Still celebrating

WOW - it's already been a week since Sharon's Celebration in Gainesville! It was a wonderful turn-out at the Gainesville Garden Club. The ceremony was held outside on the absolute hottest day of the spring! The heat was not planned... though it still turned out beautiful.

Dear friends of Sharon's from her late-teens in Gainesville to her WOW buddies and fellow UYO grads to friends of her children who had known her for most of their lives were all gathered to Celebrate Sharon, share stories and enjoy delicious food. Thank you to everyone for bringing a dish to share! Please upload your pictures to www.sharonspancreas.blogspot.com

And another WOW - it's been one whole year since Sharon's diagnosis with pancreatic cancer (April 29, '08). Just think of what has happened in your life in the past year. As Sharon said, "Always be hopeful. Always keep learning."

Many people have asked about the significance of the color purple in Sharon's life. Through out the ages, purple has represented wealth. There were times in England where, by law, only royalty could wear purple! Purple has come to represent wealth & abundance in 5 areas of one's life and Sharon worked hard to keep all 5 areas in balance:

1. physical
2. financial
3. relational
4. mental
   
5. spiritual

We must not take life for granted because it is the greatest gift we have. Let us live by Sharon's example of embracing life passionately and fully each day. Live life passionately, follow your dreams, bless each day that you live and live it to the fullest in honor of life itself. Live life the way that makes you happy; that makes your heart sing.

Remember how Sharon touched you and changed you. And remember that Sharon remains alive in each and every one of us.

Celebrate Life!

in Gainesville next week

Come Celebrate Sharon with us next Friday!

The Gainesville Garden Club
4:00 with reception immediately following

1350 NW 75th Street
Gainesville, FL 32605.

Bring a favorite dish to share with others.
Wear some purple flair!
Remember your cameras and be ready to
CELEBRATE a wonderful woman.

Hotel suggestion for out of towners. It's near the Garden Club & the Interstate!

LaQuinta
920 N.W. 69th Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 332-6466
$65.00 bereavement rate

Pictures & Gainesville Celebration

NEW PICTURES from the Asheville Celebration have been posted at
www.sharonspancreas.snapfish.com/snapfish
You can view, save and even get prints at your local drug store!

If you have some pictures packed away somewhere, please upload them to this website. We are in the process of updating the slide show for the Gainesville Celebration!

Gainesville Celebration
Friday, April 24, 2009
4:00 Celebration
with reception immediatly following until 7:00
Gainesville Garden Club
• please bring a favorite dish to share •

Haven Hospice in Florida

Floridians interested in making a Hospice donation can direct them to Haven Hospice in Gainesville.

http://www.havenhospice.org/donate_now.html

WNC Hospice details

Sharon spent the last week of her life at the SOLACE Center in Asheville NC. SOLACE is a beautifully designed Hospice "house" that facilitated an environment filled with family, friends and love. The great room and family style kitchen allowed the Wagner families to break bread and share memories. There is a secluded area to enjoy the out doors, take a stroll or play in the fountain.

The Sunday after Sharon's Asheville Celebration, Tim, Kristina, Jake, TJ, Isabelle & Alyson took some of the beautiful floral arrangements to SOLACE. The staff said that Sharon's family was special and they enjoyed having us there. What we know is that the staff at SOLACE is special, and we'll always be thankful!

On more than one occasion, there were 3 grandkids under the age of 2 who were eating meals from their strollers. That's how the idea came about to donate 2 high chairs to SOLACE. James took care of the details and Tim made the donation last Tuesday*. The plaque on the back of each chair reads:

In loving memory of
Sharon "Gram" Wagner
March 13, 2009

*pictures coming soon*

For those who would like to make a donation to Western North Carolina Hospice in memory of Sharon Wagner, send checks to:

CarePartners Hospice Foundation
PO Box 25338
Asheville, NC 28813

Some of Sharon's immediate & extended family - what a great bunch!

What an incredible Celebration for Sharon on Friday, March 20!

The Celebration service began around 4:30 and was led by Martina Barnes, ordained minister and LPC. The weather was a perfect 60 sunny degrees. All who attended enjoyed extraordinary views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, beautiful music and great company.

After finishing the service, Sharon's family and friends continued the Celebration in The Crest Pavilion. A local Asheville band, Current Invention, filled the Pavilion with bright and joyous music.

Tim took time to thank everyone and to honor Sharon in his own words. The rest of the group followed with their own memories. The evening ended with Sharon's grandchildren putting on a "show" on stage. A perfect way to celebrate their Gram!

Thank you everyone for Celebrating Sharon with the family and for bringing such wonderful food. It was an evening to remember! We look forward to continuing the Celebration in Gainesville on Friday, April 24.

Sharon's Gainesville Celebration is scheduled for Friday, April 24 @ 4:00. Details will be released closer to the event. Mark your calendars!

Celebration announcement

Sharon's Celebration

Friday, March 20, 2009

4:00 pm with reception immediately following

The Crest Pavilion

22 Celebration Place

Asheville, NC 28806

Bring a favorite dish to share with others.

Wear some purple flair!

Bring your cameras and be ready to CELEBRATE a wonderful woman.

Hotel Accommodations

Hampton Inn

204 Tunnel Road

Asheville, NC 28805

1-828-255-9220

request room for "Wagner Gathering"

$99/night

Indoor pool, hospitality room for gathering

Here is a link to Sharon's obituary that was posted in the Asheville Citizen Times yesterday.

http://obituaries.citizen-times.com/obituaries/obit.php?id=61457

The celebration is still planned for Friday, March 20 @ 4:00. Details forthcoming... it will be putluck (finger food & desserts) and everyone is encouraged to wear a bit of purple flair!

Sharon's Asheville Celebration is tentatively (almost definitely) scheduled for Friday, March 20 @ 4:00. We invite everyone to bring finger foods & desserts along with their great stories of Sharon.

Please click the "comments" link below and let us know if you're interested in hotel accommodations as we are working on a block of hotel rooms. Once we have 10 rooms requested, we'll publish the hotel information.

Look forward to seeing you at the end of the week! Please check here for more information.

It's a good life!

Gone from our sight

Sharon passed peacefully this morning before sunrise. Tim and their son James were with her and showering her with love.



I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

"Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her dimished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

- Henry Van Dyke

Remember to upload pictures to Snapfish and add them to Sharon's folder http://sharonspancreas.snapfish.com/snapfish!!

Sharon had another love-filled day. Some beautiful flowers arrived along with sweet visits. Friends from Kiwanis fed the family tonight and have set up a schedule for the next few days... THANK YOU!!

Another winning day.

Sharon's day was filled with love and visits from family and close friends.  

In the early afternoon, she nearly jumped out of bed for a wheelchair ride with Kristina & TJ.  Tim arrived just as they were leaving the room and joined in the stroll.  Again this evening, she was up and at 'em with Mimi, GrandBob, Tim & T.J.

The care at SOLACE is extrodinary.  Sharon is comfortable and her pain is under control.

Another winning day.

Please keep Sharon in your thoughts and close to your heart.  

Remember the fun stories and keep looking for pictures!

(online photo album details below)

Another winning day...

Sharon had a good day with a bit less energy than yesterday. She enjoyed time with a few close family friends throughout the day. Later in the evening, her mother, Alma (Mimi), arrived with GrandBob to spend a few hours with Sharon. They'll be in town for a while.

Sharon decided to no longer take oral medication yet still receives pain meds & fluid through an IV.

Tonight, TJ, the youngest child, is spending the night with his Mom at SOLACE. Tomorrow will be another wonderful day filled with love. One day at a time...

We won the day!

Another winning day!

This morning, Sharon was awake with Tim. When Kristina arrived, Sharon decided to get dressed and go outside! The birds were chirping and in the shade, the weather was perfect. James and family arrived in perfect time to share the outside with Sharon.

It was a beautiful and loving Monday.

We have won the day!

Sharon slept wonderfully last night for the first time in, perhaps, months. She woke around noon and played ball with her grandson Jake. Maybe it was the girl time she had last night that tuckered her out! Again this evening, she woke and enjoyed time with loved ones.

We have won the day!

Please continue sending positive thoughts to Sharon. Keep thinking about some fun stories - you know, the ones that make you laugh out loud or just smile. We all have one about Sharon Wagner! You can even give her a call and leave it on her voicemail.

As always, notes and messages are wonderful! Thank you. And for those who know how much Sharon loves plants and flowers, she's allowed to have them in her space now! Deliver to the house or directly to SOLACE. We are uncertain how long she'll stay there.

We are taking things day by day. Today, we won. Please understand how delicate the time is with Sharon and the family. Please coordinate with Kristina or Tim if you're planning a visit or would like to bring food by the house. The family is spending a lot of time at SOLACE and eating out a bit too much. Any home cooked (or prepared) meals are welcome. :)

Win the day!

P.S.

We are also collecting pictures to share. If you have any shots of Sharon, you and Sharon or of something that reminds you of her, please send it over! So, dig through your photos and find the best ones you can. Let's all see how fast we can build her a great photo album!

• upload to Snapfish and add it to her folder http://sharonspancreas.snapfish.com/snapfish
  
• email to Kristina
  
• mail CD to Sharon & Tim's house
  
• if you don't have the capabilities to scan (or don't have the time!), take your pictures to a drugstore with a photo lab. Ask them to scan them and put them on 2 CDs for you. Mail one of them to us!

Moving to SOLACE

Sharon will be transferred to SOLACE around 4:00 this afternoon. She is very happy to be moving out of the hospital.

Sharon with youngest grandchild, Parker

February 2009

After 2 weeks in the cardio ward at Mission Hospital, Sharon is ready to bust out of the joint! Her heart doc said that when she could swallow pills again, she could go. So she worked on swallowing soft foods and eventually her pills.

Because the fluid on her abdomen has become more frequent, the team at Mission installed a state-of-the-art personal parencentecis device this morning. Now, she'll be able to drain the fluid before it becomes painful - what a concept!

Cancer "seeds" were found in some of the stomach fluid. The oncologist has advised us that chemo and radiation won't help. We, the family, have decided to get Hospice involved and are working closely with the palliative doctor at Mission. The intention is that Sharon will be moved to the SOLACE Center tomorrow (Friday, March 6) while she heals from today's procedure. http://www.carepartners.org/pagedisplay.cfm?mainpage=6&subpage=25

Sharon will stay in the beautiful facility until she is stable enough to go home. She is having good days still and really loves receiving phone messages and notes from people. If will be in Asheville, let the family know if you'd like to schedule time with Sharon.

picture time!

It's been a while since pictures have been posted, so we'll do a few tonight.

Gato Deluxe, the dude we can be mad at about all this cancer crap. He takes the abuse pretty well.

Sharon successfully completed her third session of chemo last week. It went smoothly, especially being the first session she did this round while NOT in the hospital. She was accompanied by Tim, a dear family friend Chuck, her daughter Kristina, Gato Deluxe (the ugly doll we're allowed to get mad at), her son James and daughter-in-law Currie throughout the day.

Chuck sitting with Sharon during chemo - offering stories and laughs.

Sharon's condition is extremely delicate right now. Because her digestive system is failing, she's having trouble processing any fluids or medications. She will continue chemotherapy as long as the benefits outweigh the ill effects. We are looking into home care and focusing on treating the painful side-effects of the tumor.

All smiles with her favorite daughter, Kristina.

Sharon is currently in the hospital in Asheville under close observation. She was admitted on Saturday because she was not responding and had overall lethargy. Because she began new medications after the chemo last week, the doctors are monitoring her medication and trying to narrow down the issues.

They sure are one cute couple!

Please, take a moment to reach out to Sharon & Tim either via phone calls or email. Sharon is receiving messages on her cell phone and every one she hears brightens are day just a bit more.

For those people living in and around Asheville who would like to visit with Sharon, please make arrangements with Tim. All the love and attention she can get will add to her quality of life and overall enjoyment.

in Asheville and moving right along.

Sharon and Tim arrived in Asheville on Friday afternoon. What a great way to start the weekend - snuggled at home, beautiful blue skies, crisp winter weather and the daphodiles beginning to sprout.

Kristina & Jake arrived on Saturday. Sharon has enjoyed the giggles and fun that Jake brings.

Because Sharon can't efficiently digest, it's taken a few extra days to pass the very strong narcotic, dilaudid, out of her system from the hospital. She has become more aware since returning home and is working on gaining strength.

At the moment, Sharon & Tim are at St. Josephs for a paracentecis (fluid removed from the abdomen). She has retained an uncomfortable amount of fluid as a side effect of the cancer. It's an out-patient procedure and she should be back home in the afternoon.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, marks the third dose of chemo this cycle. The plan is to arrive in Greenville for a 9:00 appointment, receive a 6-hour dose of one drug, and then take home the 24-hour pump for the second chemotherapy drug.

Valentine's Day 2008 was when Sharon had her first noticeably excruciating stomach pain. This Valentine's Day, we took a moment to reflect on the year past. It's been an amazing journey. We take one day at a time with the purpose of making it the best possible. Keep your positive thoughts flowing...

It's a good life!

Sharon is still at St. Francis after days of ups and downs. She plans to remain until at least Thursday when the new round of chemo is administered.

Sharon's in the hospital in Greenville. Last week, she had vomiting episodes that expelled some blood clots. Since she was on track to have chemo in Greenville this week, her oncologist recommended that she go ahead and head down there on Saturday.

A endoscopy showed no further damage or growth of the tumor. They are going to replace her stint which should help with the gastro issues. Chemo is scheduled for after the stint surgery.

Sharon is keeping strong and positive. All contact (emails, cards, voicemails) are greatly appreciated... keep them coming!

It's a good life!

St. Josephs

Sharon was admitted to St. Joseph's on Monday evening after throwing up a blood clot. The endoscopy showed no bleeding, so she's being kept for observation.

Tim is working with the Cancer Center to set up the new treatment regimen.

back from Texas

Sharon & Tim arrived in Asheville this evening.

The trip to MD Anderson went very well. Sharon will begin a new round of chemo and start working with a nutritionist to get her body back on track.

granddaughter Kate

Still in TX

Sharon's been extensively tested over the past few days at MD Anderson in Houston. Things are going well as they continue looking for new options.

Texas bound

Sharon was briefly in the hospital this week with funky hemoglobin levels and was released yesterday. She has approval and encouragement to continue with the trip to MD Anderson in Texas. They leave tomorrow and return next weekend!

trip to Texas

Sharon has been accepted to MD Anderson in Texas for a second opinion and further testing/treatment. After initial review of her files, the specialists at MD Anderson decided that she's not a surgical candidate, but they're still interested in working with her in other ways. The appointments are the week of January 8th.