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| Grandpa reading Marine Biology books! |
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Jolly Holidays!
Dad and Mom are very excited that the family is coming to them this Christmas. In fact, they are already enjoying spoiling grandkids as daughter Christine has arrived. Yesterday they got a Christmas tree and ate lunch at the Cafe Marina, one of Dad's favorite places. He was even able to have a few spoonfuls of Clam Chowder. The rest of the family will be arriving soon, and they can't wait!
Monday, December 2, 2013
Denny in the Times Standard (with a great picture)!
Denny's daughter Christine writes:
I just wanted to share an article that was online today from the Eureka Times-Standard. It is about the Eureka City Schools bird museum that is located at Eureka High School, which has been Dad's pet project since he started teaching many years ago. He has been an advocate for the bird museum and has fought to keep it at the school so that students can learn from the very extensive collection. He has written grants, come up with grade specific lesson plans and has made sure it continues to educate youth (If you have not been to the museum, make sure you have him take you there on your next visit to Eureka, it's really great).
I hope you enjoy the below article. Dad is doing well. He is having speech therapy 3 times a week. The therapist did another swallow test on him, and it looks like he has gotten much stronger than prior test, so we are hoping that someday he will be able to eat again. This didn't seem like reality last year at this time.
http://www.times-standard.com/
I just wanted to share an article that was online today from the Eureka Times-Standard. It is about the Eureka City Schools bird museum that is located at Eureka High School, which has been Dad's pet project since he started teaching many years ago. He has been an advocate for the bird museum and has fought to keep it at the school so that students can learn from the very extensive collection. He has written grants, come up with grade specific lesson plans and has made sure it continues to educate youth (If you have not been to the museum, make sure you have him take you there on your next visit to Eureka, it's really great).
I hope you enjoy the below article. Dad is doing well. He is having speech therapy 3 times a week. The therapist did another swallow test on him, and it looks like he has gotten much stronger than prior test, so we are hoping that someday he will be able to eat again. This didn't seem like reality last year at this time.
http://www.times-standard.com/
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Friends of Denny,
We hope you and yours enjoyed a wonderful holiday weekend! Thanksgiving is Dad's favorite holiday, and we have so much to be thankful for this year!
Last year Dad was in the ICU in Walnut Creek with pneumonia and the prognosis was grim. You can read the blast from the past here: http://oceanden.blogspot.com/2012_11_01_archive.html
Despite the doctors' pessimism, Mom and Christine were there refusing to give up and they encouraged Dad during that dark time. With the help of some wonderful medical personnel and Dad's fighting the good fight, he is here today to be celebrate and be grateful!
This year, Dad had a wonderful dinner with Pam's family at Aunt Micki's house. While he couldn't eat the turkey and pie, he's working on it. In fact, he's been recently working on swallowing with a new respiratory therapist. He did enjoy the company and seeing his nephews, Luke and Jake and their families.
We are grateful for having our Dad for the holiday. We are glad that he's still here to give us love and advice, to play with his grandchildren (and meet the new one!). Although we won't all be home until Christmas, it was wonderful to be able to talk to him on the phone. He gave us his words of wisdom and told his Thanksgiving jokes (how many of you know the one about shrimp boats?).
So we wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and may the rest of your holiday season be bright!
We hope you and yours enjoyed a wonderful holiday weekend! Thanksgiving is Dad's favorite holiday, and we have so much to be thankful for this year!
Last year Dad was in the ICU in Walnut Creek with pneumonia and the prognosis was grim. You can read the blast from the past here: http://oceanden.blogspot.com/2012_11_01_archive.html
Despite the doctors' pessimism, Mom and Christine were there refusing to give up and they encouraged Dad during that dark time. With the help of some wonderful medical personnel and Dad's fighting the good fight, he is here today to be celebrate and be grateful!
This year, Dad had a wonderful dinner with Pam's family at Aunt Micki's house. While he couldn't eat the turkey and pie, he's working on it. In fact, he's been recently working on swallowing with a new respiratory therapist. He did enjoy the company and seeing his nephews, Luke and Jake and their families.
We are grateful for having our Dad for the holiday. We are glad that he's still here to give us love and advice, to play with his grandchildren (and meet the new one!). Although we won't all be home until Christmas, it was wonderful to be able to talk to him on the phone. He gave us his words of wisdom and told his Thanksgiving jokes (how many of you know the one about shrimp boats?).
So we wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and may the rest of your holiday season be bright!
Friday, November 22, 2013
Dear Friends of Denny,
Dad's been enjoying his fall. During football season he enjoyed going to games and cheering on the SB Crusaders. Now he is looking forward to basketball.
He's also been spending two days a week going to a facility in Arcata with rehab services and other entertainment. He's been cleaning up at Bingo! And he has also been practicing standing and doing a little walking with a walker. He feels encouraged that he is getting stronger everyday. During the week he also goes to lunch with his buddies and attends the Knights of Columbus meetings at the Samoa Cookhouse.
He's been doing a lot of reading, mostly history. He really enjoyed Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage about Lewis and Clark. That led him to read a book about the animals they encountered on their trip. He also recently started reading about Captain Cook's adventures as well as some local history about Trinidad.
He is eagerly looking forward to the holidays and seeing his kids and grandkids. Speaking of whom, here are some of those pictures of his new grandbaby and namesake, Denise Jane from September.
We hope all is well with you and yours!
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| Grandpa, Grandma and baby Denise! |
He's also been spending two days a week going to a facility in Arcata with rehab services and other entertainment. He's been cleaning up at Bingo! And he has also been practicing standing and doing a little walking with a walker. He feels encouraged that he is getting stronger everyday. During the week he also goes to lunch with his buddies and attends the Knights of Columbus meetings at the Samoa Cookhouse.
He's been doing a lot of reading, mostly history. He really enjoyed Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage about Lewis and Clark. That led him to read a book about the animals they encountered on their trip. He also recently started reading about Captain Cook's adventures as well as some local history about Trinidad.
He is eagerly looking forward to the holidays and seeing his kids and grandkids. Speaking of whom, here are some of those pictures of his new grandbaby and namesake, Denise Jane from September.
We hope all is well with you and yours!
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| Grandpa Denny and his namesake, Denise |
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| Grandpa and Ila fishing |
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| Reading to Ila in the gazebo |
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Happy Halloween!
Dear Friends of Denny,
We hope that you had a wonderful Halloween and are enjoying your All Souls/All Saints weekend!
Dad dressed up in his Keiko hat for the holiday and while he couldn't eat any candy, the big news is that he has been able to eat a few spoonfuls of some other things like chocolate pudding, yogurt, and applesauce! He hasn't been able to eat anything in over a year -- he said the pudding was wonderful! He also says he's working up to a cheeseburger and cherry pie;)
We hope that you had a wonderful Halloween and are enjoying your All Souls/All Saints weekend!
Dad dressed up in his Keiko hat for the holiday and while he couldn't eat any candy, the big news is that he has been able to eat a few spoonfuls of some other things like chocolate pudding, yogurt, and applesauce! He hasn't been able to eat anything in over a year -- he said the pudding was wonderful! He also says he's working up to a cheeseburger and cherry pie;)
For more on Keiko (also known as Free Willy) see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiko_%28orca%29
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
SBHS Homecoming!
Dear Friends of Denny,
There has been a lot going on the past two weeks. Dad's had lots of visitors and lots of excitement. I've been remiss in keeping up with the blog. As a result, I'm going to post a few posts, but go backwards in time.
This weekend, Dad went to the St. Bernard's Homecoming game where the
Crusaders honored the Class of 1957, Dad's class! The Class of '57 was
the first class to go all the way through SB from freshman to senior.
Two members of the class were there for the game -- Dad and Dori Yaeger (on the left in the white shirt).
Dad had a great time visiting with friends, watching the game, and enjoying the honor. His niece, Maureen, took the pictures. And yes, SB won!
There has been a lot going on the past two weeks. Dad's had lots of visitors and lots of excitement. I've been remiss in keeping up with the blog. As a result, I'm going to post a few posts, but go backwards in time.
Dad had a great time visiting with friends, watching the game, and enjoying the honor. His niece, Maureen, took the pictures. And yes, SB won!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Happy Autumn!
Dear Friends of Denny,
This weekend Dad's little sister, Sally and her husband, Pete, came up for a visit. Dad had a great time with them. They were joined by Dad's sister Cathy, as well, so three of the four Cahill siblings had a mini-reunion.
Sally, Pete, and Dad visited, watched some football, and enjoyed fall walks. They were also able to enjoy the new creek-side gazebo that Steve John has been constructing for Dad. Dad is thrilled with it and has been keeping us posted on the progress (Steve did a lot of hard work!) He is excited to be able to sit down by the creek -- one of his favorite spots -- and read or visit, as he did with Sally and Pete.
This weekend Dad's little sister, Sally and her husband, Pete, came up for a visit. Dad had a great time with them. They were joined by Dad's sister Cathy, as well, so three of the four Cahill siblings had a mini-reunion.
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| Three of the four Cahill Siblings |
Sally, Pete, and Dad visited, watched some football, and enjoyed fall walks. They were also able to enjoy the new creek-side gazebo that Steve John has been constructing for Dad. Dad is thrilled with it and has been keeping us posted on the progress (Steve did a lot of hard work!) He is excited to be able to sit down by the creek -- one of his favorite spots -- and read or visit, as he did with Sally and Pete.
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| Autumn in Bayside |
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| On the phone in the gazebo |
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| Gazebo by Steve John! |
Unfortunately, the visit was a little disrupted by some issues with Dad's feeding tube. It gets blocked and clearing it requires a trip to the hospital. So, some of the visit took place at St. Joe's, but in the end, the doctors replaced the tube, and we hope that may have solved the problem!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Back Home!
Dear Friends of Denny--
Dad is finally home from St. Joe's. He had some trouble digesting his food and had to stay in the hospital for a few days. Luckily, Dad's feeding tube seems to now have been successfully replaced. This does seem to have helped with his coughing, so we are hoping that he will be sleeping better.
Thanks for keeping him your thoughts.
We hope that our next update will have more good news and pictures.
The Cahill Family
Dad is finally home from St. Joe's. He had some trouble digesting his food and had to stay in the hospital for a few days. Luckily, Dad's feeding tube seems to now have been successfully replaced. This does seem to have helped with his coughing, so we are hoping that he will be sleeping better.
Thanks for keeping him your thoughts.
We hope that our next update will have more good news and pictures.
The Cahill Family
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Dear Friends of Denny,
Dad went in for a small surgery yesterday to replace his feeding tube, which had been malfunctioning a bit. (Special thanks to Uncle Ron for helping get him to the hospital). It seemed to go well, but last night he had some trouble keeping food down, so he is back in the hospital today. So far everything seems okay, though he is a little dehydrated and pretty hungry. They are going to keep him overnight at St. Joe's to keep an eye on him. Please keep him in your thoughts.
Up until that point, things had been going fairly smoothly. Dad definitely gets frustrated by limitations at times, but he is hanging in there. He enjoys seeing his lunch buddies every Friday, and still appreciates those of you who stop by to visit. He has been reading quite a bit about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Son-in-law Bill sent him a copy of the Ken Burns documentary of the expedition, and son Kevin gave him a book about bears and Lewis and Clark. Steve John has been helping put together a gazebo and bench for Dad, so he can sit down by the creek and do his reading with a beautiful view (we'll have pictures soon!)
We'll keep you posted regarding Dad's condition this weekend. We certainly hope that all is well with you and yours.
Dad went in for a small surgery yesterday to replace his feeding tube, which had been malfunctioning a bit. (Special thanks to Uncle Ron for helping get him to the hospital). It seemed to go well, but last night he had some trouble keeping food down, so he is back in the hospital today. So far everything seems okay, though he is a little dehydrated and pretty hungry. They are going to keep him overnight at St. Joe's to keep an eye on him. Please keep him in your thoughts.
Up until that point, things had been going fairly smoothly. Dad definitely gets frustrated by limitations at times, but he is hanging in there. He enjoys seeing his lunch buddies every Friday, and still appreciates those of you who stop by to visit. He has been reading quite a bit about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Son-in-law Bill sent him a copy of the Ken Burns documentary of the expedition, and son Kevin gave him a book about bears and Lewis and Clark. Steve John has been helping put together a gazebo and bench for Dad, so he can sit down by the creek and do his reading with a beautiful view (we'll have pictures soon!)
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| Dad enjoying some time at the Sequoia Park Duckpond (thanks to his caregiver, Mike for the picture) |
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
New Grandbaby!
Dear Friends of Denny,
It has been an exciting week for the Cahill family! Denny and Pam welcomed their fifth grandchild into the world! Not only that, but she is definitely in the running for Grandpa's favorite because she is his namesake with the moniker Denise Jane Disbrow. Denise came into the world on August 21st, and she and mom are happy and healthy! Grandpa hasn't seen her yet, but Grandma Pam went down for a quick visit and brought home a lot of pictures.
Grandpa did get to visit with his youngest grandson, Sean, a few weeks ago. As you can see, Sean continues in Cahill tradition of handsomeness, and his Daddy and Grandpa are doing their best to teach him about puns.
It has been an exciting week for the Cahill family! Denny and Pam welcomed their fifth grandchild into the world! Not only that, but she is definitely in the running for Grandpa's favorite because she is his namesake with the moniker Denise Jane Disbrow. Denise came into the world on August 21st, and she and mom are happy and healthy! Grandpa hasn't seen her yet, but Grandma Pam went down for a quick visit and brought home a lot of pictures.
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| Denise Jane |
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| Ila meets her new sister |
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| Proud Daddy |
Grandpa did get to visit with his youngest grandson, Sean, a few weeks ago. As you can see, Sean continues in Cahill tradition of handsomeness, and his Daddy and Grandpa are doing their best to teach him about puns.
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| Three generations! |
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| Enjoying time on the deck |
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Happy Anniversary to a Great Couple!
Dear Friends,
Today is Mom and Dad's 48th Anniversary! We hope you will join us in sending them our well wishes and congratulations!
As it turns out, the forty-eighth anniversary doesn't have any traditional gifts associated with it such as twenty-five's silver or fifty's gold or even ten's tin, but it is associated with a modern gift category of "optical goods." I'm guessing that this is because very few people make it to 48, and if they do, they have some excellent insight (that pun's for Dad) into how to navigate the many changes and challenges, ups and downs of marriage. On the face of it, this past year has certainly been one of the down years for Mom and Dad, but, for us kids, we've also seen the upside: the incredible displays of bravery, sacrifice, stubbornness in the face of doubt and fear, loyalty, gratitude, steadfastness, and love on the part of our parents. While no relationship is perfect, theirs has weathered this awful year with love and inspiration.
Today is Mom and Dad's 48th Anniversary! We hope you will join us in sending them our well wishes and congratulations!
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| 48 years and going strong! |
Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!
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| Mom & Dad celebrate with a visit to Big Lagoon |
Friday, August 2, 2013
Happy August
Dear Friends of Denny,
Dad has been enjoying his summer in Humboldt. It is hard to believe that it has been a year and two weeks since his stroke (July 17, 2012)! We are very thankful that he is here to enjoy it.
He has had several visitors in the past two weeks, including the Maher family who stopped to see him on their way back from camping in Oregon. He hadn't seen Megan and Chris since his time in Redding last summer!
He also had a very nice time visiting with his mother-in-law, Grandma Edie, as well as his former student from SBES, Renee Taylor. Renee brought over the SBHS class of 1970's yearbook, and she and Dad enjoyed reminiscing about his former students and her classmates.
Dad also went out to a Crabs game this past weekend. He really enjoyed the game, even though the Crabgrass Band wasn't playing. Maybe next time, and yes, the Crabs won!
Although he isn't going to physical therapy anymore, he has been doing some on his own. He especially likes using the pedals to strengthen both his arms and legs.
He's looking forward to this weekend when son Kevin and grandson Sean will be visiting. More pictures to follow.
We hope all is well with you and your family!
Dad has been enjoying his summer in Humboldt. It is hard to believe that it has been a year and two weeks since his stroke (July 17, 2012)! We are very thankful that he is here to enjoy it.
He has had several visitors in the past two weeks, including the Maher family who stopped to see him on their way back from camping in Oregon. He hadn't seen Megan and Chris since his time in Redding last summer!
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| Uncle Denny with Kamryn and Cooper |
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| Uncle Denny with Megan, Maureen, Cathy, Cooper, and Kamryn |
He also had a very nice time visiting with his mother-in-law, Grandma Edie, as well as his former student from SBES, Renee Taylor. Renee brought over the SBHS class of 1970's yearbook, and she and Dad enjoyed reminiscing about his former students and her classmates.
Dad also went out to a Crabs game this past weekend. He really enjoyed the game, even though the Crabgrass Band wasn't playing. Maybe next time, and yes, the Crabs won!
Although he isn't going to physical therapy anymore, he has been doing some on his own. He especially likes using the pedals to strengthen both his arms and legs.
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| Dad hard at work (and a glimpse of Mom's beautiful gladiolas) |
We hope all is well with you and your family!
Monday, July 15, 2013
Happy Birthday, Pam!
Dear Friends of Denny,
We just wanted to take the time today to celebrate Mom's birthday! She's Dad's best (and favorite) caretaker, a wonderful Mom, loving Grandma, and amazing person! A month ago, she hiked 110 miles across England in just two weeks. But she also loves hiking with her grandchildren. Our birthday wish is that this year is infinitely better than the last! Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you!
We just wanted to take the time today to celebrate Mom's birthday! She's Dad's best (and favorite) caretaker, a wonderful Mom, loving Grandma, and amazing person! A month ago, she hiked 110 miles across England in just two weeks. But she also loves hiking with her grandchildren. Our birthday wish is that this year is infinitely better than the last! Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you!
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| Celebratory lunch at Cafe Marina, with cake! |
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| Mom hiking along Hadrian's Wall in England |
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| Hiking to the waterfall with Ila |
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| Sandia Mountains, NM with Ceci and Lincoln |
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| Soon Sean will be old enough to hike! |
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Belated Happy Fourth of July
Dear Friends of Denny,
We hope this finds you well and we wish you a belated Happy Fourth of July. Dad enjoyed celebrating by going to an Arcata Crabs' game and spending some time the plaza enjoying the festivities. On Saturday he went with Pam to hear the Eureka Symphony at their annual 4th of July concert at historic Fern Cottage. It was a beautiful day, and they enjoyed the sun and the music.
They had a little hiccup with the new wheelchair-accessible van, which blew its transmission while Pam and Denny were returning from an afternoon in Willow Creek. Their neighbors, Joel and Cynthia, came to their rescue!
Other than the van issue, he's been enjoying short outings around his favorite areas such as the cabin, the Arcata Marsh, and the wonderful new bay walk down by the Bayshore Mall. He was also thrilled to make it to a Knights of Columbus meeting last month, and he has enjoyed lunching with friends in his Friday lunch group.
He also went with Cathy and Ron to visit his former coach, Ray Mechals. Ray also had a stroke and the two of them had a lot to talk about. Dad keeps suggesting that they both had strokes because they each married former Arcata High cheerleaders...we are not convinced by that correlation.
He is also still enjoying the challenge of learning to use his new ipad. He checks his email each day and loves receiving notes (oceanden[at]gmail.com), though he is still working on using the keyboard -- his stiff fingers sometimes make it hard to hit individual letters. We also picked out a number of puzzles and word games that he has been playing. They are fun, but they are also great for his cognitive therapy. He also watched the Ken Burns Lewis & Clark film and then has been reading the book on which it was based, _Undaunted Courage_.
Overall he is doing well in terms of health. The big news is that he had his trach removed last week. The doctor decided that it was probably irritating his throat more than it was helping it, so he took it out. It is slowly healing (there's still a bit of a hole), but it is easier and easier to hear him speak each day. Unfortunately, he is no longer attending the outpatient speech or physical therapy as he reached his limit. He does his exercises at home and we are still hopeful that his legs might get strong enough to walk again. After all, he was confined to a hospital bed for eight months! He is still working with an occupational therapist, especially on his left arm strength. She is wonderful, and thinks he is making progress. We hope that will continue a bit longer. His caregivers have also been really wonderful, and we feel so happy to have their help!
We hope this finds you well and we wish you a belated Happy Fourth of July. Dad enjoyed celebrating by going to an Arcata Crabs' game and spending some time the plaza enjoying the festivities. On Saturday he went with Pam to hear the Eureka Symphony at their annual 4th of July concert at historic Fern Cottage. It was a beautiful day, and they enjoyed the sun and the music.
They had a little hiccup with the new wheelchair-accessible van, which blew its transmission while Pam and Denny were returning from an afternoon in Willow Creek. Their neighbors, Joel and Cynthia, came to their rescue!
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| (L-R) Joel, Denny, and Mike (Dad's caregiver) on Berry Summit with the van. Thank goodness for good neighbors! |
Other than the van issue, he's been enjoying short outings around his favorite areas such as the cabin, the Arcata Marsh, and the wonderful new bay walk down by the Bayshore Mall. He was also thrilled to make it to a Knights of Columbus meeting last month, and he has enjoyed lunching with friends in his Friday lunch group.
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| Knights of Columbus Meeting at Samoa Cookhouse (Denny in back right) |
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| Denny and Ray (thanks, Cathy, for the picture!) |
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| Enjoying the Bayshore walk with daughter, Cathleen |
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| At the Arcata Marsh teaching granddaughter, Ceci, to birdwatch |
Overall he is doing well in terms of health. The big news is that he had his trach removed last week. The doctor decided that it was probably irritating his throat more than it was helping it, so he took it out. It is slowly healing (there's still a bit of a hole), but it is easier and easier to hear him speak each day. Unfortunately, he is no longer attending the outpatient speech or physical therapy as he reached his limit. He does his exercises at home and we are still hopeful that his legs might get strong enough to walk again. After all, he was confined to a hospital bed for eight months! He is still working with an occupational therapist, especially on his left arm strength. She is wonderful, and thinks he is making progress. We hope that will continue a bit longer. His caregivers have also been really wonderful, and we feel so happy to have their help!
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Happy (Grand)Father's Day!
Dear Friends of Denny,
Dad's been having a fun couple of weeks visiting with his kids and grandkids. Ila came up two weeks ago, and Cecilia and Lincoln are currently visiting from New Mexico. Everyone is having a great time.
Although they don't know it, they've been helping Grandpa do some of his therapy, like kicking a ball with him and doing puzzles. It is definitely having a good impact.
The weather has been perfect, so we've enjoyed lots of outdoor time. Dad's even made several visits to his favorite places around the county, like Trinidad.
We hope that all is well with you and your families this weekend!
Happy Father's Day to all the father's out there!
Dad's been having a fun couple of weeks visiting with his kids and grandkids. Ila came up two weeks ago, and Cecilia and Lincoln are currently visiting from New Mexico. Everyone is having a great time.
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| Playing soccer with Grandpa |
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| Doing puzzles on Grandpa's new ipad |
The weather has been perfect, so we've enjoyed lots of outdoor time. Dad's even made several visits to his favorite places around the county, like Trinidad.
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| Taking a walk down to the creek |
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| Reading books with Grandpa |
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| Feeding the sheep! |
Monday, June 10, 2013
Thanks for your Patience!
Dear Friends of Denny,
Thank you all for your patience (those of you who are still checking in on us here). The end of the semester chaos temporarily overwhelmed me, but I'm back with the promised pictures of the party! Dad has told me a number of times how much he enjoyed seeing everyone. The numbers have grown with each telling, so that the current report on the number of guests is 100! But he did enjoy himself immensely, and has taken lots of pleasure in reading and re-reading all the wonderful cards he received. Many of them are on display throughout the house.
Thank you also to everyone who chipped in on the i-pad present! Daughter Christine and son-in-law Bill set it all up for him while they were visiting last week. Daughter Cathleen is helping him get the hang of it while she's home. He's using it to check his email on a regular basis; if you want to drop him a line, his address is oceanden@gmail.com. Dad's friends mean the world to him, and we truly appreciate all of you who helped him celebrate the big day, both in person and from afar.
Thank you all for your patience (those of you who are still checking in on us here). The end of the semester chaos temporarily overwhelmed me, but I'm back with the promised pictures of the party! Dad has told me a number of times how much he enjoyed seeing everyone. The numbers have grown with each telling, so that the current report on the number of guests is 100! But he did enjoy himself immensely, and has taken lots of pleasure in reading and re-reading all the wonderful cards he received. Many of them are on display throughout the house.
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| The Birthday Boy |
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| Denny & Pam, a Great Couple! |
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| Friends and Neighbors |
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| Three Generations of Cahill Men |
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| Celebrating with Good Friends |
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Thank you!
Thank you so much to everyone who helped Dad celebrate his 74th birthday and his trying but triumphant year! He had a wonderful day and enjoyed seeing and talking to all of you. Pictures to follow soon!
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
Birthday Invitation
Dear Friends of Denny,
YOU ARE INVITED: Dad's birthday is coming up soon. Mom would like to invite you to celebrate with them. The Birthday Party Open House will be on the Tuesday, May 21st from 1:00 until 5:00pm. Please drop in for coffee and cake and to wish Dad a happy birthday. He has a lot to celebrate this year!
Denny's family, immediate and extended, will be gifting him an i-pad 2 for his birthday. Daughter Christine found an inspiring article about how much they can help with therapy, communication, and the general boredom of being confined to a chair or bed for much of the day. It is amazing how much the person described in this article sounds like Dad!
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/
No gifts please at the party, but if you are interested in making a small contribution to his recovery, we are creating an "app fund" to pay for brain training games and diversions that will help him recover motor function. We'll have an "app jar" at the party for anyone who'd like to treat Denny to a new game.
YOU ARE INVITED: Dad's birthday is coming up soon. Mom would like to invite you to celebrate with them. The Birthday Party Open House will be on the Tuesday, May 21st from 1:00 until 5:00pm. Please drop in for coffee and cake and to wish Dad a happy birthday. He has a lot to celebrate this year!
Denny's family, immediate and extended, will be gifting him an i-pad 2 for his birthday. Daughter Christine found an inspiring article about how much they can help with therapy, communication, and the general boredom of being confined to a chair or bed for much of the day. It is amazing how much the person described in this article sounds like Dad!
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/
experience/#!/exjun_
No gifts please at the party, but if you are interested in making a small contribution to his recovery, we are creating an "app fund" to pay for brain training games and diversions that will help him recover motor function. We'll have an "app jar" at the party for anyone who'd like to treat Denny to a new game.
Dad and Mom have had a busy week. He's transitioning from home health care visits from his therapists to outpatient therapy. Once again, they are having to go through the process of explaining his strengths and weaknesses to new people. This often involves dealing with the frustrating lack of communication between different medical professionals (we are still working on getting some test results sent to St. Joe's from the Alameda facility that he left in February!) But, the good news is that outpatient rehab means that Dad will have a chance to get out of the house a couple times a week.
He's also been making some great progress. He's generally doing most of the work of navigating around the house in his wheelchair using his feet to move. His fingers are still numb, but his writing is really improved. All three kids have received cards from him recently and could absolutely read what he wrote. He's still enjoying his walks down Graham road, and has also taken a few excursions including a quick trip to the cabin, his first in ten months! Cathy and Ron have been keeping an eye on things up there and making sure that it was in good shape. On Friday, he joined his lunch buddies at his favorite restaurant, Cafe Marina. While he can't eat, he enjoys the good company. After lunch he took one of his favorite walks along the bay!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Dear Friends of Denny,
Dad has been having a good week. Although he can not stand by himself yet, he wants to walk. He has been so enthusiastic about his physical therapy, that the therapist is following his lead. The therapist brought a walker, and Dad has been able to walk with its assistance five feet at a time! It is pretty amazing.
He has been in good spirits, though he does get bored with being confined to a bed or a chair (see his enthusiasm for walking above). He has spent his time drawing maps of the family woods for the grandkids and watching the Giants' games. Mom is also reading the classics aloud to him each night. They've gone through Treasure Island and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and are on to Kidnapped. All of us kids have had a number of excellent conversations on the phone with him. His ability to carry on extended conversations is really growing. We talk about the grandkids, current events, what we are up to, and even hear some new stories. For example, we were talking about my Environmental History class, and I learned that Dad met David Brower, the influential Sierra Club leader from the 1950s and 60s. I had no idea!
And finally, YOU ARE INVITED: Dad's birthday is next month. Mom would like to invite you to celebrate with them. The Birthday Party Open House will be on the Tuesday, May 21st from 1:00 until 5:00pm. Please drop in for coffee and cake and to wish Dad a happy birthday. He has a lot to celebrate this year!
Dad has been having a good week. Although he can not stand by himself yet, he wants to walk. He has been so enthusiastic about his physical therapy, that the therapist is following his lead. The therapist brought a walker, and Dad has been able to walk with its assistance five feet at a time! It is pretty amazing.
He has been in good spirits, though he does get bored with being confined to a bed or a chair (see his enthusiasm for walking above). He has spent his time drawing maps of the family woods for the grandkids and watching the Giants' games. Mom is also reading the classics aloud to him each night. They've gone through Treasure Island and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and are on to Kidnapped. All of us kids have had a number of excellent conversations on the phone with him. His ability to carry on extended conversations is really growing. We talk about the grandkids, current events, what we are up to, and even hear some new stories. For example, we were talking about my Environmental History class, and I learned that Dad met David Brower, the influential Sierra Club leader from the 1950s and 60s. I had no idea!
And finally, YOU ARE INVITED: Dad's birthday is next month. Mom would like to invite you to celebrate with them. The Birthday Party Open House will be on the Tuesday, May 21st from 1:00 until 5:00pm. Please drop in for coffee and cake and to wish Dad a happy birthday. He has a lot to celebrate this year!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
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| Dad showing some of the beautiful trilliums growing on Graham Road. A sign of spring! |
Dear Friends of Denny,
Dad has had a good couple of weeks. He has had a number of visitors and really enjoyed all of the company. To mention a few: His lunch group brought their lunches out one Friday to eat with him and really lifted his spirits. His godson, Mike, came by to visit before heading to Alaska for the summer. Marc Matteoli brought the news that an elevator has been installed in St. Bernard's Parish Hall, so Dad will be able to get to the Knights of Columbus meetings when he is able to get out and about again. The visits really do him good. Before the stroke, he always enjoyed running errands where he might bump into friends and catch up on all the news. It is hard for him to be homebound, and your company is a great gift. Mom also appreciates your visits. She was able to take a few days to visit her girlfriends and relax. She felt secure knowing that Dad had good company while she was gone.
During the week, he has been keeping busy with his physical healing as well. He's been regularly doing his physical and speech therapy and is getting stronger and stronger. He reports that he is sitting up by himself and has also been working on standing with the therapist. He isn't quite doing it alone, but there is only a minimum of assistance. He continues to take his daily walks on Graham Road, and has been keeping us posted on all the signs of spring. As you can see from the photo above, the flowers are all in bloom!
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| Dad on Graham Road |
Indeed, all three of us kids have been talking to him on the phone regularly. We've noticed his voice is much stronger. He often tells us about his visitors and his walks. We talk about the Giants and the birds he's seen at the birdfeeder. He is excited about everything we are doing, and tells us that he is looking forward to having all the grandkids visit this summer.
Thanks for your patience with the slightly longer than usual time between updates. We hope all is well with your families. Thank you for keeping ours in your thoughts.
The Cahills
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Dear Friends of Denny,
Dad's sister Cathy stopped by for an Easter visit with Dad, she writes:
Dad's sister Cathy stopped by for an Easter visit with Dad, she writes:
Stopped by to see your dad yesterday afternoon and we were delighted with our visit!
He is SO much better now that he is home. He was in the playroom in his wheelchair watching Titanic
and immediately began telling us about the different birds he has been
seeing out of the window over his desk. He also pointed out the water
fountain that Kevin had fixed. He had us watch part of a video that
showed the helicopter ride he and your Mom had taken in Hawaii. We
talked about Irene Schultz, the different kinds of birds in the bird
room at EHS, and Christine and Bill's
trip to Washington DC although he was unsure of the reason for the
trip. We also talked about Tammy Lindley and Marianne Lancaster, past
science teachers as Mike, his caregiver knew them.
We
were so impressed with his alertness, his clarity, and his stamina in
sitting up straight in the wheelchair for 45 minutes. He also was
moving the wheelchair around a little as he sat there. He is becoming
more adept at handling it. I don't think it will be much longer before
he will be moving all over.
Being
back home is the best thing for him. He sat there and engaged in a
conversation with us, initiating some of it while looking right at us
the whole time. It is the best visit and conversation we have had with
him since before the stroke.
And,
last but not least, before we left he told us 3 knock-knock Easter
jokes!!! He is definitely on the road to a meaningful recovery!!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Happy Easter!
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| Three generations of Cahill men looking good! |
Dear Friends of Denny,
We wish you a very happy Easter. It has been a year in which we have spent a good bit of time meditating on new beginnings, and so we truly appreciate the spirit of the holiday.
Dad has had a good week, though he and Mom spent more time in doctor's offices for check ups than he or Mom would have liked. Things are looking good, however, so it was worth it for the good news. He continues to have regular physical therapy, and the speech therapist has recovered and worked with him on Friday.
The most exciting thing this week is that son, Kevin, came home and brought grandson, Sean. They had a wonderful time visiting -- Dad hadn't really been able to spend time with Sean, who was born in June, just before the stroke. So this visit helped make up for some lost time. Mom also enjoyed seeing her son and grandson for the Easter weekend!
We are very grateful for our family this Easter, and we send our best wishes to you and yours as well.
Happy Easter,
The Cahill Family
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| Denny's view from the deck. Not bad |
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Settling into a Routine
Dear Friends of Denny,
It has been a fairly quiet week for Dad and Mom. They have gotten to know Dad's caregivers and everyone is settling into a good routine.
Dad usually takes two walks down the road each day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Mom said that they usually go for about a mile, so she's getting some good exercise. During the week, he is visited by physical therapy and the home healthcare nurse. Dad practiced standing with help this week with PT. He stood for a minute and then 3 minutes during one of the sessions. He is also supposed to be having speech therapy, but the speech therapist has been out with the crud. We are hoping that will start up soon. He also saw a doctor about his trach. Everything looks good and the doctor thinks that with some work, he might be able to eat again one of these days. Dad was very excited about that and said he especially wanted a cheeseburger!
Dad is especially enjoying visits from all of his Humboldt friends. He often asks Mom who is coming to visit him for the day. Several friends stopped by to see Dad this week. His classmates from SBHS Class of '57, Dora Yager Kallimos and Judy Giannini (apologies if I've botched the spelling) came earlier in the week. He also had a visit from neighbor, Chuck Smith, and good friend, Larry Henderson. We also learned from Larry that Dad might have been correct when he told us Tony Viegas has stopped by to see him in the hospital in Alameda. Larry said Tony had planned to swing by while he was down there. We all thought that Dad had been dreaming, but turns out, we might of been wrong (don't tell him I said that, we'll never hear the end of it).
If you want to swing by and say hello, please do, Dad will be thrilled. Saturday or Sunday afternoons are best. If you don't know how to get to the Cahill ranch, you can email daughter Cathleen at cdcahill@gmail.com for directions.
It has been a fairly quiet week for Dad and Mom. They have gotten to know Dad's caregivers and everyone is settling into a good routine.
Dad usually takes two walks down the road each day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Mom said that they usually go for about a mile, so she's getting some good exercise. During the week, he is visited by physical therapy and the home healthcare nurse. Dad practiced standing with help this week with PT. He stood for a minute and then 3 minutes during one of the sessions. He is also supposed to be having speech therapy, but the speech therapist has been out with the crud. We are hoping that will start up soon. He also saw a doctor about his trach. Everything looks good and the doctor thinks that with some work, he might be able to eat again one of these days. Dad was very excited about that and said he especially wanted a cheeseburger!
Dad is especially enjoying visits from all of his Humboldt friends. He often asks Mom who is coming to visit him for the day. Several friends stopped by to see Dad this week. His classmates from SBHS Class of '57, Dora Yager Kallimos and Judy Giannini (apologies if I've botched the spelling) came earlier in the week. He also had a visit from neighbor, Chuck Smith, and good friend, Larry Henderson. We also learned from Larry that Dad might have been correct when he told us Tony Viegas has stopped by to see him in the hospital in Alameda. Larry said Tony had planned to swing by while he was down there. We all thought that Dad had been dreaming, but turns out, we might of been wrong (don't tell him I said that, we'll never hear the end of it).
If you want to swing by and say hello, please do, Dad will be thrilled. Saturday or Sunday afternoons are best. If you don't know how to get to the Cahill ranch, you can email daughter Cathleen at cdcahill@gmail.com for directions.
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| Dora Yager Kallimos, Dad, and Judy Giannini |
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Dear Friends of Denny,
Happy St. Patrick's Day! As you know, Dad is proudly 100% Irish, so this is one of his favorite holidays. He was very happy to be celebrating it at home. He even showed us "shamrocks" from the redwood forest when we Skyped by computer this morning. And of course, he was a wearin' o' the green.
Mom and Dad's favorite blue-eyed daughter, Christine, came home for a quick holiday visit. She helped Mom put up some decorations, and she and Dad enjoyed reading some Irish Blessings and Irish Wit together. As you can imagine, Dad had some Irish wit of his own to add.
Dad had a few other visitors this weekend. Ann Lynch stopped by and brought him a video of one of the infamous Cahill/Lynch St. Patrick's Day parties from the early '80s! Sisters-in-law Phyllis and Micki came by to say hello. Micki and Mark helped Mom plant some lettuce and other veggies in the planter that we bought for her last year. It is finally getting put to use. Marilyn and George Zibilich also came over and brought some soda bread in honor of the holiday. Tonight, sister Cathy and brother-in-law Ron stopped by to say hello.
Dad had a good week. He is now getting physical therapy three days a week. With his caregivers, he is working on using his legs to propel himself in his wheelchair rather than being pushed everywhere. This is challenging, but he's game. He is also starting speech therapy this week. He has been enjoying taking some long walks down Graham Road. The other day, he came home with a bouquet of the first spring wildflowers for Mom. Today, he, Mom and Christine took advantage of the lovely weather today to take another one.
We hope you and your families also had a wonderful weekend.
And we'd like to leave you with one of Dad's favorites, The Old Irish Blessing:
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| St. Patrick's Day Card by Granddaughter Cecilia |
Happy St. Patrick's Day! As you know, Dad is proudly 100% Irish, so this is one of his favorite holidays. He was very happy to be celebrating it at home. He even showed us "shamrocks" from the redwood forest when we Skyped by computer this morning. And of course, he was a wearin' o' the green.
Mom and Dad's favorite blue-eyed daughter, Christine, came home for a quick holiday visit. She helped Mom put up some decorations, and she and Dad enjoyed reading some Irish Blessings and Irish Wit together. As you can imagine, Dad had some Irish wit of his own to add.
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| Mark, Micki, Pam, and Denny enjoy lunch on the porch |
Dad had a few other visitors this weekend. Ann Lynch stopped by and brought him a video of one of the infamous Cahill/Lynch St. Patrick's Day parties from the early '80s! Sisters-in-law Phyllis and Micki came by to say hello. Micki and Mark helped Mom plant some lettuce and other veggies in the planter that we bought for her last year. It is finally getting put to use. Marilyn and George Zibilich also came over and brought some soda bread in honor of the holiday. Tonight, sister Cathy and brother-in-law Ron stopped by to say hello.
 |
| Pam, Micki, and Mark plant Mom's kitchen garden |
Dad had a good week. He is now getting physical therapy three days a week. With his caregivers, he is working on using his legs to propel himself in his wheelchair rather than being pushed everywhere. This is challenging, but he's game. He is also starting speech therapy this week. He has been enjoying taking some long walks down Graham Road. The other day, he came home with a bouquet of the first spring wildflowers for Mom. Today, he, Mom and Christine took advantage of the lovely weather today to take another one.
We hope you and your families also had a wonderful weekend.
And we'd like to leave you with one of Dad's favorites, The Old Irish Blessing:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
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