What will you be thinking about when your life comes to an end? Some of us are taken without warning and don't have the opportunity to give that question any thought. My wife, Karen Rose Harris, was not one of those people. On December 10, 2011, Karen was told she would be leaving this world in just a few weeks. The neurosurgeon advised Karen to go home, spend time with her family and get hospice involved. That is exactly what she did!
On Wednesday, December 14, Karen had her first home-visit from Hospice of Fayette County. After the initial visit, a plan was made for a nurse to come one time a week. That quickly changed to three times a week, and soon they were coming every day. Karen died at home on January 17, 2012, just over a month after that first visit. What took place in our home in those few weeks is hard to describe. It wasn't really as much about death as it was about love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness and faith! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, so are these.
Please join me for a minute as I reflect on a journey for Karen that began in May of 2010, when she was told the results of her breast biopsy- CANCER. We don't like that word! But it didn't seem to bother Karen. She was advised to begin chemo treatments to shrink the tumor in her right breast. Before she could do that though, a hernia surgery was required. After the appropriated time for healing, Karen received her first chemo treatment. The Sunday following her first chemo treatment, Karen found herself in the operating room once again. This time an emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer! To make a long story short, as they say, complications abounded and cancer treatment was stopped and restarted several times. There was a second stomach surgery, a stubborn wound, a mastectomy, much chemo and finally radiation to her chest wall.
In the first month of the new year, 2012, it appeared that Karen was out of the woods- CANCER FREE! She had never been happier. Our first grandchild was on his way, a family vacation to Disney World was in the works and the prospect of teaching at Fayette Christian School became Karen's "Hope". Then came October.....the 4th. A scan showed several cancerous tumors in her brain. The breast cancer had metastasized. How would news like this affect you? What would your first thoughts be? The next part of her story is the best part.
Karen hardly blinked an eye. She continued to face the enemy (cancer) with a faith and trust in her Lord that never wavered. After ten whole brain radiation treatments and no positive result, Karen found herself facing death. She did it with grace and dignity. Knowing God was ready for her to come home, the focus of her life narrowed. Karen's own words from December 23 follow:
"A friend of mine asked me last week if I had any words of advice before I leave this world. I told him for Christians (those who know the Lord) - if they could grasp the truth that nothing that is done on this earth unless it is done for God and His glory - it is really worth nothing. If you could just realize this and live it, your lives would change forever and others lives also. So - love God and live for Him! For those of you who do not know where you are spending eternity, I implore you to settle it today because I would really like to see you again and that's the only way it's going to happen."
Karen was at peace with God. Are you?
The conclusion of this article is a tribute, not to Karen, but to an organization that makes it possible for you to care for your loved one in your home, Hospice of Fayette County. They provide a complete range of services and do it efficiently, with love and compassion. Without the help of these dedicated servants, Karen's story could have ended much differently. We will be forever grateful that this fine organization exists for families like ours. Please take advantage of every opportunity you have to support them.
With much love and thanks,
The family of Karen Rose Harris
Friday, February 24, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Arrangements for Karen
Location: Fayette Bible Church
1315 Dayton Ave. NW
Washington Court House, OH
Visitation: 5-9pm Friday, January 20th
Viewing: 9-11am Saturday, January 21st
Funeral: 11am Saturday, January 21st
*Summers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements
Location: United Methodist Church
Rockwell, IA
Memorial Service: 11:00am Saturday, January 28th
Interment: Rockwell Cemetery immediately following service
1315 Dayton Ave. NW
Washington Court House, OH
Visitation: 5-9pm Friday, January 20th
Viewing: 9-11am Saturday, January 21st
Funeral: 11am Saturday, January 21st
*Summers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements
Location: United Methodist Church
Rockwell, IA
Memorial Service: 11:00am Saturday, January 28th
Interment: Rockwell Cemetery immediately following service
Faith and Love for God and Karen Won the Day!
It is 3:40am on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012. I am tired but I don't think sleep will come easily for "Karen's Cancer Crusade" has come to an end.
I wish I could give each one of you a hug and thank you personally for the many expressions of love for Karen and our family in these final weeks of her life on earth. We have three separate boxes of cards....the "Thinking of You" cards, cards that came from my "Special Request" to all of you blog readers, and "Happy Birthday" cards delivered last week. Then there were the flower arrangements, brought to our door so often that when you gave the florist Karen's name, she already knew our address! The visits, phone calls, texts, facebook and blog comments were a continual reminder to us that we were in your thoughts. We were blessed by the food you brought and monetary gifts you shared with us. Though I may have forgotten something, there is one important thing we won't forget. The greatest gift you gave us was the time you spent in prayer for Karen.
As I sit here in this early morning hour, I can't help but think about the part that love and faith played in our "life and death" experience. This is where I could quote Scripture verses to you "right and left", but in this posting, as appropriate as it would be, I'm not going to do that. Instead, I'm going to tell you about a young married couple who on August 12th, 1978, determined to love God and each other the best they knew how and with all the faith they could muster. "For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do us part according to God's Holy Ordinance." Sound familiar? It did to us. Our love and faith in God and for each other was tested numerous times in those 33 years and if death had not separated us, we would still be seeking to perfect them each and every day.
January 2012, found us now both weakened by age, and in addition, for Karen, having that dreaded disease we call cancer Again, as in the past, our faith and love for God and each other was put to the test. There was one small request, not by the one who lay dying, her faith in God now almost complete, but by the one who would follow some time after. This was my prayer, "If it is your will, God, please let me be by Karen's side when death comes." With the advent of her comatose state on Monday, an additional request was made, this time to Karen, "Please, Karen, open your eyes one more time before you die." Then came the watching and waiting to see what kind of answer my faith would produce. Not knowing when Karen would die, I tried to stay close by her bedside. Yesterday afternoon, as I stood watching, she struggled briefly to open just one eye and with success, she looked right straight at me! She tried to speak, three times, "I"..., "I"..., "I"..., and then she was gone. Some think Karen was trying to say "I love you!" But, regardless of her words or lack of them, faith and love for God and Karen had won the day!
"Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." II Corinthians 5:6-8
We have a meeting at Summers Funeral Home today at 10:00am. Tentative plans are for visitation on Friday and funeral on Saturday, both at Fayette Bible Church, in Washington Court House. There will also be a memorial service the following week at the United Methodist Church in Rockwell, Iowa. When we have more specific information I will post it for all you faithful bloggers!
Thank you!
Jack, for the Harris family
I wish I could give each one of you a hug and thank you personally for the many expressions of love for Karen and our family in these final weeks of her life on earth. We have three separate boxes of cards....the "Thinking of You" cards, cards that came from my "Special Request" to all of you blog readers, and "Happy Birthday" cards delivered last week. Then there were the flower arrangements, brought to our door so often that when you gave the florist Karen's name, she already knew our address! The visits, phone calls, texts, facebook and blog comments were a continual reminder to us that we were in your thoughts. We were blessed by the food you brought and monetary gifts you shared with us. Though I may have forgotten something, there is one important thing we won't forget. The greatest gift you gave us was the time you spent in prayer for Karen.
As I sit here in this early morning hour, I can't help but think about the part that love and faith played in our "life and death" experience. This is where I could quote Scripture verses to you "right and left", but in this posting, as appropriate as it would be, I'm not going to do that. Instead, I'm going to tell you about a young married couple who on August 12th, 1978, determined to love God and each other the best they knew how and with all the faith they could muster. "For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do us part according to God's Holy Ordinance." Sound familiar? It did to us. Our love and faith in God and for each other was tested numerous times in those 33 years and if death had not separated us, we would still be seeking to perfect them each and every day.
January 2012, found us now both weakened by age, and in addition, for Karen, having that dreaded disease we call cancer Again, as in the past, our faith and love for God and each other was put to the test. There was one small request, not by the one who lay dying, her faith in God now almost complete, but by the one who would follow some time after. This was my prayer, "If it is your will, God, please let me be by Karen's side when death comes." With the advent of her comatose state on Monday, an additional request was made, this time to Karen, "Please, Karen, open your eyes one more time before you die." Then came the watching and waiting to see what kind of answer my faith would produce. Not knowing when Karen would die, I tried to stay close by her bedside. Yesterday afternoon, as I stood watching, she struggled briefly to open just one eye and with success, she looked right straight at me! She tried to speak, three times, "I"..., "I"..., "I"..., and then she was gone. Some think Karen was trying to say "I love you!" But, regardless of her words or lack of them, faith and love for God and Karen had won the day!
"Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." II Corinthians 5:6-8
We have a meeting at Summers Funeral Home today at 10:00am. Tentative plans are for visitation on Friday and funeral on Saturday, both at Fayette Bible Church, in Washington Court House. There will also be a memorial service the following week at the United Methodist Church in Rockwell, Iowa. When we have more specific information I will post it for all you faithful bloggers!
Thank you!
Jack, for the Harris family
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Karen is With Jesus!
About 12:30pm today, Karen went to be with Jesus. We are saddened by our loss but rejoicing in her gain! More details later.
Jack
Jack
Monday, January 16, 2012
With Love and Thanks to All of You!
There are many things in this world that we take for granted. (Internet service is pretty low on the totem pole until you don't have it!) Far more often we take our health for granted and that is way up there in importance on this journey we call "life". Just one week ago today Karen was using her walker, eating and conversing. Today, she is confined to her bed, barely able to suck on a straw, and only says a word or two at most.
We had a succession of people beginning about 11am. The cable man came first! Just as he was finishing up, hospice social worker, Whitney, and hospice nurse and family friend, Lynda arrived. We were pleased to have Dorothy come to bathe Karen. Then hospice nurse, Susan, and student nurse, Alicia, did the daily medical review and care. We cannot thank these committed hospice caregivers enough. It would not be possible for us to have Karen at home without their help.
Karen was somewhat awake this morning, though she expressed her feeling of not being able to wake up. With the movement we knew would be necessary to get her bathed and bedding changed, she was given pain medication. She was able to greet Dorothy at 1:30pm before fading out for what has been the rest of the day. It is now 7pm. As I stated earlier, she is resting comfortably. She doesn't appear to be in pain unless we need to roll her on her side.
We are continuing with the "open door" policy. That is, if the front door is open it is okay for you to come. Even though Karen will not be able to visit with you, we understand that you may want to see her and visit with us. If the door is closed we are busy or just need to have some time alone with Karen. Please continue to text, comment or call. We appreciate hearing from you! More now than ever, we appreciate God hearing from you as prayers are said for Karen and family.
With love and thanks to all of you,
Jack, Karen and family
We had a succession of people beginning about 11am. The cable man came first! Just as he was finishing up, hospice social worker, Whitney, and hospice nurse and family friend, Lynda arrived. We were pleased to have Dorothy come to bathe Karen. Then hospice nurse, Susan, and student nurse, Alicia, did the daily medical review and care. We cannot thank these committed hospice caregivers enough. It would not be possible for us to have Karen at home without their help.
Karen was somewhat awake this morning, though she expressed her feeling of not being able to wake up. With the movement we knew would be necessary to get her bathed and bedding changed, she was given pain medication. She was able to greet Dorothy at 1:30pm before fading out for what has been the rest of the day. It is now 7pm. As I stated earlier, she is resting comfortably. She doesn't appear to be in pain unless we need to roll her on her side.
We are continuing with the "open door" policy. That is, if the front door is open it is okay for you to come. Even though Karen will not be able to visit with you, we understand that you may want to see her and visit with us. If the door is closed we are busy or just need to have some time alone with Karen. Please continue to text, comment or call. We appreciate hearing from you! More now than ever, we appreciate God hearing from you as prayers are said for Karen and family.
With love and thanks to all of you,
Jack, Karen and family
A Quick Note
Just a quick note now that our internet has been restored! Later this evening I will post about the days happenings. Karen is resting comfortably.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Saturday Update
They say that "No news is good news" but in our case that wouldn't necessarily ring true.
Therefore, internet service or not, my helpers are making a post tonight.
Karen is resting comfortably. Pain is under control, yet the signs of decline are more evident every day. We will try to keep you informed of the changes as time (and internet) allow.
Therefore, internet service or not, my helpers are making a post tonight.
Karen is resting comfortably. Pain is under control, yet the signs of decline are more evident every day. We will try to keep you informed of the changes as time (and internet) allow.
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