
then last year he was going in for tests, and his cancer in bronchitus was found.
so I saved ALL those notes from past year. when i was talking recently with his birth son, i copied/pasted them all together so he had a better idea who his birth dad was since he had only met him ONCE!
i haven't heard back from his son since that happened. Several hours spent on that project, and then had problems sending them to him! *********************************
to anyone else who may have saved gary's notes where he talked about his birth son and daughter, they are interested in hearing what he had to say about them. thanks!
thanks Dilly!
Diane and Robin, I'm still waiting for a name to make my payable too.
If I don't hear by next week, I'll send it to LYMENET for expenses in MEMORY of Gary Norbut! Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Oh, my goodness, I just opened this thread. I don't know how I've missed it for so many days, but I did.
I just don't understand? When is this going to stop? When are we going to find the treatment to this crazy illness?
Prayers for strength to all the family and friends here on lymenet.
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