Wally’s Story

Site created on November 8, 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.

Many of you know that Wally has been battling lung disease. For the past 6 years, he has been dependent upon oxygen. At first he was able to carry a portable oxygen tank and able to continue working. Over time, the amount of oxygen he needed increased and he became dependent upon an oxygen concentrator, making it difficult for him to leave the house. Every few months he would come down with pneumonia or a bronchial infection, need to be hospitalized for more intensive breathing treatments and then was able to return home. On October 21, Wally was taken to the hospital for what we thought was another bout of pneumonia. While there, the amount of oxygen he required increased. At home he was on 6 to 8 liters of oxygen and at the hospital  he was up to 40 liters. After being hospitalized for several days, we were told that there was nothing more the doctors could do beyond putting Wally on a ventilator, which was something he was vehemently against. Wally's wish was to be able to return home. On October 30, Wally was able to begin home hospice care. 

Newest Update

Gone Too Soon

Journal entry by Danielle Kleist —

After a long and brave fight with lung disease, Wally passed away on Friday night. He was able to spend a good deal of Friday receiving visits from family members and friends. While he was not able to open his eyes and talk, he was able to squeeze people's hands to let them know he could hear them. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. 
Read More of the journal titled "Gone Too Soon"
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