UPDATES
July 5, 2008
Jack continues to weaken. I spoke with the nurse this morning and her words were, “I think we are closer”. Jack was less responsive last evening. His breathing is slower and he is showing signs of edema on his back that is another sign. She also said that he was looking a little blue around his mouth meaning that his oxygen intake is lower.
Jack’s sister, Bess and her husband Roy arrived last evening and were able to spend some time with him. His niece and great nephew, Michele and Jared, arrived yesterday morning and were also able to spend some time with him.
We continue to be upheld by the power of our Savior, thankfully. It makes me think of Phil. 3:14 – “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. Jack will soon be in the arms of his beloved, Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Carolyn and family
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
UPDATES July 4, 2008
UPDATES
July 4, 2008
Happy July 4th.
Jack had a comfortable night last night per the nurses. They go in and turn him regularly. He communicated with them each time but went back to sleep. He became cool this morning and took a towel under his head and put around his shoulders. The nurse went in and asked him if he was cool and he indicated he was by blinking with his eyes after being asked if he was cool. Since speaking is so difficult for him, we have told him if the answer is yes to blink with his eyes which he does very easily. He is still so present. It makes for an easier time for him and us.
Jack had been on steroids since last fall to reduce brain swelling. Steroids cause a lot of fluid retention, a “moon” shaped face and abdomen swelling. These characteristics had somewhat altered his appearance making him look like he had put on a lot of weight which he really had not. After a picture that was made at Easter of himself that he saw, he asked who it was when he saw it. The medical team took him off of the steroids on Tuesday, so he is now releasing all of the fluid from this retention. You may remember back in the fall on the blog I told about a conversation with Jack about the amount he was urinating. He commented that it was a mass transfer issue and that the sum of the flows was zero. Well, the sum of the flows is negative now since there is no intake, just output. One of the striking things about Jack’s appearance yesterday is that he had lost a considerable amount of the “moon” look in is face. Based on the output last evening, I expect that he will have lost even more of that look now. Since steroids also cause agitation and irritability, coming off of them has helped with his peacefulness for which we are very thankful.
He sleeps more now. Yesterday when a now retired MIT and Nano-C colleague, Tony Modestino, came in to visit him, he not only acknowledged him but told him “that it was very good, as always, to see him. He also thanked him for coming”. Amazing is all I can say.
Jack’s niece, Michele, and her son Jared arrive this morning. Jack’s sister, Bess and her husband Roy arrive this evening. Boston is insane today with major roads closed and about one million people coming into the city for the famous July 4th celebration on the Charles River Esplanade. Many of you may be able to see it on TV this evening. The infirmary is across the street from the Cambridge side of the river. We will likely not stay around for the fireworks since we would then spend 2 hours driving about 8 miles in going home.
We continue to “wait for the Lord, my (our) soul doth wait, and in His word do I (we) hope.
Psalm 130:5
Blessings,
Carolyn and family
July 4, 2008
Happy July 4th.
Jack had a comfortable night last night per the nurses. They go in and turn him regularly. He communicated with them each time but went back to sleep. He became cool this morning and took a towel under his head and put around his shoulders. The nurse went in and asked him if he was cool and he indicated he was by blinking with his eyes after being asked if he was cool. Since speaking is so difficult for him, we have told him if the answer is yes to blink with his eyes which he does very easily. He is still so present. It makes for an easier time for him and us.
Jack had been on steroids since last fall to reduce brain swelling. Steroids cause a lot of fluid retention, a “moon” shaped face and abdomen swelling. These characteristics had somewhat altered his appearance making him look like he had put on a lot of weight which he really had not. After a picture that was made at Easter of himself that he saw, he asked who it was when he saw it. The medical team took him off of the steroids on Tuesday, so he is now releasing all of the fluid from this retention. You may remember back in the fall on the blog I told about a conversation with Jack about the amount he was urinating. He commented that it was a mass transfer issue and that the sum of the flows was zero. Well, the sum of the flows is negative now since there is no intake, just output. One of the striking things about Jack’s appearance yesterday is that he had lost a considerable amount of the “moon” look in is face. Based on the output last evening, I expect that he will have lost even more of that look now. Since steroids also cause agitation and irritability, coming off of them has helped with his peacefulness for which we are very thankful.
He sleeps more now. Yesterday when a now retired MIT and Nano-C colleague, Tony Modestino, came in to visit him, he not only acknowledged him but told him “that it was very good, as always, to see him. He also thanked him for coming”. Amazing is all I can say.
Jack’s niece, Michele, and her son Jared arrive this morning. Jack’s sister, Bess and her husband Roy arrive this evening. Boston is insane today with major roads closed and about one million people coming into the city for the famous July 4th celebration on the Charles River Esplanade. Many of you may be able to see it on TV this evening. The infirmary is across the street from the Cambridge side of the river. We will likely not stay around for the fireworks since we would then spend 2 hours driving about 8 miles in going home.
We continue to “wait for the Lord, my (our) soul doth wait, and in His word do I (we) hope.
Psalm 130:5
Blessings,
Carolyn and family
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Email from a Howard family friend
Danny Carter grew up with Jack and was in our wedding. He sent this message this week.
CAROLYN AND KEITH AND HOWARD FAMILY.
YOURS HAS BEEN AND IS A TRULY REMARKABLE JOURNEY. I TALKED TO MY SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS SUNDAY MORN JUNE 29 ABOUT JACKS THOUGHTS ABOUT NOT WITNESSING FOR THE LORD AS MUCH AS HE THOUGHT HE SHOULD HAVE. THE CONSENSUS FROM THIS GROUP OF ELDERLY BAPTISTS WAS THAT HE WAS CONTINUING TO WITNESS EVEN AS HE LAYS DYING .HAVE APEACEFUL JOURNEY JACK MY HEARTFELT THANKS FOR GROWING UP WITH YOU AND KNOWING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DANNY CARTER
CAROLYN AND KEITH AND HOWARD FAMILY.
YOURS HAS BEEN AND IS A TRULY REMARKABLE JOURNEY. I TALKED TO MY SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS SUNDAY MORN JUNE 29 ABOUT JACKS THOUGHTS ABOUT NOT WITNESSING FOR THE LORD AS MUCH AS HE THOUGHT HE SHOULD HAVE. THE CONSENSUS FROM THIS GROUP OF ELDERLY BAPTISTS WAS THAT HE WAS CONTINUING TO WITNESS EVEN AS HE LAYS DYING .HAVE APEACEFUL JOURNEY JACK MY HEARTFELT THANKS FOR GROWING UP WITH YOU AND KNOWING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DANNY CARTER
Bob Cohen visit, Chemical Engineering Colleague
Dear Carolyn-
Bob went to see Jack yesterday and Jack was as gracious as possible. He is truly amazing.
You and your family are in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers.
I wish I had something worth reading to say.
I just wanted to let you know how much we are thinking of you all at this time.
With much love-
Jane
Bob went to see Jack yesterday and Jack was as gracious as possible. He is truly amazing.
You and your family are in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers.
I wish I had something worth reading to say.
I just wanted to let you know how much we are thinking of you all at this time.
With much love-
Jane
Linda Griffith email after her visit
Linda is a colleague of Jack's and was with Jack in an office suite at MIT for several years. She grew up in Georgia and is growing Magnolia Grandiflora in Cambridge, MA, a miracle in and of itself.
Her email yesterday after visiting Jack.
Dear Carolyn,
I have been following the blog - its beautiful - and visited Jack this morning briefly and he seemed to recognize me and said hello. The nurses were awesome in helping us interact in the best way possible.
My southern magnolia miraculously started blooming this week, so I cut the bloom this morning and took it in for you as a little piece of the South up here in New England. This flower was the 3rd of the summer and each one is a little miracle (to me) as it reminds me of God's beauty. It will probably have more blooms over the rest of the week/weekend and I can bring one in to Jack every day it blooms, if that would be at all meaningful to you (there are about 6-8 more buds on the little tree I have in my yard).
With love, Linda
Linda G. GriffithS.E.T.I. Professor of Biological and Mechanical EngineeringDirector, Biotech/Pharma Engineering CenterMIT 16-42977 Massachusetts Ave.Cambridge, MA 02139617-253-0013fax 617-253-2400http://web.mit.edu/lgglab/index.html
Her email yesterday after visiting Jack.
Dear Carolyn,
I have been following the blog - its beautiful - and visited Jack this morning briefly and he seemed to recognize me and said hello. The nurses were awesome in helping us interact in the best way possible.
My southern magnolia miraculously started blooming this week, so I cut the bloom this morning and took it in for you as a little piece of the South up here in New England. This flower was the 3rd of the summer and each one is a little miracle (to me) as it reminds me of God's beauty. It will probably have more blooms over the rest of the week/weekend and I can bring one in to Jack every day it blooms, if that would be at all meaningful to you (there are about 6-8 more buds on the little tree I have in my yard).
With love, Linda
Linda G. GriffithS.E.T.I. Professor of Biological and Mechanical EngineeringDirector, Biotech/Pharma Engineering CenterMIT 16-42977 Massachusetts Ave.Cambridge, MA 02139617-253-0013fax 617-253-2400http://web.mit.edu/lgglab/index.html
Message from Jack's colleague Tom Bowman
Please listen the Psalm 23 on the link that Tom provided.
Carolyn
> From: "Tom Bowman" <ctbowman@stanford.edu>> To: "Carolyn Howard" <chowardcfp@comcast.net>> Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 1:03 PM> Subject: Jack>>>>
Carolyn,
I was saddened to see the latest news about Jack on your web site. My mind immediately went to my favorite Psalm, the 23rd, which is a clear reminder that the Lord is always with us. The web site below has a beautiful rendition of this psalm from the KJV bible. I look at it often; I hope you find it comforting as well.
Tom
http://www.interviewwithgod.com/psalm23.htm
Carolyn
> From: "Tom Bowman" <ctbowman@stanford.edu>> To: "Carolyn Howard" <chowardcfp@comcast.net>> Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 1:03 PM> Subject: Jack>>>>
Carolyn,
I was saddened to see the latest news about Jack on your web site. My mind immediately went to my favorite Psalm, the 23rd, which is a clear reminder that the Lord is always with us. The web site below has a beautiful rendition of this psalm from the KJV bible. I look at it often; I hope you find it comforting as well.
Tom
http://www.interviewwithgod.com/psalm23.htm
Email from Phil Westmoreland July 3, 2008
Dear Carolyn,
I saw this morning's blog entry. We're thinking of you all and praying for your strength and comfort.This weekend, I went by the infirmary first on Saturday about 11 am. Jack was sleeping, but Viktor and Jack's brother Keith and I talked awhile. I went back by Saturday night and last night, each time having about a 30-min visit with him. Saturday night, he was floating in and out but could talk haltingly a little, so I insisted on doing most of the talking. Not hard for a professor!He was not very intelligible Sunday night at all, but he was able to communicate that he needed some water and I gave it to him. When I left, I told him how good it was to see him and he said quite clearly, "It's always good to see you, Phil."
Before I left Cambridge Monday morning, I went by again. Among other things, I told him I'd just been in contact with Adel Sarofim about a soot paper in progress, and he smiled in appreciation. I showed him some of our family pictures on the laptop, and he asked where "the children" are now and how Kathleen was, asking me to give her his best.Despite his physical decline, he is still hanging on to his awareness and endearing thoughtfulness.
Phil--
Prof. Phillip R. WestmorelandDept of Chemical Engineering, Univ of Massachusetts Amherst157A Goessmann; 686 N Pleasant; Amherst MA 01003-9303413-545-1750 (Sect'y at -2507), eFAX 775-254-2509http://www.ecs.umass.edu/che/faculty/westmoreland.html[On leave, serving as:Program Director; Combustion, Fire, and Plasma SystemsNational Science Foundation4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 22230703-292-8371; FAX 703-292-9054 ]
I saw this morning's blog entry. We're thinking of you all and praying for your strength and comfort.This weekend, I went by the infirmary first on Saturday about 11 am. Jack was sleeping, but Viktor and Jack's brother Keith and I talked awhile. I went back by Saturday night and last night, each time having about a 30-min visit with him. Saturday night, he was floating in and out but could talk haltingly a little, so I insisted on doing most of the talking. Not hard for a professor!He was not very intelligible Sunday night at all, but he was able to communicate that he needed some water and I gave it to him. When I left, I told him how good it was to see him and he said quite clearly, "It's always good to see you, Phil."
Before I left Cambridge Monday morning, I went by again. Among other things, I told him I'd just been in contact with Adel Sarofim about a soot paper in progress, and he smiled in appreciation. I showed him some of our family pictures on the laptop, and he asked where "the children" are now and how Kathleen was, asking me to give her his best.Despite his physical decline, he is still hanging on to his awareness and endearing thoughtfulness.
Phil--
Prof. Phillip R. WestmorelandDept of Chemical Engineering, Univ of Massachusetts Amherst157A Goessmann; 686 N Pleasant; Amherst MA 01003-9303413-545-1750 (Sect'y at -2507), eFAX 775-254-2509http://www.ecs.umass.edu/che/faculty/westmoreland.html[On leave, serving as:Program Director; Combustion, Fire, and Plasma SystemsNational Science Foundation4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 22230703-292-8371; FAX 703-292-9054 ]
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