This Caring Bridge website initial post is for Walter A. ‘Wally’ Hagen’s friends and family. No Donations are necessary, or expected. We simply want to provide you a way to stay up to date on Wally’s condition.
To recap Wally’s current situation. Last Saturday, 4/11, He couldn't muster enough strength in his legs to stand, so the nurses at The Rennaissance sent him to the ER at St. John Hospital in Westlake, OH. His blood oxygen levels were extremely low, so he was admitted to ICU for further testing and evaluation, and put on a high dose of oxygen. The tests included testing for Coronavirus, which was negative.
Easter Sunday, 4/12, we learned Wally’s need for oxygen was due to the fact that he was battling stage 4 lung cancer, with tumors in the right lung, on various glands, and in his ribs. All of us were surprised by the diagnosis (including Wally), as he has been asymptomatic on so many levels. But, the diagnosis has been confirmed by a number of doctors at this point.
On Monday, 4/13, Wally was admitted to The Ames Family Hospice House of The Hospice of the Western Reserve in Westlake. He is not allowed visitors due to the coronavirus. While he needs a significant level of oxygen support, he has been relatively stable this week. The nurses and doctors are giving him wonderful care. Not surprisingly, he is charming them all with his positive outlook and humor. He's not currently experiencing any severe pain, but everyone involved in his care warns us his health will deteriorate rapidly at some point.
Wally is at peace with the situation. He is surprised, as are we, that it all happened so quickly.
If you'd like to mail him a card, his address is: Wally Hagen ℅ Ames Family Hospice House 30080 Hospice Way Westlake, OH 44145
If you would like to email him, you can do that at: wahagen@hotmail.com
If you’d like to leave a comment on this post, or well wishes on this site, we will make sure he sees them.
Son Wally is in Cleveland, self-quarantining for 14 days in order to see dad. He should be able to do that this coming weekend - 4/25.
If you need to reach sons Jim or Wally their emails are: Jim - hagen.je2@gmail.com Wally - wwhagen54@gmail.com
In response to increasing concerns about COVID 19 transmission, and the various travel restrictions and self-quarantine guidelines, Wally and Jim have made the decision to postpone the Celebration of Life service for Dad that we had planned for August 8th. We will post further updates here, once we've decided when/how to best remember dad and celebrate the vibrant life he lived. Thank you for your understanding during these challenging and chaotic times.
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