One year ago today... and additional Eileen updates
posted by Melia Tichenor, Sunday, August 12, 2012, 7:00 PM
Hello to Eileen’s wonderful community of friends –
It’s incredibly hard to believe, but it was exactly one year ago today that my mom walked into her bedroom, felt her leg snap from beneath her, and soon realized her life would never be the same. One year ago today that I received the phone call from my father, letting me know they were in the hospital, that my mom was scheduled for emergency surgery, and that they weren’t sure what was to come in the days ahead. Wow.
I’m not sure any of us knew what was to come, or could even have imagined that Eileen would spend the next 12 months confined to a hospital bed in our living room. How could we, when the Eileen we knew so well was a kinetic, lively, and animated presence, constantly on the move despite over a decade living with cancer as an ugly stepsister, following her every step?
If the past year has taught us anything, it has been the power of adaptability, the importance of patience and managing expectations, Eileen’s amazing strength against all odds, and the wonderful community we feel so blessed to call our friends.
We would not be where we are right now without your support – whether it be continued donations (through the Pledgie website and personal checks) to help with the still-monumental cost of monthly care-giving; in-person visits to bolster Eileen’s spirits and bring her a smile; cards, warm sentiments, and memory-book contributions from those of you outside of the bay-area; and the amazing series of benefit concerts and events put on by those of you in the music and yoga communities– y’all are phenomenal!
For those that haven’t seen the last Helping Hands update, there will be another benefit concert, hosted by Kathy Pearl and her husband Mark, coming up this fall. You can find the details in Greta’s last Helping Hands post, or at the end of this email. (I feel especially excited for this one, as I’ll actually be home that weekend and look forward to attending! If you are able to attend, please do come up and introduce yourself if you haven’t already!)
On the updates front, Eileen has been up and down throughout the summer – there are weeks when she is awake, engaged, happy for visitors, and ever-eloquent in conversation. There are other weeks when her pain increases and her morphine must be upped, which results in sleepy, hazy days, without as much input from the outside world. We’ve all been learning to expect these waves and live for the moments when she is the animated self we know and love – even after a year confined to her bed, we should have known from the beginning that the light in her eyes would not, could not, be squelched. It just manifests itself in a slightly different fashion these days.
One interesting project that Eileen has been involved with from her bedtop perch has involved being interviewed by Viji, one of her first yoga teachers in the Bay Area and the generous organizer of the yoga/Indian dinner benefit last May. Viji is taking the time to talk with Eileen and record some of her life story and her journey with cancer, to be written up in an article later this fall. We will be sure to pass along the piece when it is completed!
Another highlight from this summer was the opportunity I had to visit my parents during their birthday month in June. Little did my father know, but my mom and I, along with a number of other co-conspirators, had been in cahoots to plan a surprise 70th Birthday party for my dad that month. Seventy is a big year, and we couldn’t just let it slip by unacknowledged, despite the rough circumstances! Eileen helped offer suggestions from her bed during my May visit and over the phone, my brother and sister-in-law snuck albums out of the house to amass photos for a baby-to-70 slideshow, and a number my father’s friends and colleagues helped make sure all the logistics fell into place and offered a venue for the party.
The surprise was a big success and what ensued was an evening of friends, good food, storytelling, and heartfelt celebration of my dad, who has been shouldering quite the load this past year in the shadow of my mom’s current circumstances and needed a good boost. While we all greatly missed Eileen’s glowing presence at the party, I recorded a short video of her sending along her best birthday wishes, so that she could “be there” in spirit with all of us. You can see her beautiful smile and birthday video here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/melizoic/7485227088/in/set-72157630381425138
To see more pictures from the surprise party, visit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/melizoic/sets/72157630381425138/detail/
Another big thank you and hug to our virtual community of Helping Hands friends on this one-year anniversary of my mother’s fall.
May your August be ripe with sunshine, gratitude, and good people,
Melia
P.S. Below are the details of the upcoming September Benefit Concert, for those who are interested:
September Benefit Concert Details
(Remember, if you can’t make it to the concert – pledge a donation at:http://pledgie.com/campaigns/16523)
Date: Sunday, September 9, 2012.
It’s incredibly hard to believe, but it was exactly one year ago today that my mom walked into her bedroom, felt her leg snap from beneath her, and soon realized her life would never be the same. One year ago today that I received the phone call from my father, letting me know they were in the hospital, that my mom was scheduled for emergency surgery, and that they weren’t sure what was to come in the days ahead. Wow.
I’m not sure any of us knew what was to come, or could even have imagined that Eileen would spend the next 12 months confined to a hospital bed in our living room. How could we, when the Eileen we knew so well was a kinetic, lively, and animated presence, constantly on the move despite over a decade living with cancer as an ugly stepsister, following her every step?
If the past year has taught us anything, it has been the power of adaptability, the importance of patience and managing expectations, Eileen’s amazing strength against all odds, and the wonderful community we feel so blessed to call our friends.
We would not be where we are right now without your support – whether it be continued donations (through the Pledgie website and personal checks) to help with the still-monumental cost of monthly care-giving; in-person visits to bolster Eileen’s spirits and bring her a smile; cards, warm sentiments, and memory-book contributions from those of you outside of the bay-area; and the amazing series of benefit concerts and events put on by those of you in the music and yoga communities– y’all are phenomenal!
For those that haven’t seen the last Helping Hands update, there will be another benefit concert, hosted by Kathy Pearl and her husband Mark, coming up this fall. You can find the details in Greta’s last Helping Hands post, or at the end of this email. (I feel especially excited for this one, as I’ll actually be home that weekend and look forward to attending! If you are able to attend, please do come up and introduce yourself if you haven’t already!)
On the updates front, Eileen has been up and down throughout the summer – there are weeks when she is awake, engaged, happy for visitors, and ever-eloquent in conversation. There are other weeks when her pain increases and her morphine must be upped, which results in sleepy, hazy days, without as much input from the outside world. We’ve all been learning to expect these waves and live for the moments when she is the animated self we know and love – even after a year confined to her bed, we should have known from the beginning that the light in her eyes would not, could not, be squelched. It just manifests itself in a slightly different fashion these days.
One interesting project that Eileen has been involved with from her bedtop perch has involved being interviewed by Viji, one of her first yoga teachers in the Bay Area and the generous organizer of the yoga/Indian dinner benefit last May. Viji is taking the time to talk with Eileen and record some of her life story and her journey with cancer, to be written up in an article later this fall. We will be sure to pass along the piece when it is completed!
Another highlight from this summer was the opportunity I had to visit my parents during their birthday month in June. Little did my father know, but my mom and I, along with a number of other co-conspirators, had been in cahoots to plan a surprise 70th Birthday party for my dad that month. Seventy is a big year, and we couldn’t just let it slip by unacknowledged, despite the rough circumstances! Eileen helped offer suggestions from her bed during my May visit and over the phone, my brother and sister-in-law snuck albums out of the house to amass photos for a baby-to-70 slideshow, and a number my father’s friends and colleagues helped make sure all the logistics fell into place and offered a venue for the party.
The surprise was a big success and what ensued was an evening of friends, good food, storytelling, and heartfelt celebration of my dad, who has been shouldering quite the load this past year in the shadow of my mom’s current circumstances and needed a good boost. While we all greatly missed Eileen’s glowing presence at the party, I recorded a short video of her sending along her best birthday wishes, so that she could “be there” in spirit with all of us. You can see her beautiful smile and birthday video here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/melizoic/7485227088/in/set-72157630381425138
To see more pictures from the surprise party, visit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/melizoic/sets/72157630381425138/detail/
Another big thank you and hug to our virtual community of Helping Hands friends on this one-year anniversary of my mother’s fall.
May your August be ripe with sunshine, gratitude, and good people,
Melia
P.S. Below are the details of the upcoming September Benefit Concert, for those who are interested:
September Benefit Concert Details
(Remember, if you can’t make it to the concert – pledge a donation at:http://pledgie.com/campaigns/16523)
Date: Sunday, September 9, 2012.
Time: 2:00 p.m. Concert, followed by a reception
Place: Home of Kathy and Mark Perl
(address removed)
San Francisco, 94114
(address removed)
San Francisco, 94114
Performers:
- The Healing Muses: Diana Rowan, Patrice Haan and Maureen Brennan, Celtic harps.
- Louise Carslake, recorder and flute
- Hanneke Van Proosdij, recorder and harpsichord
- Kathy Perl, harpsichord
*** Requested minimum donation: $40.00. ***
Please call Kathy or Mark Perl to make your reservation. RSVP soon, as there are only 45 spots available!
Please make your check out to: Peter Tichenor, Eileen’s husband, and send it to: (address removed) We do not accept credit cards. Your name will be on a list at the door.
Please call Kathy or Mark Perl to make your reservation. RSVP soon, as there are only 45 spots available!
Please make your check out to: Peter Tichenor, Eileen’s husband, and send it to: (address removed) We do not accept credit cards. Your name will be on a list at the door.
