"Life moves pretty fast...." Guest posting

On Thursday September 22nd we said goodbye to Ronald J Van Iwaarden (1967). Ron will be truly missed; the bad puns, the pointless trivia, and his pure love of anything quirky or geeky.  

Ron was married to Stephanie Van Iwaarden for almost 28 years and his greatest achievement and what he was most proud of were his children Riley (19), River (18), and Forrest (15). He enjoyed absolutely everything about them. After receiving his cancer diagnosis, Ron, Stephanie, and their family tried to embrace and enjoy life and each other as much as they possibly could with sport activities, camping, and skiing.  

Ron’s final days were surrounded by those who loved him the most, Steph and the kids, Ron’s parents, Gary and Joann Van Iwaarden, his younger brother, Doug,  and his wife, Sandy, his older brother, Glen, as well numerous friends.  

Stephanie and the kids, along with Gary and Joann, invite you to join them in remembrance of Ron.  The Memorial Service will be held at Woodman Valley Stone Chapel at 290 E Woodmen Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 on Wednesday September 28th at 2 PM. The memorial service will be followed by a Celebration of Ron’s Life and reception at Hillside Gardens and Events Center 1006 S. Institute St. Colorado Springs, CO 80903 from 3:30 – 6:00. Everyone is welcome to join the family at either one or both gatherings. Ron had wished the celebration to be where people could gather to laugh, love, and share stories and memories.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be to Neuroendocrine Tumor Program located at Ochsner Medical Center in Louisana -https://giving.ochsner.org/Views/dp/donate/controller.cfm? (use the drop down menu  under Gift Designation and select “Zebra Fund”)

Please bring stories and memories to share at the Celebration.

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris Bueller 1986

So long and thanks for all the fish

Time for one last post.  I stopped receiving TPN and hydration last Friday, 9/9/2016 and the edema has kept my body rolling for a while as it supplied the water I need but that is coming to a close.  I can definitely feel the reduction in lung capacity and it has made it harder and harder to breath.  I need oxygen to maintain a reasonable pulse-ox but the colostomy has been very quiet.

This has been a pleasant passing in that it has been gentle.  I have gotten to see many friends come by and share their thoughts and memories of times at work or play and that has been great.  It is hard to go through some of those memories and harder for them to come here, walking into the pain but that has made it all the more special to me.  Their being willing to overcome the natural inclination of fleeing pain, and hurt is awesome.

For some that has come out as tears rarely expended.  Others are pushed right to that edge and shiver uncontrollably.  Some are stoic in expression but their words tell the story of their feeling.  I have valued every one of these displays of their feelings as a gift to me.

Speaking of gifts, my family has really stepped things up here!  My brother and his wife have been here since last Friday, helping out with everything from yardwork to groceries and it has been incredibly useful to have their assistance.  My parents have been here as well, helping out with the most mundane of tasks, just making things go easier.  My kids have also returned home in spite of classes to be close to me and I have loved being able to touch and hold them.

So, as I sit here in my hospital bed, I am again reminded of the love of people and the importance of forming memories with them.  Get out there today to play with your kids or call them if they are no longer at home. Kids, call your parents RIGHT NOW.  Let them know you love them and are thinking of them.  You may not have the advance notice that I have gotten with my cancer and organ failure.

Enjoy your family and enjoy your life!!