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.