How
is she doing?
How it started
| How to Reach Them | Archives Thank you for stopping by to check on Joann. This is the page with news for November & December, 1999. Click on the above link to the Previous Edition for all of the news for June, 1999, or go to the archives for any of the earlier editions. |
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Joann passed on yesterday afternoon at 4:32 p.m. She must have been
waiting for her mother-in-law, Marie Shaughnessy, to arrive from Pittsburgh. All of her sisters and brothers, Judy, Janet, Ginny, Jon, and Jeff, were in the room. When Jim got to the bedside and held her hand, and Marie rubbed her shoulder, Joann opened her eyes and heaved a final breath.
Larissa visited earlier in the afternoon. She had two tears in her eyes when Daddy sat her down next to Mommy. She lay down and grasped Mommy's breast, and sucked on her bottle for twenty minutes. Larissa kissed Mommy twice to say goodbye.
You can email a memory for Larissa, or a private message to Joann. Jim will publish tributes on the web site.
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.
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Joann had a peaceful night. Larissa is going to visit today.
All of her brothers and sisters will also be here, as will her mother-in-law, Marie Shaughnessy, and
Jim's brother and sisters.
One can feel the prayers and going wishes that are being sent for her. Thank you all.
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Joann's condition worsened over the weekend, and the family is sitting vigil.
She has been on a morphine drip since Sunday afternoon, and we think she is not in pain.
Larissa visited on Sunday and Joann was aware.
Please pray and wish that Joann's next journey is a beautiful and serene as her last journey has been brave and determined.
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Joann was not able to have radiation treatment on Friday. The last treatment may be on Monday, or it may be canceled. Joann will transfer to Benedictine Hospital on Tuesday or Wednesday. We hope that she will be able to be home for Christmas, even if just for part of the day.
Benedictine Hospital is only a few minutes from home, so it will be much easier for Larissa and Daddy and aunts and uncles to spend time with Mommy, even when she has to be in the hospital.
Please continue you prayers and positive thoughts.
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Joann has had 9 of 10 radiation treatments. We hope the last one will be tomorrow, Friday, December 17. She was very energetic this morning, but suffered a setback just before her radiation treatment. Larissa visited and comforted Mommy by wiping her face and arm with a damp wash cloth.
Please continue you prayers and positive thoughts.
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Joann did not have a radiation treatment on Monday. Her doctors wanted more time to evaluate her condition after the weekend of drifting in and out of consiousness. She had radiation treatments on yesterday and today. She has two more to go to complete the planned ten treatments. She was very feisty today and walked twice around the nurses station.
Please continue you prayers and positive thoughts.
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Joann had a hard weekend. She slept a lot and went back on IV because of nausea and vomiting. We hope that she can complete her radiation treatments and that she will be home for Christmas. If you have a special message for her, email it to jmives@aol.com, or post it to Please continue you prayers and positive thoughts.
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Joann continues to tolerate the radiation treatments. "You do what you gotta do." She came off IV this morning and will be taking all fluids by mouth. We hope to be able to go for a walk later today. The present plan is for Joann to complete her radiation treatment on Thursday, December 16, and be discharged Friday, December 17. We hope that she will be able to come directly home. Jim has contacted Hospice of Ulster County to set up a admissions interview so that we are able to utliize their services as needed.
We hope to be able to have Larissa visit Mommy tomorrow. Maybe some pictures will appear here
in the next few days.
Please continue you prayers and positive thoughts.
Jim probably will not make another update until Monday morning, December 13.
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Joann has continued to improve. She had her fifth radiation treatment today and is resting. We are half-way through the radiation treatments - hooray! The docs seem to have arrived at a good combination of medications that have the debilitating effects of the disease and treatment under control.
Larissa visited Mommy yesterday afternoon. It was a happy occasion for Mommy and Daddy. It was the first time Larissa was seen running down the halls of AMC.
Judy Barba found Jim Shaughnessy's missing glasses in one of his shirts pockets. Daddy has to apologize to Larissa for accusing her of taking them off the kitchen table. When he looked in the box with the electric griddle, in the pantry, he did find two potatoes and a wooden spoon!
Jim is updating the website from the Cancer Resource Center.
Please continue your prayers and positive thoughts.
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Joann has had very good improvement in her condition - she has not had a seizure since noon yesterday. She is resting comfortably. We will continue the radiation treatments today.
Larissa is going to visit Mommy today!
Please continue your prayers and positive thoughts.
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Jim has updated the website remotely from the Cancer Resource Center at Albany Medical Center.
Joann has been suffering from periodic seizures since yesterday, and she will be undergoing tests today to try to determine the
cause and other data to guide treatment. We have discontinued, at least temporarily, the radiation treatment. She cannot take phone calls in her room.
Jim will be staying at Ronald McDonald House (518.438.2655 9:00 am-9:00 pm). Family and friends will be caring for Larissa and Blacky at home. Jim will make trips to Kingston to see her, and if possible, we will bring Larissa to Albany to see Mommy.
Please continue your prayers and positive thoughts.
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A CT scan on Thursday revealed that Joann's lung cancer has metastasized to multiple locations in the
frontal lobes of her brain. She was admitted to Albany Medical Center Hospital yesterday to begin
a series of 10 radiation treatments. She had one treatment yesterday, one today, and will have 5 next week and 3 the following week. We are not sure how long she will be hospitalized, as some of the treatments may be done as an outpatient. The treatment is complicated by the multiple locations,
although all of the sites are small.
Joann remains positive in her outlook and is maintaining her smile and good nature. We ask that you
continue your prayers and positive thoughts.
Jim will keep the website updated with Joann's progress. | |||
As we get ready to depart for our annual Thanksgiving trip to Nantucket, we want to take time to let everyone know that we are doing so, and to thank family and friends who have provided so much help and support during the past year. We also want to thank everyone who has prayed for and sent positive thoughts to Joann. Joann is now midway through her 18th cycle of chemotherapy since August, 1998. The tumor in her right lung is significantly reduced and has been stable for over eight months. The chemo cycles have streched to six weeks from three weeks. Joann has been incredibly strong and positive in spirit throughout her illness and is inspiration to everyone who knows her. Larissa is a healthy and happy 16-month old. She has been walking for 5 weeks, climbing the stairs by herself for 1 week (with a spotter behind her), and sliding off Mommy and Daddy's bed, feet-first, for 2 days! She is engaging, curious, and seems never shies away from a challenge. She spends a lot of time looking at her books, and recently has been very intent on learning how Lego's blocks fit together. She gives great joy to Mommy and Daddy. Jim has been very busy with some installing some new software systems. He apoligizes to visitors to this page that it has been such a long wait for a new edition. There will be some photos appearing here in the next few weeks.
Thanks for visiting. Please continue your prayers and positive thoughts. Joann is continuing her battle against lung cancer with incredible resolve and good spirits. Jim is blessed with Joann and Larissa, and we all thrive with wonderful support from family and friends.
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December 22, 1999