Gone to Heaven

As you know from the information earlier on this blog, Jeri was diagnosed very late, with the cancer being stage four lung cancer.  Being a young, vital woman with no history of smoking was a major factor in the late diagnosis.  In October of 2013, Jeri received an x-ray while being treated for side effects of an inhaler (prescribed due to her lingering cough).  It was negative.  In the first week or so of January, an x-ray showed lung polyps which ended up being the stage four cancer.

Jeri focused on healing and determined to do so without using the only major option that available from the health care system, chemotherapy.  Lung cancer tends to be hard to treat with chemo.  We heard there was a 30%-50% chance that it would affect the cancer from her cancer doctor (oncologist).

In an earlier post, I outlined some of many things we tried to curb the cancer growth.  Jeri was open to anything that would help her beat cancer.  We did a lot of things, and many times it gave Jeri relief from pain and other symptoms.

This cancer moved so quickly.  It was so aggressive.  Jeri did what she could with the time that she had.

Jeri was so strong, in both will and body.  Doctors with many years of experience were constantly saying that they didn’t think she would bounce back from various downturns in her health, but she did…again and again.  Just Easter Sunday, Jeri’s appetite and energy were up.  We had some Gerson juice and went to the beach to sit in the ocean for hours in the sun.  Below is a wonderful photo of her on that glorious day.

Jeri, Easter Sunday, 04/20/2014

Monday morning Jeri wasn’t well, and she went to Castle in an ambulance.  She was dehydrated with low potassium.  She was comfortable and happy and she and I had meaningful and loving conversations. She was transferred at the end of the day to Queens. 

Tuesday she completed a health directive with a notary, she met with Hospice nurses and signed up for their services.  She directed in the health directive that she did not want to be kept alive via artificial means for more than 2 days.  It was that morning that we were informed that Jeri’s kidneys were failing.  Jeri was prepped for a surgery to help her maintain her health.  The surgery was called off due to low blood pressure.  She was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the afternoon, around 4PM.  Later that day I was informed that Jeri’s heart was weak, it was pumping at 1/3 the strength of a healthy heart.  They would do what they could to stabilize her.  This was done successfully.  She would stay in the ICU.  Jeri communicated that she was tired and it was noisy in the ICU, she wanted to sleep and asked for sleep medication to help her sleep.  This would be the last time we communicated.

Wednesday morning shortly after midnight Jeri’s breathing became weak.  She was placed on an artificial respirator.  This process completed around 1:30am that morning. She had indicated that no one but family was to visit her.  Family came from all over the island to see her.  Her room was often so full that nurses needed to ask some of the family to wait outside in the lobby.  It was very emotional, but so many people that loved Jeri had time to be with her. There was joy mixed in the sadness as stories of Jeri were shared. 

Thursday brought some beloved family members from off island.  More family came to visit, some coming back again to be with her.  Jeri amazed doctors, who had all stated from Wednesday morning that Jeri could, “go any time.”

On Friday, April 25, 1:30am per Jeri’s wishes, she was taken off artificial means of life support.                 

At 2:40am, Jeri’s battle with cancer ended and she went to heaven.

  

For more announcements, including funeral location and times.  Please check this site for updates.

Send questions, comments or prayers to welovejeri@gmail.com.

Please RSVP with estimated head count for the funeral to this email address as well. 

We will be compiling video stories of Jeri for our son Jonah to better know his mother as he gets older.  It is requested that you post video to Jeri's or Hal's Facebook account, where we can download it and compile it for him. 

Mahalo Nui Loa

Hal Fraser for Jeri Fraser