Papa Lew's Page

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 07:09:00 +0000

I miss you so much, I miss who I was in your eyes.

video montage of papa

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:06:00 +0000

From his Granddaughter

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:24:00 +0000

Please, do not think of Papa Lew as gone, because his journey has just begun.
Think of him as resting from the sorrows and the pain, in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days, no years.
Think how he must be wishing that we could know today, that nothing but our sadness can really pass away.
And, please think of him as living in the hearts of those he loved….for nothing loved is ever lost, and he was loved so much.

Alyssa Rose Theissen
June 12, 2009

Funeral Services for Papa

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:27:00 +0000

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2009, 11am at McNerney's, 570 W. 5th in San Pedro. He will be laid to rest with his beloved Marta at Green Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.

for your dad's Papa Lew blog

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:43:00 +0000

Hello Melinda. I left a message for you on your dad's cell phone but chances are good you have not checked his messages!!!

My most sincere condolences to you and to the family especially your brother Richard

As you know he was involved with several online political forums & made many good friends there. I am sending you a couple links as some of his family & friends might enjoy seeing them..

Here is the link to the tribute, prayer, death notification thread

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2254315/posts

Here is the link (scroll to bottom) to the link at the FRee Republic Memorial Wall

http://www.freerepublic.com/memorial/memorial.htm

He is singing wth angels & dancing with Marta - and NOT out of breath or tired! Just smilin' & not at all looking back

God Bless You all,
Dolly Howard
NE Ohio

--
On the web..

http://www.freerepublic.com/~dollycali/
Facebook
Twitter
Wide Awakes
The Right Reasons

September 21, 1941 - June 8, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:54:00 +0000

Papa Lew passed away tonight, shortly after 10:00 pm. He was surrounded by loved ones, beautiful music was playing. He was a good man and he fought hard, right up to the end.

Funeral date and time will be posted later this week.

Thank you all for your kind words and well wishes. What he didn't read himself, I read to him.

Thank you,

Melinda

Lew

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:43:00 +0000

Hi Melinda,

Please tell Lew that he is in my thoughts and prayers today, and that he’s a very special person in my life. We miss him at the Monday night walks and happy hours, and other South Bay Fun Club events.

Love, his friend,

Susan J. Shaver LSA-4

License #0B09659
A State Farm Insurance Companies
Auto - Fire - Life - Health - Commercial - Financial Services

' Phone: 310-377-9531
7 Fax: 310-377-0954

4010 Palos Verdes Drive North, Suite 103

Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

E-mail: susan@zimziminsurance.com

www.zimziminsurance.com

LEW

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:57:00 +0000

Thank you, Melinda, for keeping everyone updated about your dad. My thoughts are with him, you and all of the family.

Love, Fran

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:19:00 +0000

Today has been Dad's least active I've seen thus far. He has a hard time catching his breath after adjusting in the bed. He still has moments of lucidity, and when Mandy checked his vitals today they were all strong and normal. Yesterday he had a half or so of a can of the liquid nutrition but, it didn't sit well with him. Actually it didn't "sit" for long, period.
He's still hanging in. If you ask him how he's doing his answer is "lousy" or "shitty" if it's not "oh... comin' along"

Thank you all for the prayers and kind words.

Hugs and smiles!

Melinda

To My Wonderful Friend Lew

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:13:00 +0000

It's me again! I have to write to my wonderful friend again. There are so many people that love you and are having good thoughts for you! Of course, you know I am one of them.

It was very enjoyable to listen and watch the video. I always enjoy your singing. You have been so kind to let me sing kareoke with you.

Fran

Your Papa Lew

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:43:00 +0000

I met Lew back in 2002 at a bereavement group and knew he was a good person. After moving on we shared some great times together. Bowling, dancing, parties and just carousing He sure could sing and dance ! We have shared a love of music and the arts that will be cherished forever. He has given me a song book that I will hold dear. He has always been in my thoughts and prayers.I have attached pictures .

Paul Sisti

Update On Papa Lew

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:18:00 +0000

I just wanted everyone to know that when I read him what you write, he gets a big smile and seems to take comfort in knowing that you all care so much. At this point he is refusing the nutrition, he has a lot of vivid dreams that he is acting out in bed. Like typing emails, reading the newspaper, smoking.
I think that if anybody wants to come by and see him, that is fine, just call ahead of time and know that he doesn't stay alert for long periods of time. However, he has been known to surprise us all in the past. He struggles after a sentence or two so understand he won't be able to socialize a lot. He isn't the same man he was a month ago. I don't know what more to do for him except what we already are. My brother is here now so there are 3 of us to care for him, with my uncle Lyle. Also my Aunt Sue and Uncle Jack are here from Indiana and they've been with him all day, too.

I am grateful to all the family and friends that been so understanding and supportive, and for all of your Prayers.

Melinda

Comments

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:33:00 +0000

Anonymous said...: Lew,

You continue in my thoughts and prayers.

Sonja AKA HazelG; Friday, May 29, 2009
Anonymous said...: Sweet you, Melinda and cherished friend, Lew,

Several messagesfrom your WAker family have been sent to you, Lew, via e-mail. Others will try to post messages here.

Please know you're in our thoughts and prayers and that you're desperately missed on WA, and that you're loved and cherished.

Tricia/onyx; Friday, May 29, 2009
Anonymous said...: Another friend from Wide Awakes checking in to say hello to Lew (we know him as CalKnight).

Lew, we've gotten to know and love you. We miss you on the forum. I enjoyed seeing the video of Back Home Again ... I'd seen it before.

Get that laptop going and check backin when you can!

Mary (altura); Friday, May 29, 2009
Anonymous said...: Lew:

Bruce & I think of you daily -- especially when we listen to the Irish music you so thoughtfully shared. We love your rendition of "It's Good to be back home." Before we discovered Irish music we used to play that CD over and over on car trips -- expecially when we were nearing our distination. In fact, one of my gtandchildren would only go to sleep to that record when he was a baby because I would play it and rock him when he was a newborn. I like your version and pleased that we have TWO genres of music that we all enjoy. I hope you will be singing again.

Love & hugs --

Bette & Bruce; Sunday, May 31, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (eugene edwards) — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:22:00 +0000

Hi Lew,
Aurora and I are thinking of you and the good times we have together.

I'm adding a favorite thought (author unknown ) that expresses my feelings also , gives me a better feeling that's not negative.
With Love, Gene and Aurora.

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow:
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken
in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush.
Of quiet birds in circled flight;
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die."

hello

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:26:00 +0000

i am so glad you have this blolg we can send messages

my thoughts have been with you so long,

i know your a fighter and will do your best ...

i will keep you in my prayers and hope you can feel better again.

charlene

Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off to learn how.

Dolly from Wide Awakes, Free Republic & The Right reasons.

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:50:00 +0000

Hi Melminda.. I have tried 5 times to post on the wall at your/his blog

.. Please tell your dad I am trying. I dont know what the difficulty is..I dont have a genius rating with computers that is for sure but I do KNOW HOW & always have had success with various wall in past..

Please keep us posted.. I know how very difficult this is for you & I truly appreciated your sharing of your story.. Your dad is so precious...

warmest regards,
Dolly Howard
Cleveland/Akron Ohio area

--
ON THE WEB : http://www.freerepublic.com/~dollycali/

Just wanted to say....

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:40:00 +0000

I appreciate all your stories and comments. Papa takes comfort in knowing that he is loved. Keep 'em coming! :)

Thank you,

Melinda

Lew

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:09:00 +0000

Am so sorry that you're not doing well, I wish there was a way that you could beat this thing.

Was just remembering our cruise to Mexico & what a great time we had, also wish there was time enough to do it all over again.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, as always,

Paula

my cousin my best friend

noreply@blogger.com (Jan) — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:53:00 +0000

Lew and I grew up together, as our mothers were sisters. As kids if one of us was in trouble the other one was too. Lew come to live with me and my parents for a short while when we were kids, about 5 or 6. We lived next to a railroad track and Lew loved to watch the trains go by. We slept in bunk beds in the middle room in our house and we could look out the window and watch the trains go by. One night we were supposed to be sleeping and a train came. We both crouched at the window watching, and trying to be quiet, at least I was. A caboose was in the middle of the train and Lew yelled "look an end in the middle". We both heard my stepfather’s feet hit the floor from the living room and we scurried to get in bed. Lew made it and I did not. Guess who got spanked?
My mother was a wonderful mother but was a real stickler on mud and water; we loved playing in it and always got caught because we would get dirty. We lived in the country and had a pump outside that made a lot of noise if you used it. Mother always heard it, so we had to be very careful if we pumped the handle. We learned if you just pumped it once after someone used it we could get a little bit of water without it making noise, so one day after mother got water for the house we were able to get about a cup of water. We divided the water and I went under the window and Lew sat next to the porch. He ran out of water before me and came over and yelled "you took all the water". Guess who got spanked. I owe him for these times as spanking or not they are some of my greatest memories.
As teens we only saw each other on Sundays as Lew moved back to Fort Wayne with his parents and I live in the country with my mother and stepfather. Grandmother Romery had the family over on Sundays so everyone came and we made the most of our times together. We stole cigarettes from anyone who left them unguarded, especially Lew’s older sister Carol. Our whole family smoked and how cool we thought we were. Little did we know the harm that later would be revealed about this product. Wish we had never started. Luckily I quit very young and before I had children. Lew quit later in life.
He married and moved to California so my best friend went away. We visited him once and then kind of lost touch. He married Marta and from what he told me about her they had a really wonderful life together. He told me about her reading to him if he was driving and then when they went to bed he would read to her. I thought that was the loveliest story I had ever heard. He loved her so very much; I envied him as very few people find that kind of love in life. I regret we lost touch and I never got to know Marta better.
After she died I visited Lew several times in California and surprised him and his brother Lyle and his wife Luann and his sister Sue and her husband Jack by showing up on a cruise they were on. It was our first cruise and it couldn't have been better.
I have so many great memories from our life together, I am so grateful he is my cousin. I have always thought of him as my brother and my friend. I could always tell him my most awful and most wonderful secrets and he loved me no matter what. I don't think GOD could have given me a better friend. I love you Lew, you are always going to be in my thoughts. Thanks for the memories and the love you shared.

To My Wonderful Friend Lew

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:07:00 +0000

Dear Lew,

We became friends quickly, and our friendship has gotten better and better. You are a wonderful, caring person, and we dance the lindy really good together!

Melinda is a wonderful, caring person.

I love you both and am so happy you will always be my friends!

Fran

Posted Comments

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:51:00 +0000

Lew and Melinda -

I am glad we have this page as a way to reach out and say hello. We all know how the story goes, and your opening statement reminds of of a similar chapter in our lives. One filled with kindness, tenderness, sadness and love. The time we have is precious and should always be spent appreciating that fact. Lew, you have been and will continue to be in our thoughts and our prayers. Melinda, thank you for being there to provide Lew with your care. We are all here for both of you.

With love,

Elizabeth, Greg, Patrick, Kathleen and Michael; Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Marta Plumlee said...: Hey Lew and Melinda:

Thank you so much for setting this page up. We fully understand about wanting to stay in touch with people and this is an excellent way to do it. We are both sending you all our love and strength and have been including you in our prayers. We hope that you are able to open those windows and feel the sunshine and breeze on your faces. They give us so much energy and even the squinting will cause us to smile. Enjoy each second, as they are precious. We are so glad that you have gotten to know each other as love transcends all time and space. Know that we are all with you.

Love Marta and Tim; Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Open Invitation

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Tue, 26 May 2009 06:06:00 +0000

As you all know, Dad's [Lew's] cancer is back. It would be fair to say "with a vengeance" His condition is deteriorating daily, rather, hourly. I signed up a page on blog spot for Papa and thought it would be nice if there was one page he could go to and read all your well wishes, etc. He has a hard time doing any thing lately and visiting is something he really has no strength for. He still cant shake his hospitable nature, no matter how big of a strain it puts on him. I think he'd rather not have company than fail his manners when he does. Unfortunately, he barely has the strength to walk 5 feet from the bed and talking for more than a minute or two, leaves him winded. He appreciates all the love and support he's been getting, immensely. I thought that maybe this blog thing would be a simpler way for him to hear from you all and if he's up to it he can post a note himself. You should have all received an invitation to author on the page so you can have access. Let me know If there are any problems. Also please forward the link and/or this email to other family members I have missed. I know that I don't have Christina's, Kathleen's, Marta's or any of the grandkids email addresses.
We appreciate all your prayers, as well.

Daughter of Lantz-alot. How I got here

noreply@blogger.com (Melminda) — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:02:00 +0000

Perhaps, I had a sub-conscious intuition; I sensed something, in retrospect it was a premonition of sorts. After liquidating my apartment furnishings, closing accounts; I packed my Haute couture wardrobe, (ha-ha), various items and sundries; irreplaceable possessions, i.e.: the cat; photos; documents; regrettably some old junk mail, I then hitched a ride-share through Craigslist.com. Christmas Eve of 2006, I traveled from Portland, Oregon leaving behind, "God's Country", (as many Oregonians refer to it), back to smoggy, crowded, covered-with-a-myriad-of-un-Godly materials, concrete and fumes, and my birthplace: Southern California. My original destination was not Papa's house.

On the 23rd day of February 2007 I came to a fork in the road, a twist in the plot (so-to-speak). I zagged instead of zigged this time. Then, 3 days later, Monday February 26, I experienced what must have been what they call a "paradigm shift". It sprang from my Dad's diagnosis that morning. My thinking, my perception of what matters had changed. It was Esophageal Cancer, the "Signet-ring cell" type.

So, this was the monster who was hiding under the bed. The big bad wolf knocking on the door. It had been years without a single thought of the bogeyman..., now he's here and encased in a gaping pit of uncertainty, fear and dread. It instantaneously narrowed my life's focus. Dad's treatment and recovery was paramount. Everything else shrank in the enormity of it.

Who knew? Life would land in San Pedro. A town unfamiliar to me with stranger-faces, far removed from where I have lived and loved. San Pedro is where I would remain for the interim.

Four months of intense chemo treatments began immediately in preparation for and prior to Papa's Esophagogastrectomy that turned into a Colonic Interposition during the surgery and thus, began my education into what it is to "fight cancer". We were informed that although the scans had shown a reduction in the tumor before the surgery, after those initial rounds of intense chemo, that when they attempted to pull his stomach up, in order to close the gap where they had removed all but a nub of his esophagus, the surgeon said that his stomach basically, literally "fell apart". He told me that he had never seen anything like it. This is a guy that only does esophageal surgeries and had come highly recommended due to his expertise. Truth is he is one of the best, next to his Father, the other Dr. DeMeester. I drove through downtown LA every morning to spend the days there with Dad and would come home every night most times in horrific traffic because Papa didn't want me traveling alone in that area around USC after dark. I didn't like leaving him alone there but there was really nothing I could do for him in the middle of night, and would be no good for any one especially if I wasn't getting any sleep.

After the month spent at the hospital, from June 26 to July 29, 2007 we returned the next week for the post-surgery pathology report and the prognosis. Mandy picked us up and went with us. We were told that out of the forty or fifty something lymph nodes that they removed, over 26 were metastasized with cancer. The farthest reaching lymph was the one closest to his liver. This was a stage IV cancer and he told us that it would return in 6 months to a year. He suggested immediate radiation and chemo. This coming from a guy who basically did all but denounce chemo prior to the surgery. Then he closed the meeting by saying to Dad, "I'm sorry but this will come back and you will die from this"

Chemotherapy treatments became our ritual. After allowing Dad 4 weeks to get stronger, it began with a solid month of daily radiation and chemo. Papa handled the surgery and the treatments better than any one expected. He amazed even the Doctors. I nick-named him my "Teflon-Dad". Nary a side-effect, maybe a day or two of slightly increased fatigue but for the most part, he seemed healthier than I myself, was feeling at that time.

September 2, 2008, I started at LA Harbor College. Taking the core Computer Applications Office Technology classes with the legal option for an A.S. in Legal Secretary. This was also the same week that his CEA, cancer markers had gone up, doubled I think in a month, from thirty something to like 75. I'm not sure because I wasn't going with him to the clinic any more and he had a girlfriend who insisted they get married, that said she was a registered nurse on disability. So she had been there with him, I think. Well, the Dr. told him that He needed to start an aggressive regimen of chemo like the first rounds they had given him before the surgery. Those rounds started that next week. I spent the end of that week after class on Wednesday with my best friend Angela and didn't come home. I just assumed his girlfriend would be with him. But then that first week of aggressive chemo, when he was hit pretty hard with fatigue, nausea and the rest of it, she was not around. They broke up within a month and the more he needed her the less she was around. Of course she kept the engagement ring. They got back together and broke up again twice by the first of this year. Meanwhile, it was taking Papa longer to recover after each round of chemo. Just when I thought he was going to see an end to the chemo, only a reduction to, taxotere alone. Regardless, he was eating less and less, and by the end of February, and through march, he hadn't recovered from the last round as he began the next. It got to the point he barely kept down about a total of a handful of food. Spent most of time in his room. Smoking. Tired. I was bothered by the fact that even though the CEA cancer markers were still rising when they tested him in march, they still gave him another round of chemo, and he was still flattened by the one 3 weeks before that.

April 3rd evidence in the PET scan showed that his cancer is back. I've always known that even the slightest blip on one of those scans would mean there is 10 fold more than seen on the scan of cancer growth actually there. By the 7th we realized that it was back with a vengeance. In at least four places including his skin. The following week, I watched the skin lesions grow, morphing into a shape like a crab (hence, cancer) the tumors under his arms were growing as well. His energy was low to none. He had not eaten in weeks and it looked like he may never eat again by the 13th. Thankfully, he has the J-tube for nutrition. Sometime that week we would be looking into hospice. I was freaking out. I hid that from him. He says I have a tendency to "panic". I am not panicking; I have known over two years that this was coming. By the 21st we finally got him on hospice. I've watched a tumor appear about 1/2 inch in diameter and grow to about 5 to 6 inches long, 2 inches wide and at least an inch high on the front of his chest, below his left nipple and down. The skin cancer is perpetually morphing in color and size and looks very angry. He cannot bare anything to touch it, not even the slightest breeze. His mind is still completely sharp but his body is rapidly failing him. He is bloating everywhere. Now absolutely nothing goes down by mouth. All meds are liquid or we crush and dilute in liquid to administer through his J-tube. Tomorrow is our first day of a bath nurse. I've run the gambit of emotions through this. Sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed. As I am getting the hang of what I need to do for him, I am less and less overwhelmed.

I am doing 14 units of school this semester and Finals are only 3 and four weeks away now. I'm way behind but I will catch up I hope, or at least not fail any classes. But once again, my focus, my priority, is Dad and these battles with the boogey man in a war we are going to lose.

Papa and I have gotten close over the past 27 months. I didn't have the chance to know him growing up, but none of that matters today. He told me today that he really likes the person he's gotten to know, that I have changed and grown a lot in the last 2 years. I told him in large part that is because of him. I'm not ready for him to go yet and I am trying to process the reality of what is coming, rapidly. That I am will have to watch my father die. I can't stop it. All I can do is what I am doing, trying to make him as comfortable and cared for as I can.

Reflect-Ability

By, Melinda Marinko

Quietly reflect into the waves
that are crashing on your sand.
Bringing with them an ever-changing power
that is beyond your own hand.

Absorb the mist; the taste;

the smell, the sounds of all you see.

Letting each approach
with a grasp of what has to come....

Then quickly, set it free.

Papa Lew's Page

video montage of papa

From his Granddaughter

Funeral Services for Papa

for your dad's Papa Lew blog

September 21, 1941 - June 8, 2009

Lew

LEW

Update

To My Wonderful Friend Lew

Your Papa Lew

Update On Papa Lew

Comments

hello

Dolly from Wide Awakes, Free Republic & The Right reasons.

Just wanted to say....

More comments posted

Lew

my cousin my best friend

To My Wonderful Friend Lew

Posted Comments

Open Invitation

Daughter of Lantz-alot. How I got here