Hello Friends and Family, 

It's been a long time since we've updated, and a lot has happened and is currently happening. As most of you know in May of 2020 Kathie came and moved in with me in Renton Washington to be with me for the birth of "her baby", my youngest, Sam. She spent three lovely years being Grandma and living her best trailer dwelling life in the "city". Things had been up and down with her health as we went from treatment to treatment, none of them lasting more than 6-9 months. About two months ago we discovered the last of the "on the market" treatments for her GIST cancer failed.

We moved on to explore the possibility of experimental drug trials. After doing the initial testing, it was confirmed that she was not a viable candidate. Shortly after that she began a steady and steep decline in her health. A couple weeks later we found she had deep vein thrombosis and massive blood clots in her legs. She needed constant care that, due to some unforeseen circumstances, my home was no longer the best option for. So we swiftly made the transition to get her to her baby sister, Tam Ann, and her partner John at their LOVELY home in McMinnville, OR 🏠🌳🐿️

We looked forward to some much needed R&R, exceptional and close range care, gardening, hot tubbing, and don't forget the puppies, born on 5/20/23, which just happens to be her youngest grand baby Sam's birthday! She just about crossed off all the things on that list except the gardening. It didn't take long to see her decline became more apparent. Last week I made the decision to get down to McMinnville to be with my mom and offer more support to Auntie Tammie and John as it had become a lot more care needed in a much quicker timeline than expected. 

Last week on a call with her doctor, we learned she has a life expectancy of a month, or less (or more! We never can really know how these things will go). However, from where we are sitting, it doesn't look like we will have her with us for much longer. Today we did the intake with hospice, and we are expecting a nurse at some point tomorrow.

She is eating little and resting often, it doesn't take much to run down her energy reserve. She is quite bothered by this. I told her "of course you would be. I'd say you've lived with 5x the energy of any other human being on the planet for most of your life!" she agreed. She has been very confused and disoriented (which she also really doesn't like), but boy does she perk up for her people! Which is a lovely thing, but also very depleting to her energy levels.

That being said, Kathie is blessed with so many people who have loved her and who she has loved. Her phone has become quite overwhelming and she is unable to use it at this time. With this in mind we thought of some beautiful options for you to be able to share any correspondences with her that you would like to share 📝💌🎞️

We would be delighted receive, share, and read any cards, notes, drawings, letters, pictures, or anything of that nature on your behalf. Your favorite moments, memories, gratitudes, and/or anything else you may have, would fill her heart and bring a welcome smile in these precious days. We love talking about the different times in her life, experiences, things she’s done, places she’s been. She loves a great story, and a good laugh! Again, we would be delighted to read and share anything with her you may want to send her way. 

You can employ good ol’ snail mail, or scan/send a photo via messenger, text, or email for the sake of time, which is currently precious and may not be on our side. Please reach out to either myself or my sister, Sarah Bishop, if you’d like to correspond. Thank you 💗

We are currently living moment by moment, surrounding her with as much love, laughter, and uplifting support as possible through this season. 

Kathie has lived her life 💗BIG, 🌈BOLD, and ✨BRIGHT✨! She’s always believed in being in-joy in life and as she stated that’s always been her philosophy and she’s “not about to stop now!”. And that's something I believe we all cherish about her and her spirit.

We will continue to update through here as things progress and change. 

Warmly and with lots of love, 
Hannah and Family 💗