We have finalized the arrangements for Larry's memorial service and wanted to post them for any who are interested.

The memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 27th at 3pm at First Wesleyan Church in High Point on Westchester Drive. Cumby Funeral Service on Eastchester Drive in High Point is in charge of the arrangements. Since Larry's wishes were to be cremated instead of a burial, there will be no visitation prior to the service. However, the family will available to visit with friends and family after the service.

We can not begin to express our gratitude for the many comments, cards and various expressions of support for our family during this time. Larry was such a blessed man. We are all so fortunate for sharing our lives with him.

With love,

Terri and family

It is with much sadness that I post this entry. Larry passed away at 9:30 this evening and it was a very peaceful passage. He is no longer in pain and for that we are so thankful.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. The upcoming days and months will certainly be difficult as we learn to live without Larry.

With much love,

Terri and family

The move was made yesterday from the hospital to Hospice Home and it was incredibly painful for Larry. It took nearly 3 hours for them to get his pain under control and they now have him sedated just to keep him comfortable. Larry was able to open his eyes very briefly yesterday to look out the window of his room. I know that he would enjoy it so much if he were awake, but I'm just thankful that he's resting peacefully.

We had a bit of a rough patch around 2:30 this morning when the pain got ahead of the medication and it took nearly 3 hours to get it under control again. It happened again early this afternoon but they were able to get a handle on it much faster, thankfully. Since that time he has been sleeping comfortably.

Unless something extraordinary happens, I believe Larry's days of talking to us are over. I believe he still hears us and I talk to him quite a bit. In fact, tonight I will update him on the blog comments by reading those of the past few days. I could be wrong and he doesn't hear me, but the worst that can happen is that I read out loud for a while!

Many thanks for your kind comments to Larry and our family. It is so touching to know that Larry affected so many people.

With love,

Terri and family

Larry has, once again, baffled his doctor and nurses. We were told on Saturday morning that in just a day or two and he would be gone. However, he had a very interactive day on Saturday, talking and making a few jokes. It was almost like the old Larry was back, even for a brief time. I'm sure it spent his energy as he spent most of Sunday sleeping and today is much the same. We've been told that it is common for cancer patients to sometimes rally at the end, which may very well be what he has done. His vital signs took a negative turn last evening, but improved a bit during the night and remain fairly stable. It is amazing to me that a body so ravaged with this horrible disease can still be so strong and put up such a fight to live.

The decision was made just a few minutes ago to move him to Hospice Home in High Point. This move is scheduled for tomorrow morning and I believe Larry will be much more comfortable. The rooms are much the same as what we have now, except that he will be on the ground floor with access to a courtyard outside his room. He asked us yesterday if he could just look out a window so we moved his bed for him to see outside. It was a very nice day so we were able to open the window, too, and he commented on the birds singing. I believe he will find this move especially comforting since he will be able to not only see outside, but they are willing to move his bed outside for a short while.

Will update more following his move tomorrow.

Much love,

Terri and family

The doctors have made some adjustments with Larry's medications and he is resting very comfortably today. When he wakes up he is aware of who is around and mutters just a bit, but he seems to forget where he is and why. He wants to know when he's going home. He wants to see his house. It's so nice to finally see him resting peacefully with no signs of discomfort.

Ginger and I will read all the blog comments to him today. The doctor assures us that he hears what is said and we know he will find comfort in the love and support so many of you have shared.

Much love,

Terri and family

Larry continues to amaze me. There are probably 4-5 times throughout each day that I am certain he has taken his last breath, yet he rallies. He does realize he is dying, and makes very brief comments about this when the pain awakens him. In fact, just today he tried to make a deal with the nurses to let him out of bed. Each time he wakes up he asks to stand up, only to be told he's not strong enough and we can't let him out of bed. This afternoon he asked if he was dying. I frantically looked to his nurse for help in answering and she asked him what he thought. He replied that he thought so, and she told him he was right and that it would probably happen very soon. In typical Larry fashion he asked, "Then what can it hurt for me to stand up?" Needless to say, Larry stood up for a couple of minutes - with quite a bit of assistance - but he stood and loved it.

Larry's speech is not very clear and it takes quite a bit of concentration to make out what he's saying most of the time, but I cling to every word. I still believe that he hears all that is said and I talk about heaven a lot. Sometimes he nods, sometimes he raises his eyebrows, and sometimes he has no reaction at all, but that's okay. He knows that his children and I are ready for his journey, as are the others in our families. I can not begin to imagine what is keeping him here, but either he's not ready to leave or God's not ready to take him. Watching him suffer is a tough pill to swallow, but it is what it is and everything is in His timing - - like it or not!

Many have asked about the kids. I have been so proud of them. I know this is tough for them, but they are here just every day and they don't mind holding his hand and talking to him. His daughter has been in town with us as often as possible and I am certain she has been a great example for them. She is strong yet has no issues with showing grief over the whole situation. We have friends and relatives who have allowed the kids the talk and ask questions, which has been very helpful for them as well. We are so blessed.

We will spend another night by Larry's bedside, holding his hands and letting him know he is not alone. I still ask God to either heal him completely or take him, but not to continue allowing him to suffer.

Thanks so much for the comments. It is such a comfort to know that Larry touched the lives of so many.

Terri

It has been a few rough days for Larry. Although most of his day is spent resting, he does utter a few words from time to time and when he is spoken to he tries his best to respond. This takes a great amount of energy from Larry. As time moves forward, Larry is becoming more agitated at small amounts of noise and it is becoming necessary to limit his visits to his immediate family. This is something that is extremely hard to do as I know Larry loves and appreciates all the visits from his friends.

I cannot express how appreciative we are of the love that has been shown during these rough times.

Please continue to pray for Larry that he will receive the peace and comfort that he needs. I also know that Larry would want you to specifically pray for Josh and Justin as they are so young and there are so many things that they do not understand.

Thank you again for all your love and prayers!

It's the afternoon on Friday and althought he is still in a coma, he does hear what is being said. Larry is still surrounded by many loved ones and also being visited by those he works with. Larry even gave a little wave to his grand daughter and to one of his good friends at work. Although he is in and out he is fighting to respond and I think he feels he needs to entertain the folks that are with him.

Larry slipped into a coma during the early morning hours. It is difficult to see him this way, but he looks the most comfortable he's been in many, many weeks. All three of his children are here with us, as are his grandchildren, his parents, my parents, my sister and our nieces. He is certainly surrounded by those he loves and who love him beyond measure. Our time is spent talking to him, just in case he can hear us. He is not responsive, but you never know.

Please pray for a peaceful passage for him. Although he told me he did not want to leave his family, Larry is at peace and ready to pass.

Thanks to you all,

Terri

The weekend was painful for Larry. It is difficult for him to get comfortable, difficult for him to breathe, difficult for him to eat - - just a tough time all around. His orthopedic surgeon informed us yesterday that his leg is now completely broken, although it is still aligned properly. We've been a bit to lax about the brace that he's supposed to be wearing all the time, and didn't realize the severity of the situation and how much damage we could have done, so the doctor ordered him to bed yesterday due to the amount of swelling in his legs (the broken one is the worst). Needless to say, Larry did not take this well at all! He has not been in bed for nearly 3 weeks because it's painful and difficult for him to breathe in bed. He's been sleeping in a recliner instead, but this is no longer an option. I think just the fact that Larry was told he couldn't do something made him angry and determined to do just the opposite. Go figure, right?!?!? Anyway, he is spending more time in bed and the swelling has definitely decreased. Thank God!!

We still don't know when they plan to put in the pain pump, but hopefully by Friday. I know Larry will be relieved just not having to worry about the IV pole and stuff. I make him a nervous wreck whenever I move him or the IV pole because I get in a hurry and have nearly yanked the thing out of his arm several times. I won't even mention the worry I've caused with the catheter he has!! Suffice it to say that I've slowed down.

Please pray that Larry will be able to rest comfortably. It is so hard to see him in so much pain and nothing seems to help, short of the medications just knocking him out.

Thanks,

Terri

After several rough days, Larry is more alert today and seems to be in less pain. He has had two fairly restful nights and we are so thankful for them! He does sleep most of the time, but with all the meds in his system I don't think there's much of an option for him.

I have requested a different pain method for Larry and I'm hoping that all of his doctors will agree when they confer Monday to put in an intrathecal pump. This is a catheter that is inserted in the lumbar spine, most likely, and will thread up through his spinal column into the thoracic spine. There will be a disc-type of container that will be just under the skin in his abdominal area that will hold the medication. Everyone I've talked to feels that this will be a very good option for Larry. This should allow him to come off of the IVs and lessen the amount of narcotics, yet they will be more effective with a smaller dosage. Having said all that, I will insert my "disclaimer" that this is my non-clinical explanation as I understand it!

I don't remember if I mentioned this previously, but they stopped Larry's chemo due to a drop in his white cell count. As of tonight the count is just about high enough to start the treatment again, so we're hoping for the go ahead to begin again the first of the week.

As I type this, Larry is sitting in his recliner in his hospital room watching Carolina vs. Kansas with my cousin, who will spend the night with him. We joke about all the sleepovers Larry's had while he's been up here - probably more than he had even as a child!! He has had several visitors this week and even though he doesn't always stay awake, he enjoys the visits.

Please continue to pray for rest, a sufficient increase in his white cell count, and that he does not pick up any kind of infection since it's been so low.

Thanks for caring,

Terri

The roller coaster ride continues. The weekend started out okay on Saturday, got a bit rough on Sunday, Monday was a great day, and it's gone downhill since then. We learned this morning that he needs to stay in the hospital for at least @ 10 more days and work with the physical therapists while the pain management doctors work to get his pain stabilized. Today was his first day with physical therapy and he took maybe 100 steps. He's been back in the room for just a few minutes and is exhausted and sleeping soundly. His radiation treatments began on his spine a couple of days ago and will continue through next Friday. We are hopeful that by radiating the vertebrae that received the kyphoplasty, there will be additional pain relief.

We are so blessed by the tremendous number of people who are praying for Larry and our family. I have to believe that we are all holding up as well as we are because God is answering the prayers. Please continue to pray for Larry. He gets so little sleep and I worry that between the pain and the exhaustion he may suffer emotionally, and he needs his emotional strength now more than ever.

Thanks so much,

Terri