Richard E Kelly

Dear Darrell Miller Family and Friends,

It seems each day offers a complete change in Darrell’s health status.

Once again we have very guarded predictions of the outcome. Darrell returned to the Tucson Medical Center’s ICU last evening. Both his kidney and intestine functions are compromised.

His eyes have the look of fatigue as the ventilator provides respiratory assistance. We can sense his love as he focuses in on our faces; and we can no longer hide the tears. Darrell too, has tear drops.

I wish our friend peace…. he has been battling so long. Bob is sensing how grave it is and he states “what am I going to do without him?”

Please hold both the guys in your prayers. Diane

Yesterday and today I received email updates on the status of both Darrell and Bob. In the order in which I received them, they are as follows:

Hi Dick (May 12);

Wait to write another Blog. Marlene called this evening to say how overwhelmed she was when seeing Darrell today….she said he was alert, tracking with his eyes, cracking a smile, and had movement in his right hand.

As unbelievable as it sounds….I will wait until I see him tomorrow before I get excited.

Who can figure….I’ll call as soon as I have a scoop. Take care…Diane

Dear Dick (May 13),

My reporting skills haven’t gone haywire; but Mr. Darrell is once again surprising everyone. He had another unit of blood on Sunday…. yesterday and this morning showed total alertness, tracking with his eyes, mustering up a smile with that twinkle in his eye. I told him he was driving us crazy and better get his butt in gear about getting better.

Then this afternoon when Marlene visited him, he was barely awake.

From the tests they are running, I think they are still trying to figure out if he is bleeding internally some where.

Darrell did let me do Range of Motion exercises with his arms and legs.

Some one asked….”what about Bob?” You can imagine how he is suffering to see Darrell….as well as the mental roller coaster he is coping with. Darrell was home manager, cook and planner–not only socially but for day to day things. The house is now very quiet, and Bob doesn’t even want to fuss with cooking. I can see that he is dropping weight. Marlene, Mary Ann and I are trying to see that he has a few good meals a week. I would encourage neighbors and friends to perhaps take Bob an easy to reheat, or eat it cold dish. Bob loves pasta in any way, shape, or form. The cold noodle dishes are easy.
His other love is soup….and like most of us Chocolate.

While he gets very tearful talking on the phone, leaving a message of cheer would be appreciated, I don’t think he would call you back nothing personal is meant…. it is so very hard.

Both the guys are in our hearts…it is truly amazing how many they have touched.

Until next update; we hold them dear. Diane

I have received several emails requesting that I give you an up date on how Bob is doing. And so, here is the following report:

Bob is still living at the Tucson home and telephone calls, greeting cards, and personal visits at the house are greatly appreciated. For those that have called on the phone, if Bob doesn’t answer, you will go into a voice message that Diane updates every three to four days with news about Darrell. Diane makes certain that Bob listens to her creating these messages, and while it is painful, it helps him to hear his and Darrell’s reality.

Bob’s short-term memory is not very good. He will be going to a doctor with Diane next week, and a decision will be made on whether he should be moved to an assisted living facility. This will be his second visit with Diane to this particular doctor. On their first visit several weeks ago, he protested vehemently, before Diane could budge him out of the car. When the doctor finally talked with him, Bob explained that he was meeting with her under protest. He did admit that he had been diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease in Pittsburgh, stressing “early.” Diane’s assessment is that it is “stage two.”

Bob has relied on Diane and Marlene for his meals, and without their coaxing, he does little to nothing at the house.

Bob gets to see Darrell almost every day, but without any conversation, it is difficult for him emotionally. Bob has relied on Darrell for quite some time, and without him, he is lost. However, I know with all my heart that Bob would not want your sympathy. On one particular telephone conversation he had with Bliss, (she initiated the call) it brought him great joy to reminisce a special moment that he, Darrell, Bill, and Bliss shared at their home in Nova Scotia. Bob’s long-term memory can be astounding and his laughter is still very contagious.