Ann Derby

First post: Oct 18, 2018 Latest post: Oct 29, 2018
Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


Mom hadn't been feeling herself for a while, but in June it was discovered that she had  an auto-immune disease that was attacking her kidneys called  Microscopic Polyangiitis.  She was treated with a barrage of drugs that arrested the disease but left her with dibilitating side effects, and damage from the disease itself. She digressed quickly,  is very very weak, losing weight rapidly and is very tired.  


This week mom went into home hospice care.  She has a hospital bed and plans to spend her remaining time in the home that she loves. There is a team of people caring for her and watching over her medical care and making the medical decisions. She is not being treated for the disease at this time, but is only being given meds that will keep her stable and comfortable. We do not know any kind of time table, and it's possible that she could go from hospice care to pallaitive care and back again, it's just hard to say how her body will respond.  We will try to keep you up to date on this site.


All of this has happened so quickly; we are still trying to come to grips with all of it, our hearts are breaking, and we are feeling helpless. Mom is sad too, but she is making peace with the future and accepting the road ahead with her usual practical outlook and faith in God. Her wit and humor are firmly intact and even though her body is failing her, she is thinking clearly and of course is encouraging the people around her (including the nurse at her clinic who cried when she said goodbye to him).  Lorin continues to be her hero and loves her so well.  We are all grateful for the ways that he continues to care for her. 


What can you do?  Mom is up for having visitors for short periods, but tires easily, so please call first...you can call her directly for now, we'll let you know if it should be someone else in the future. She listens to your voicemails and reads texts but it's hard for her to answer, so don't be surprised if you don't get a reply.  She'd rather hear about your life and day as opposed to getting asked medical questions. She loves music and loves to laugh and remember memories that you and she shared.  


Thanks for your love, prayers, care and concern for mom. 
-Kathy







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