missyk

The one in the local paper was what she wanted publicly...it simply stated that any memorial service would be at a later date and that memorial contributions could be made to LUNGevity/LCSC. She said that anyone who "should" know the details would already know. I want you all to know a little bit more about Mom, so I'm putting in an expanded obituary (of sorts). Sue Seymour was born at Camp Lejeune, NC on December 21, 1949 to Art and Pat Kindt and grew up in NC, PA, and NJ areas. Sue moved to Iowa on Oct. 31, 1979 with her children and quickly made it "home", especially the small town of Minburn. She met Ralph Seymour and in 1986 they were married, making their home with "their" children in Adel. In 1993 Ralph and Sue moved back to Minburn where Sue opened ARS Mini Market and when that didn't do well, The Hair Shop, which she ran until her illness forced her to close the thriving business. Sue was a fantastic hairdresser even at the beginning of her career and was asked when she was younger to go on the road with the Supremes to do their wigs. She declined the opportunity...she had a family to raise. During her first years in Iowa, Sue knew only extreme poverty. Yet, she worked hard and with the help of the community of Minburn, started to raise herself and her children out of it. Her crowing achievement was that she was able to build an in-ground pool in her back yard and take a vacation to the South Pacific where she and Ralph got the opportunity to spend one of the nights on a "deserted island". They were dropped off in the afternoon and picked up the following day. But the most common vacation she took was to Las Vegas, where she would travel a few times a year...with or without company. Sue had a ready laugh and tried not to take life too seriously. Even as her illness progressed, she would find every opportunity to laugh. That is her legacy to her family...a sense of humor. She was extremely proud of her grandchildren and took advantage of "grandma's right" to spoil them whenever she could. Her biggest fear was in "leaving" them to grow-up without her. Sue is survived by her husband Ralph, of Minburn and their children Becky Fletchall (Jim Hendricks) of Redfield, Mike (Beth) Fletchall of Winterset, and Melissa (Mark) Ham of Winterset. She is also survived by her sisters Donna (of AZ), Patty (of NC), and Mary (of VA), brother Gerry (of WY), and her grandchildren: Sabrina Ham, Dennis Neal, Ashley Hendricks, and Patrick Fletchall. Sue was proceeded in death by her parents, two brothers, Steve and Rich, a sister, Be, and a grandaughter Lyric Autumn Ham.

Don... Much love to you and many thanks for all of the support, kindness, answers, and prayers that you offered Mom and I during our time here with you and Lucie. Your profile was one of the first that I pointed out to Mom...and she took heart knowing that the disease was survivable. From the bottom of my heart...Thank you. May God's love touch your life in many, many ways as you travel down your new path. Love, ~Missy~

Kelly... How incredibly touching a tribute to a wonderful mother!! I smiled and laughed my way through reading that, remembering some of the same types of things that my own mother used to do. Instead of hurling snack cakes at people, though, we would sometimes throw the plates across the room as we set the table! LOL And "toss me a roll, please" was often taken in the literal sense! I completely understand about the big things being a bit easier to handle right now. I'm walking with you, right beside you...Feel me. We'll share strength and hope and the love of our Mom's and we'll make it through the little things, too. Much love, Missy

Sorry I'm late on the birthday wishes Katie!!! Hope you had an absolutely WONDERFUL birthday!!! BTW...I just tell people I'm 21 with 11 years experience!

Alicia Susan "Sue" Seymour...my mother, my friend...passed away peacefully this evening surrounded by her family at Mercy Hospice, Johnston. My heart hurts...and is crushed by seeing my daughter hurting in a way I can't ease. And, of course, Mom being Mom...it let loose and POURED right after she took her last breath. *Smiles softly* I love her and I miss her already...but I'm so glad she's no longer suffering.

Dang...sorry to hear he's in the hospital (I DO love that he's worried about being stuck there, though! ) I know it's frustrating, though. Hopefully they'll get him pumped up with fluids and he'll be on his way back out and feeling MUCH better! Much love and many prayers...

Glad to hear Mom's getting to the end of radation!! Yay! I did also want to say that with my mom, the most severe of the pain (with the added irritation of vomiting)came from thrush. That could be adding to the irritation your mom's experiencing. Mom said it was the worst thing she ever experienced but once it was cleared up she was able to eat again without the truely horrible pain. Best wishes for your Mom and that whatever's causing her the pain is cleared up soon!

Welcome to this wonderful place...but so sorry you've had to find it. I lost my father to lung/kidney (not sure which was primary...we assume it was the kidney) a few years ago...then Mom's diagnosis came in 2005. I'm so sorry that LC has touched your family yet again. Much love and many prayers for you and your dad.

Oh Val... I can only imagine! I know my time is coming and these are the things I imagine for myself, too. When Sabrina was a baby I was on the phone with Mom all the time and I've said over and over again "What am I going to do? Who am I going to call??" Just those little things that you want to share and have your mom enjoy with you!!! I'm walking with you, Val...every step of the way. And have you ever thought "antihystamine" for those nights Carolyn won't sleep! LOL *Grins* Hoping tomorrow's better for you and yours... Much love...

Thanks for putting this up! It gave me a much-needed boost and made me smile just as big! And I'm with Jen...I just LOVE the tootsies in the picture!!

Kelly... I have no words of wisdom for you...just deep, heartfelt sympathy...I'm so, so very sorry.

Actually, I have (let me think) 5 blogs...three of which I actively write on and one I write on daily! LOL I guess, to answer your question, yes, there are others who blog! The one that I write on daily, the people who see it are "friends" that I've had online for almost 5 years and I feel like are family to me. I use it to keep them updated on Mom (since they've all shared this journey with us), keep them updated on my pregnancy, and sometimes just to write about whatever pops into my head. The other blog has become almost exclusively a blog about dealing with the ups and downs of Mom's diagnosis and the family interaction changes that have come about. That's where I go to do all my "thinking it through"...it's very limited readership so I feel more "safe" there, in a way. Blog on! I love reading them as well as writing them...I'll be sure to check yours out!

Oh Geez!! We have to option (and I've always assumed that everyone else did, too) of choosing which hospice service to use. We have no only three different hospital services, but the county, too! Whichever one Mom's been with (and she's been with two now) they've been HUGELY helpful in getting everything we could possibly need to care for her at home. There is no stipulation that someone must always be there (though we're to that point now because of falling issues)...we have either a nurse, a social worker, or an aide that come out each day and sometimes there's more than one a day if the schedules overlap!! And they're never more than a phone call away if we have a question about anything. I'm sending prayers that you find a service that will work well for you all...the last thing you guys need is the added stress of dealing with this kinda crap! Good luck and let us know how it works out and if there's anything we can do to help!

May 13th used to be such a special day in our lives. It was on that day in 1986 that our family became "officially" complete when Mom married our step-father, Ralph. I was 11 years old and I think as much in love with him as Mom was...he quickly became my "daddy" to the point where we joke that I must really *be* his daughter, we're so much alike. Today we celebrate 21 years of Ralph's being our "dad" and Mom's husband, through the ups and downs of everyday life. May 13th...a day that stopped us in our tracks in 2005. Mom and Ralph celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary in the hospital after recieving the results of the lung biopsy earlier in the day. It was cancer and our lives would never be the same. Two years later and we're thankful for the time we've had and, honestly, sometimes pi**ed off that we've had to *be* thankful...especially as the time grows shorter and shorter. May 13th, 2007...Mother's Day, also. It seems like it all just piles on, doesn't it? It's a rough day here with many thoughts and much sadness slinking it's way over what SHOULD be a happy day. I'm sad when I really don't want to be...and having a hard time enjoying "my day". I just kind of want it to be over. No celebrations here, just a card from my daughter she made at school, and move on with the day like any other. I know I should be happy today...Mom's still here to celebrate all the GOOD things with...but I'm finding it terribly hard to even bother to get something to eat, let alone paste a smile on my face and drive up there to come face-to-face with my sister and her significant other who are still grating on me, even from a distance...or to sit around and pretend that there will be another Mother's Day, another wedding anniversary. The tears come too easily today.

Oh Congratulations!!!!! As Mom would say "That's a nice-sized baby". She's beautiful, Val! Glad you guys are home and doing well. xoxo

Fanfan... We are all human and as such have our moments of weakness. The times to remember are those times when we do (or did) the things no one thought we could! Let me extend my welcome to you, also...and my hopes and prayers that the disease that brought us all together never touches your life. You're right, there are some amazing people here! Welcome aboard!

Since mine is the vehicle that goes everywhere (it gets better gas milage than the old pickup the husband drives) I make sure it always has a full tank, or at least half (!) so I can take off and get where I need to go without having to stop and put gas in when it's inconvenient!

Answer: Soap cube water pick

LOL @ Val...maybe you SHOULD bend down and pick it up???? LOL I usually do if it's heads-up...but it all just reminds me of Mom who taught me not only to pick up the "lucky penny"...but to NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave a "win" on a slot machine!!! LOLLLLL

I agree with all the rest that this is a GREAT idea!! I love to write but always need some help in the editing and keeping my tense in line! LOL My friends who read my blogs propose my writting a book about being the adult child. I like THIS idea even better! Please, let us know what you find out!!

Oooh...I'd have to say Biology or Anatomy...with sociology a close runner-up!

Oh gosh I'm so sorry you're in such a position...but glad you found us where we can help support you! I still have many days when the thought of having to help my daughter through my mother's death is overwhelming and we've been here almost two years now. I'm not sure how I'LL get through it, let alone help her. And, I too was medicated (you'll see it's a common thing, actually) until I became pregnant. I took it one step farther and not only had the antidepressant and the sleeping pill...but had xanax for anxiety. Good ole pharmaceuticals! Please, let us know how we can support you, help you, and comfort you. This is a wonderful place for all of those things...along with information and hope! Much love and many prayers...

Hi Sharron! Welcome to the board! I did a little looking around and here's what I found... http://www.lungusa.org (Local chapters can refer to support groups for persons with chronic lung disorders (emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary problems, etc.) if available. These groups use names such as "Easy Breathers," or "Family Asthma Support Group.") http://www.emphysema.net/bindex.html (Online. Support for persons afflicted with emphysema. Offers information on local support groups. Forum for sharing ideas ans help in dealing with emphysema. Advocacy for research.) http://www.huff-n-puff.net (Online. 1,000+ members. Provides support for people with any type of interstitial lung disease (including pulmonary fibrosis). Opportunity to meet others with similar conditions, experiences, and knowledge.) Hope this helps!!

Grace... Did you happen to have the phone ON when you misplaced it??? My suggestion would be (failing Carlton giving you a hint to where it is) to call the cell provider and explain WHY that phone is so important. They might be moved to try to "ping" your phone for you and give you an idea of where it's at. Something to try if all else fails. Thinking of you and hurting for your loss...even if it is "just a cell phone"...I think we all understand that it's not.

I'd have to go with C also. There are things I worry about long-term but I try to keep the list minimal.