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.