Laura Flores Friend Miki

My Dear friend Laura,
It is amazing that you have sent this email to me. I have a deep respect and concern for Hospice. Here's why.

My dear husband Bill passed away last August 30, 2008. One day after my birthday. I'll try to tell the story thru my tears and broken heart.

Bill had prostrate surgery 11 years ago and all was contained and fine. In March of 2007 during his regular physical and blood tests his PSA had risen to 386 in 14 months. After many many test, scans, etc the urologist told us he had matastized prostrate bone cancer. He was put on a hormone sparing drug and the Urologist sent us to a cancer specialist and they both agreed statistics say about a year and a half left of life according to the speed that his cancer was traveling. It had already spread to most of his body. His scans showed many many hot spots in his spine, ribs, shoulders, arms hips and pelvic area and a few in his legs.
We could not or didn't want to believe he was dying and he was so precious and stayed optimistic throughout the year and a half trying to hold me up emotionally. He was smiling until the last 8 days. The Dr called Hospice and they came to our home on June 30th. We were under their care until his last days. I will tell you I don't know what I would have done without the special angels. They were so kind, knowledgeable, comforting and treated us with the utmost respect for our wishes. Bill did not want to go to the hospital so I cared for him for 6 months and during that time we became closer that we had ever been before. Mind you we were very very close during our 48 years of marriage and loved each other with all our hearts. Our girls spent the last days with us and with me afterwards and they were also a God send. I'm progressing thru my grief with the help of Hospice and my church Grief Support Group but Laura, this is truly the hardest thing I have ever attempted. That is why I have not written nor responded to most of your emails as I just couldn't think straight. For that I apologize. I think of you often. I am very happy to hear that your friend is continuing this effort. I'm not strong enough at this moment to offer my thoughts but feel free to forward this email to her if there is anything in my words that may help her.
I attached the last "happy" photo taken New Years Eve 2007 and his photo we used for the Memorial which was taken at a Hughes Christmas Dinner about 1998 (My favorite photo of him).
My love and hugs to you,
Micki