Norbert’s Story

Site created on April 15, 2021

Greetings,

You may have already heard, but in case you have not, Norbert was diagnosed with presumed metastatic melanoma on April 11, 2021. I (daughter Julie) will write a summary of events since then below this introduction message, it has been a whirlwind couple of weeks. Moving forward I will provide updates in the journal entries. The most up to date and exciting news as of today, is that his cognition is improving every day. The improvement so far is probably due to the steroids that are reducing swelling in his brain but hopefully also a response to the immune therapy treatment he is on. We are cautiously optimistic that we may be able to measure remaining time in years instead of days to weeks as it was looking when we first got the diagnosis. The oncologist this week said she is hopeful that he could even ski next winter, which was not even on our radar of possibility last week. There are still a lot of IF's and our overall plan is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Dad has consistently expressed (from the first moment of diagnosis in the ER all the way through) that he is grateful for the life he has had, he does not have complaints, and he is not afraid to die. He has been clear about not wanting to suffer just to buy time, and wanting to be able to enjoy whatever remaining time he has. We are all supportive of this and have found the providers to be supportive as well. We are already further down the road than we expected to get in learning about and choosing to try some of the options available. So far it is going better than we expected, we will keep you posted here.

Are you wondering what to do with this news? His number one request has been for memories from people in his life. Please take a moment to write down a memory or story and send it his way.  You can do it here on caring bridge, via an email to him, or via his FAVORITE medium of old fashioned pen and paper. Their current mailing address is 9714 Lindsay Pl. Edmonds, WA 98020.

If you are getting this invitation then you likely already know how much Norbert and Nancy relish good food. Right now Dad is on a soft food diet, which has been a big adjustment for him. They will gratefully accept and enjoy anything you want to drop off. We have had some success blending "normal" foods for Dad. Please see the caring bridge link on this website if this is a way you want to be invovled https://mealtrain.com/ve099y  

If you are stopping by to drop off food or visit please note that we are following strict COVID precautions and request that interactions all be both masked and outdoors. Also, we are asking that no one eat or drink with him to reduce infection risk. Ie: if you are bringing food he will wait to eat it after you leave. Thank you for being extra conscientious about this to keep him and us safe as we navigate this personally challenging time while in the midst of a global pandemic. 

If you are receiving this email, thank you for your role(s) in Norbert's life. Please feel free to share this information with others who you think would want to know or be in touch with him. I've done my best to get a comprehensive list of people but I am no Norbert Hertl!

Warmly,

Julie Hertl (daughter)

Newest Update

Journal entry by Julie Hertl

Greetings All,

If you put Dad's Celebration of Life on you calendar please mark it postponed.  It is worth it to us to wait until we can hug you and share food and dancing.  This will at minimum require a vaccine for the grandkids under age 5.  Please keep your eyes and ears open for an update, hopefully in the next few months.  If you are not yet vaccinated please do that!  
 
We posted Dad's obituary in the Seattle Times and Edmonds Beacon back in November.  Links:
https://obituaries.seattletimes.com/obituary/norbert-hertl-1083814993
https://www.edmondsbeacon.com/story/2021/11/23/obits-and-milestones/norbert-horst-hertl-1941-2021/25931.html

A link of interest, Dad was part of the History Project at the UW School of Dentistry:
https://sodalum.uw.edu/the-history-project/dr-norbert-hertl/

When asked how we are doing I'm not sure any of us have a good answer.  We are alive and have much to be grateful for but we all miss him terribly.  It has been surreal to hit the anniversary of Dad's diagnosis and approaching the date of his death. 

Many thanks to each of you who have reached out to check on us or share memories of him.  Thank you for all of the donations in his name to the IRC.  They are always doing vital work, and have been very active in the last year helping Afghan and Ukrainian refugees especially.  https://help.rescue.org/donate/make-tribute-donation />
With love,
Julie
Wishing you all well.
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