Dick’s Story

Site created on June 30, 2020

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. As I said in the first excerpt, I will try to keep everyone updated as to what's going on with us and how Dick is doing.  Please feel free to leave messages on here for him.  He loves hearing from you!  As you all probably know, Dick was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in May.  We came back to KY to be treated by his Drs. here and to be near family and friends.  We are facing each day as they come and are keeping positive attitudes.  Thank you for caring enough to check out this site.  We will try to put an update on here at least once a week.  Love to you all!  Keep saying those prayers and sending love.  

Newest Update

Journal entry by Dick Winkler

It's been a crazy 6 weeks. In March I had covid again. Still have remnants of the cough, but made it through ok. Thank goodness Dick didn't get it.  The first day I could leave the house after being cooped up for a few weeks, I went to put my jewelry on before I went out and realized that my wedding ring was gone. After looking, I realized that my anniversary ring, two necklaces, and a pair of earrings were gone.  Over $7000 worth of jewelry missing! We concluded that it must have been taken by one of the caregivers who were caring for Dick.  The company I was using, obviously, took them out of our house, which left us with no caregivers. 

After searching for weeks, I was able to slowly piece together some help.  The fact that I was just getting over covid made it not so bad that I couldn't leave the house for over 3 weeks. Dick and I actually had a good time, watching movies and enjoying our time together without anyone else in the house. This week is the first week that we have had everything scheduled the way we had it before everything happened in March.   

Now, to discussing how he is doing.  He amazes everyone with his strength and attitude.  He continues to choke here and there, but that is certainly not stopping him from eating. He was beginning to be a little "loopy" last week so I called the hospice nurse and had her check a few things, sure enough, another danged UTI. Hopefully the antibiotics will take care of things in that regard.

Luke was home from the Navy, over Easter, and It was so good to see him! Mike and Matt continue to visit, as well as Brenda (who continues to bring him a lot of treats)! He is always happy to see her and she questions whether it is because of her bubbly personality, or the sugar that she brings with her. Guess Dick wanted to look like his sons and he has grown a beard. We shaved it off once, but it has grown back again. It makes it easier not having to shave him every day, and he keeps saying don't shave him, so I guess he likes it! Haley has gone back to Nantucket and we miss her so much! We love it when she is home because we see her several times a week when she comes over for dinner and to watch movies with us. 

Hospice has been curious as to what is going on with the cancer, so they have scheduled a scan for next week. They said that it will help them know how to treat his symptoms (although he really hasn't been exhibiting many as far as the cancer goes). Everyone in the medical field just shake their head and wonder how he has been able to navigate the cancer and palsy as well as he has.  We get him out for walks, out on the deck, and every now and then out for a ride, or to red mile.  His energy isn't what it was, so it wears him out when he goes out anywhere.  He is sleeping a bit more, but when he's up to it, enjoys visits from friends and family.  Thank you to everyone who checks in with us. It is greatly appreciated.  Basically, we are just being thankful for all of the quality time we have been able to have together.  I thank God daily that he is not in any pain and that he pretty much just goes with the flow.  As patient's go, he is a rockstar!  

I will let everyone know what the results of the scan are next week. Until then, love you all!

Dick and Ellen 

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