Statement from Dave's family

As many of you know, Dave Ludwig died yesterday almost 4 weeks to the day that he entered the hospice center. He had no pain and his breathing was comfortable before he quietly passed away. After all of the bad things that happened to him these past 4 years, it is a relief to know, as a wonderful friend said to me, that nothing bad can happen to him again. He is at peace now.

True to the way he lived his life, Dave wanted to contribute to science and learning even after his death. As he wished, his body was donated to be used for teaching or research. There will be no funeral but we will be having a celebration of his life at a later date, not yet determined. Dave has left us a list of the music to play at his party and we will be sure to toast him with his favorite cocktail – a negroni. Luckily, he taught our  youngest son, at the age of 8, to make negronis. (To his mother’s great relief, Colin did not have to write a “what I learned over the summer” essay when he  returned to school that fall.)

Dave did not have a lot of energy to spend as much time as he would have liked to travel to the shore or mountains for snake hunting and bird watching in the last couple of years. However, there was a wonderful natural area not too far from our home where he could take walks on those days when he would feel well enough to get out of the house. He would head over to it and spend time taking pictures and turning over logs and rocks looking for snakes. Many of the photographs of flowers that he added to his blog were taken on these walks. We request that if anyone wants to make a donation to honor Dave, please make it either to a charity of your choice or to the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD 21044. The check should be made out to MPEA and write his name on the memo line of the check or attach a note saying it is to honor David Ludwig.

These past four years have been challenging for Dave and us and it would have been unbearable except for the love and caring that you all have shown us. Whatever form your thoughts for us took, we drew strength from them and we want to thank you with all of our hearts.

Love,

Cathy, Molly, Jesse, and Colin

Well, it has been 2 weeks since Dave was transferred from the hospital to the hospice center and each day has brought new challenges. There have been days when he slept all day and most of the night. Lately, there have been days when he hasn't slept at all. It has become increasingly difficult for him to communicate through writing, especially when he has gone without sleep. The doctor thinks the cancer has spread to his brain. Some days he is clear headed but there are many during which he is confused. He is compelled to write on his pad constantly but it is usually, though not always, incomprehensible. It will be a jumble of letters, often repeated, or he will start a sentence but he will lose focus and not be able to complete it. He knows what he wants to say so he gets very frustrated and angry that he cannot translate it onto paper. He certainly recognizes all of us and anyone who comes to visit him. He is no longer able to read. We have been able to get him outside a little bit in the small courtyard here. He is really weak so we put him in a wheelchair and push him around.

The staff here are wonderful. They are so caring and attentive, especially to keeping Dave comfortable, but also to us. Dave's family are all here and spend most of the day with him. Molly has taken off from work and does all of the grocery shopping and cooking, bringing dinner here where we 'party' every evening. Copious quantities of alcohol are consumed and we fill the room with laughter, often playing Scrabble, and suffering while we watch the Orioles.

We are taking it all day by day. The doctor has not given us a timeline for what is going to happen but we are pretty sure it will not be a whole lot longer- whatever that means.