December 7, 2008   

Hello Friends and Family,

Sorry I didn't write last year.  It was the beginning to a bad year I guess.  We have been having bad times with Mike since October 2007.  That summer he finished ANOTHER round of radiation... the 2nd in less than two years this time.  The doctors are saying he has had more radiation than anyone they have heard of.  Well, it's taking its toll.  At the moment there isn't any sign of his cancer but there is brain damage from the radiation.  It is sloughing off cells and building up fluid in at least a couple of areas of his brain.  This is causing pressure and a lot of pain.  He started having seizures some time in the summer or fall of 07.  Because of this and the pain he applied for disability and retired from Smith Frozen Foods in November of 2007.   As things progressed he developed problems with his vocabulary and his short term memory.  His whole personality has changed.  It is very difficult for all involved.  In October of 2008 we went to see his doctors in Seattle.  They suggested hyperbaric treatments to see if this would help heal his brain and nerve cells damaged from the radiation.  It was a pretty scary decision because the hyperbaric can also cause seizures to worsen.  But Michael chose to go for it and his whole family is supported his decision.  After many delays with the insurance and scheduling appointments he started treatments on November 18, 2008.  The treatments are in Spokane at Deaconess Hospital Wound Center.  They are two hours each week day.  We are staying at an Assisted Living establishment right across the street.  It is called Cooper George.  They are giving us a very reasonable rate for a 2 bedroom apartment.  The whole family is helping out either by taking turns staying with Mike in Spokane or feeding animals here at home.  So far Mike seems to be feeling a tiny bit better and is having a tiny bit less pain.  We are probably looking at 40 treatments altogether. 

On a happier note son, Seth, got married this July 12th.  It took place in Hermiston and for once it was NOT blistering hot.  The ceremony was in a small church and the reception was outdoors at Bennett Gardens.  It was very lovely.  His new bride is an eastern Oregon farm girl from Boardman.  Sara Fritz: daughter of Doug and Shane Fritz.  We love her dearly.  They actually met because I asked for a tour of my sorority house three years ago when visiting Seth in Corvallis.  Sara is a Kappa Delta sorority sister!  She even found an old scrapbook there, with Mike's and my picture at the Spring Dance.  Sara is teaching Health and PE at a Junior High in Silverton.  Seth is still working for Simplot selling chemical and fertilizer.  They are in the process of signing papers for a house in Stayton, Oregon, which is just across the freeway from Salem.  We are tickled to death for them!

Jennifer had a very eventful year.  She is still employed at Reininger Winery as their PR person.  Reiningers are great people as well as great wine makers! They allow Jennifer the freedom of scheduling her work around her theater pursuits.  She has been volunteering as the Drama Coach at the local high school the last two years putting on two very successful plays.  She has been in numerous plays at the Little Theater, Walla Walla Community College, and a new little theater on West Main called the West Main Theatre!  And much to our enjoyment and thrill she starred in the Walla Walla Outdoor Musical this past summer as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes.  She sang and danced into the hearts of the whole community!!  We were so proud of her we were walking on air all summer. 

I am in my 29th year teaching at Ferndale.  I am looking forward to retirement in the next year or so unless this stock market totally wipes out my retirement! ugh!!! I'm still teaching 5th grade.  It's great to be able to recruit enthusiastic pony riders from my class to come ride my Welsh ponies.  This last year I had six riders!  We were excited to have two Welsh shows right here in Walla Walla so we didn't have to travel so far especially with the fuel prices this last summer.  My palomino driving pair were 2007 National High Point Pleasure and Carriage team.  I was really excited about that.  But mostly it's just fun watching all the kids play and learn to ride on my ponies.  I had three foals from my own Welsh stallion this spring. They were all three chestnuts with white socks and flaxen manes and tails just like their daddy.  I also bought a Section C pony for me to ride.  She is a buckskin mare named Pearl.  I can't tell you how much fun I have riding a pony with the kids.  It makes me feel like a kid again too!  We sold one of our horse geldings as Mike just wasn't riding any more at all.  And my Paint horse injured his suspensory ligament in a front leg at the end of June so he is out of commission for awhile.  Thus the need for a pony for me!  *LOL* 

Well this is long enough.  I think I've made up for not writing last year.  Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!

Love,

Lorri and Mike

P.S.  December 27 - Just an update on Mike.  We decided to stop the hyperbaric treatments for awhile as of December 12.  Mike had had 17 treatments, but he was more or less starving to death.  He just was not able to get enough food down.  He is also losing his voice due to more paralysis in the throat.  We wanted to come home and get a feeding tube.  So on December 19 he did have the feeding tube surgery.  We are working up to more and more calories for him each day.  His poor stomach was so shrunk he could only hold one can of ensure at a time at first.  I don't know if we'll go back to finish the hyperbaric treatments at this point or not.  I am leaving that up to Mike. 

It was probably a good thing we decided not to go to Spokane that week anyway.  IF we would have made it to Spokane through the snow that Monday I am pretty sure we would have been stuck there through Christmas.  Here at home we had around 2 feet of snow by Christmas.  The chores were quite difficult in that much snow and that much cold!  But with all the family pitching in we managed.  Today it is 43 degrees and the snow is melting!  This will be a winter we will always remember! 



Christmas 2007


Lorri, Mike, and Mike's Dad, Earl, at Easter 2008. 
Linda's new house.


This is our Umapine Drill Team. Family and Umapine friends drilling to music played by the Walla Walla Symophony.  Mares to Music June 2008
 

Top: 8 of the 10 riders, Sister Linda, Dad, two friends, Sister Merrilee, Lorri, and two girls on Lorri's ponies.

Middle: Lorri and two girls on the Welsh ponies

Bottom: Performance - Long oblique


Sisters and I rode into Minam River Lodge after the wedding in July and stayed for two nights.  It was great!


My pony girls and me! 
I'm the kids in the middle with the pig tails on my new pony Pearl.


The two Dads before the wedding ceremony.
Mike and Doug Fritz.


Seth and Sara making their entrance at the reception garden.


Mike, Seth, Sara, Lorri, Jennifer
July 12, 2008


The wedding party.
 The colors were a yummy sage green and chocolate brown.

 


Lorri's Mom and Dad at Seth's wedding.

 


Cousin Kellee on the right.

 


Earl, Seth, and Barbara

 


Mike's sister, Sandy, and BIL Dick.

 

 


Jen (in red dress) doing a preview performance of Anything Goes in the park for the Fourth of July celebration.






      


     




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