OXYGEN --- We met with the hospice nurse the other day and now Oliver is on oxygen as needed, however, Ed noticed that his normal coloring came back after he was on the oxygen for a while so he's been on it for longer periods of time now.
MOBILITY --- A sweet friend, Sharon, made some Christmas tree sugar cutout cookies and brought over all the stuff for decorating them, so that is what we as a family did tonight. Ed's brother, Danny and his wife and kids made some as well. Afterward, Ollie wanted to take some cookies over to our neighbors house. He had a hard time walking next door so Ed went and got his wheelchair to help get him the rest of the way there. It's hard to see how much mobility he's losing. I love to see my kids want to help give things to our neighbors and others. It makes me feel like I'm doing SOMETHING right. I told Eden today that Christmas is about giving. It's about doing for other people and making people feel special and loved. I sure hope my kids 'get it'.
FEAR --- Oliver has been saying that he's scared all the time now. Just out of the blue he'll say it and I know he's referring to the fact that he's scared of living forever. I know how things are scary when you don't know exactly what it will be like, so I tried to tell him that he will be alright and I also said, "Ollie, you're tired here, right? When you are in Heaven, your body will never get tired. Your body won't ever need to take a break and rest. You will be a perfected being. I don't think much of what I say helps him much because the next day he says he's scared again. Sweet boy... I just don't know what else to do for him.
HUMOR --- Through all of the frustrations with his body not working correctly and being scared and having so many questions, he STILL has his sense of humor and that great laugh and smile. It's been hard getting photos of his smiles because he'll see me taking a picture and stick out his tongue or make a goofy face. Little turd. He's so funny with some of the things he says. Oh..... I'm gonna miss that.
22 comments:
Hi Stacy,
I don't know you or your family, but since hearing about your struggle, I think about and pray for you often. My heart breaks for your little Ollie. I'm sure he is scared and that is awful beyond words. My heart also breaks for you. I can't even imagine how painful this is for you. Thank God that Ollie has you, with your strong faith to help him through this. It sounds like you're doing everything you know how to do to help him. I keep praying for your family. Sending lots of love from Muscatine, Iowa.
Sincerely,
Jennifer DeFosse
Oliver and family,
We are from Southland High School in Adams, MN and we want you to know that we are praying for all of you. We heard about your journey through a former teacher from Southland, Angie Carlson.
The students in Mrs. Jakubek's class were really touched by your story, and they are so proud of how strong you have been. Sometimes, life doesn't make sense, but we know that you have touched so many people's lives in your short ten years!
May you find contentment and peace right now and continue to live each day to the fullest. God bless all of you.
Katie Jakubek
Southland High School
Adams, MN
Stacey,you are an amazing mother. God bless you!!I have commented here before,as my godchild has been diag.with DIPG this year.I as a mom ,just could never be as strong as you.I just hope you know how much you and your beautiful Ollie have touched our lives,peoplke you've never met. May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas together. Sending love and prayers your way.
Dear Stacy, I know you don't know me I found your blog through Sadie Huish's and have been following it for awhile now. I certainly have no answers for all the things that are going on in your mind at the hardest time in your entire life but I do want to tell you this. YOU are a great Mom you are doing what feels right for YOU and Your family we are all different and we all handle things differently don't compare yourself to someone else and if somebody says something that offends you or makes you think your way is not the right way don't give them the satisfaction of having their thoughts have free rent in your head. Do the best you can do make the best memories you can, rely on Heavenly Father when you can't take it anymore. Be proud of the way you have raised Ollie and you have every right to grieve and be angry. Then when the time is right and you feel some sense of peace after what you have gone through, you will be able to see all the good things people see in YOU and you will be able to stop being so hard on yourself. Enjoy the precious time you have with your little angel and your other sweet children. Leslie
You, Stacy, are an amazing, and wonderful Mom. I cannot say I can even compare to the pain, hurt, frustration, and hope that you've been experiencing. I think about you all quite often and think just how much I feel for you. I wish there were the perfect words to say to make you smile. I try to always help others in tough times by making them smile, but I never come up with much. I just think your little Ollie is an amazing soul. He has helped me realize how important it is to make sure to help and give to others. I think that is just great considering I'm an adult. Everyone should live with his mindset. It's just amazing. God will have him to great things I think. He's already an angel. I pray for you. Much love to you and your family.
Angela Bergman
My daughter talks of Oliver a lot, she asked I'd tell you to tell him hello, she's 5, and a diabetic. Her name is Aanah.
Again, take care.
Glad to hear he's still smiling and enjoying life. :-) You've got the sweetest kids.
This momma's heart is breaking. I don't know what else to say, except that Ollie is loved by so very many people. He is truly an angel here on Earth. I'm on my knees...
Jackie Cooper-Galey
Read a Great book the couple months ago called Heaven is for Real. Maybe this will help Oliver not feel so scared. Short book and easy read. It is a little boy who had surgery and his experience of 3 minutes in heaven. Based on a true story. Prayers to you and yours. God Bless!
Stacy, my heart goes out to you and your family. I was trying to think of something to ease his fears. Have you heard of the book, "Heaven is Real For Kids"? You might want to look at it and see if you think it might be helpful. The reviews are very good among believers.
Is Ollie able to use a computer or is he too sick? If he is I would like to help him send some greeting cards so he will feel he had reached out to someone. My name is Renee Fox and I live in Branson, MO. My email is reneejfox@gmail.com. Please let me know if there is anything I cam do to help. Praying for you and Ollie.
I love you guys although I don't know you. I have been praying for you all. I heard about your family from a friend of a friend. I sent Ollie a card. I wish there was something I could do for you and your family. God that sounds lame. Anyway, hugs.
Oliver and family,
We have been reading the blog. We wish you and your family peace. We will be thinking of you in the next weeks.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dave and Julie Sproull
Winthrop
Ollie, Stacy & the Palmer Family,
I heard about your story from a parent at our school in Johnsburg, Illinois. Yesterday our middle school along with two elementary schools in our district made Ollie over 1,000 heart felt Christmas cards. They should be to your home tomorrow or the next day. I am so sorry for your painful journey :(. It is a terrible struggle but you may find in the future that it was uniquely beautiful in the way that it touched so many. Ollie's impact will be greater than most of the rest of ours. It will last forever in the lessons of compassion, strength and courage which will be passed down by those who listen and live his message.
Please understand that Ollie will be welcomed by so many others that you won't have to worry about him, he'll be in good hands.
With the greatest respect and love,
Tom
Ollie, you are my new hero.
Your new friend,
Amy S. Petrik
Tyndall, South Dakota
PS: I am a professional artist and am mailing you some of my art work to cheer you up!
God Bless.
I prayed today for the first time in over 10 years. And I prayed for you and your family. Thank you for your beautiful story and I will continue to pray for you.
I wish Oliver the best! I don't know if there is enough time, but have you heard about Dr. Burzynski? He has had success with certain inoperable cancers like Oliver's. There is a documentary about it:
http://www.burzynskimovie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94
http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/
i wanted to post something, but I don't know what to say. We want so much to be able to spend time with ollie...but I feel that this time is for you. Please let me know if I am wrong...I just know how preciouse your time is with him. I cry when I read these things and when I talk to the girls about Ollie. We love you all so much! Maybe we can do a movie night?
I don't know any of you, but theres a thing going around on facebook to send Oliver christmas cards. I'm not able to send one, but i'd like to say Merry Christmas to Oliver and to tell him to stay strong. And Merry Christmas to the rest of your family. I hope everything pulls through. I'm praying for Oliver and for your family. I wish you all the best.!! <3
I prayed for Oliver and your family. I'm not going to pretend that I know what you're going through because I don't. I lost my uncle from pancreatic cancer last year and my Grandmother from lung cancer 3 months ago and I do know that seeing someone you love become so ill is the worst kind of torture a person can imagine. Oliver looks to have such a beautiful spirit. God bless him and your entire family.
To Stacy, it's hard to imagine the feelings you have to deal with on a daily basis as you watch Oliver's illness slowly do it's damage day by day. We continue to pray for Oliver to be healed,and for your family to be embraced by Christ's blessings. As a survivor, I can empathize with Oliver's fears and pray he stays as strong as possible in the jouney to come.
May the Lord keep you strong...
Stephen Logan
Stage 4b / chemo survivor
fire fighter
p.s. if he feels up to it, I'm sure the brothers and sisters of the Waterloo F.D. would be more then happy to take him out...
Stacy, I really cannot imagine what this is like, like you said every family's journey is different! All I can say is I literally think of you all EVERY day, I pray for Ollie constantly. Just wish I could hug you all, instead I send my love, my thoughts, and my prayers!
I feel alot like Krista. My heart goes out to all of you. I dont want to intrude but if ever there is something you need dont hesitate to call. We love you all and your in my prayers.
Stacy,
I want you to know that you and Oliver have touched so many people's hearts. You and your entire family are in my prayers every day.
Donna
Rochester, MN
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