New Stake Presidency...

Feb 14, 2016

Our Stake President, Stephen Collings, and his wife Tracy, have been called as a Mission President over the Uganda Kampala Mission.

We had Stake Conference today, I have been wondering who was going to be our new Stake President.

I  had a feeling all month that my bishop, as young as he is would qualify for being there.  I have been praying that Bishop McBride would not be called, for I so needed his help, and right now it is very hard with all the changes that have fallen on my shoulders in the last two months, to loose the one person who seems to know all the crazy things in finances, and my life,  I have to do since Lynn's passing.

When the time came, it was announced that Jason Killian is the new Stake President... I know him and I know he will be great...a young man, but has a deep heart.  Troy May is first counselor,  and Ryan McBride is the second counselor.... My heart sank, I knew it... I cried inside, and felt so alone.

Bishop McBride was asked to speak, he is so spiritual and humble.  I was happy for him, but still very sad for me.  Then Pres. Killian spoke, as I listened to him speak I felt a warmth and a feeling that everything was going to be ok.  I don't know how, but I know the Lord knows how I feel.


Latter in the afternoon, the doorbell rang.  As I answered it, a man and his daughter were there and he was caring a flower arrangement from Stake Conference.  He said it was for me for Valentine day, from the Stake President....I asked the old or new? and he said the new one.

The Flower arrangement was one of the most beautiful I have seen, and stands about four feet high.  I admired it during all Saturday evening session as I sat on the front row with Kim Gamoushio and her husband. (who sang a duet that evening) The Flowers were right in front of me.


Today is also Valentines Day.  I received a beautiful Valentine card from Terry and Cathy Walker, Lynn's brother.  Pauli and James gave me some beautiful white roses that had the most delicate pink trim running on the edges of the peddles.  Launie sent me a text, wishing Happy Valentines day.



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The Struggle ended...

On Dec 13, 2015  Lynn at home passed threw the vail. being surrounded by his best friends, Bishop Ryan McBride, Our Stake Patriarch Cory Grua, Our Home teacher, Cris Reilley, our son David and myself.

Lynn has struggled for at least seven months with the symptoms of Acute Leukemia.  Getting weaker as time continued. He was determend that he wanted to write and finish his life story. Even being very ill the Lord granted his request.  Finishing on Saturday, a week before he left, he took his history to Priesthood meeting to show the brothern that he had actually accomplished the task.

Lynn did not like to miss church on Sundays.  He would dress in his suit, oxygen tank, cane, pillow and go to Sacrament meeting.  He walked slowly, placing one foot just in front of the other, as he entered the church building.  Taking of the Sacrament was very important to him, and needed the blessings it gave.  If he felt he could make it, he would try to attend Priesthood meeting.

On Sunday Dec 13, Lynn informed Bishop McBride, he didn't think he could make church today, and requested Sacrament in our home.  We feel that Lynn actually did make it to church that Sunday, for at 11:30 pm he made it into Heaven.

Lynn in his own way spent  time with each of our children.  He gave father blessings to Launie, David, and Paulette at their request.
As Jennifer had some questions about computer programs he used, life seemed to spark, and he went to his computer and talked with her about them, with renewed interest.
His last Sunday, as he was not feeling to well Jodie, who is a EMT, spent time talking, and working out, the amount of medicine he could use...spending time and talking with him.

Latter in the evening, Bishop McBride came to check on Lynn.  Seeing Lynn was struggling more, he said he thought "we needed to give Lynn the blessing he had asked for earlier in the week".  Bishop McBride went next door to talk to Bishop Grua and would be back soon.  In the meantime our Home teacher Bro Reilley was getting ready for bed, and "had the strong feeling he needed to go to the Walkers."  He got dressed and came over.

As the four Priesthood holders surrounded Lynn's chair.  David was asked to anoint Lynn's head with oil.  Then Bishop McBride gave him a blessing.  In the middle of the blessing with hands of the Priesthood on his head, The spirit flew free.... Lynn slipped into heaven, and we heard his last breath.

So sweet was the present of the spirit, that we  talked and cried for about two hours, before someone suggested that we should call Hospice.  The lady came and pronounce Lynn's death.  Bro Reilley had written down the time when it had happened,  at 11:30 pm. on Sunday Dec 13, 2015.



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Lynn...Leukemia...

Since writing last, Lynn returned to Huntsman for about a week and a half.  Spending a week in ICU
again with Pneumonia in his right lung.  His legs and feet are swelling and turning red, with red spots coming out all around his legs.  Doctors tell me its because his heart is week and not pumping enough to increase circulation.  His kidneys are in the process of failing.  His heart is getting weaker, and his lungs have Pneumonia.  Some one once said you don't die from cancer...you die from complications cancer causes.

His bones are not producing red blood cells or platelets, that is why he needs transfusions as often as three times a week.

Lynn

Oct 12, 2015

I received a message from Lynn on my phone, he is at the Hospital in Tooele, getting his blood checked.
He informed me that he would get only one red blood transfusion today.  I am surprised!  I thought for sure he would have been given at least two red blood transfusions and one of platelets.
at this rate he may not make it very long.  (maybe not four weeks???)

This week I also had a problem with the Sciatic nerve again.  Brother Grua drove Lynn and I to Dr Garg at his Murray office. I received the shots in my back.  I also received a Priesthood blessing from Lynn and Bro Grua, to help with the meds I had received, as I was still in pain.
Lynn wanted to give me a blessing saying "that It was something he could still do, to give a Priesthood Blessing, representing the Lord."  I very much appreciated the blessing.

Today is Oct 18.  Lynn is in Huntsman with pneumonia.  Bro Grua drove him friday night.  Today they moved him from ICU to the 4th floor. Yesterday Dr. Deineger called for a family meeting in Lynns room.  Pauli, David, Jodie and Will came, also Bro and Sister Grua came.

Dr. Deineger wanted to discuss  that it was time for Hopuss coming to the home.  It seemed the only one who objected was Lynn.  I have the feeling from the Dr. that there is not much time left.

This morning, A Jr. Doctor, "WANT A BE" (my term)  scared Lynn by telling him that his kidneys were in the process of failing, and his heart also....and his lungs were worse.  And having transfusions would do no good, that when his time has come, it comes and there is nothing he can do about it.

Lynn was very angry with her... and wanted to go home the next day.  I told him to call Clarisa, Dr. Deineger's nurse and talk to her about where his body is at right now.

I have to make calls and find out about Hospus tomorrow.

Dragonfly...

Today I went to Home Depot in Tooele to get a wire brush and some exterior paint.  Our back door frame, paint, is mostly gone.  Its been ten years since it was painted.  Winter will soon be here, I needed to take care of it.

After getting my supply's, I was on my way out of the store. In the foyer where the shopping carts are kept, I noticed a large Dragonfly trying hard to find its way out.  It was trapped inside in the corner of huge large windows. If I could catch him I could set him free.

Each time I tried he managed to get away from me.  Flying up and down the windows.  On the third try that was close, I managed to cup my hands around him and very gently,  trying  hard not to crush his delicate wings.  Taking him in my hands I headed for the door.  I walked a little ways away from the door because I didn't want him to fly back into the store.

Opening my hands I thought he would rush out as fast as he could fly....but I was surprised to see he sat on my finger....rubbing his head.  I noticed that he lost both of his antennas, bumping into the glass windows.  He must have been very tired for he was in no hurry to leave my hand.

As I carried him toward my car, I thought perhaps he would like to be on a tree branch as there were a few trees in the parking lot.  As I tried to put him on a branch of the tree, he quickly few away.
Free at last...


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New Baby Girl....

Welcome New Baby Girl to our family.... 

Penny Autumn Maughan born Oct 3, 2015 in Phoenix Arizona.  

to Jennifer and Mike Maughan.

Also to Sarah, Violet, Austin, Camaron

Lynn's Illness...June 2015

So much has happened lately that its hard to know where to begin.  After our anniversary in June, Lynn refused to go to the hospital, even though he was not well and struggling to breath.
One Friday he had a scan scheduled at Huntsman Hospital for a regular check.  I told him we were not going home until he saw his doctor or his nurse.

Wanting to get a daytime oxygen tank for traveling, we had to get a doctors consent for insurance to cover it.  Lynn's doctor was not there, but his nurse was.  She informed us that the only doctors here were the ER doctors at the University Hospt.  which was next door.  She also lesson to Lynn's chest and said to get a xray of his lungs, for she could hear sounds in there.

As Lynn was explaining to the Dr why he needed a oxygen tank, I told him what the nurse had said about a xray.  I saw the xray when it came back....The Dr. said it looked like his lungs were full of cotton candy with water in the bottom.  Telling Lynn he was not going any where, they were going to keep him.

Two weeks Lynn was in the hospital, part of the time in the ICU.  Doctors were concerned that Lynn was not responding to the medications they were giving him and needed to get a biopsy from inside his lungs that would tell them what they were fighting, but Lynn was so week that they were afraid he wouldn't make it, as they had to put a tube down his throat to get a sample.

So they decided to put him on two different wide antibiotics, hoping it would give them a break to do the test.  Three days latter they were able to get the sample.  The new antibiotics had started working and the lab was unable to tell what was causing the problem.

Doctors discovered that his Myelofibrosis had advanced to Acute Leukemia which is very serious.


Oct 8 2015

A lot has happened with Lynn's health...Acute Leukemia, cancer of the blood, is very serious, and there is no cure for it.  Basically the bones have stopped producing blood cells and platelets, which one needs to survive.  Platelets only live 72 hrs. So when you receive a transfusion of them, they have to take account of when they were drawn from the donor.  Lynn is surviving on transfusions of Red blood cells and Platelets.

Lynn was kept in ICU for almost a month and a half, with about two weeks being moved to the fourth floor in between.  He was so sick I was not sure if he would pull through.  He also had gotten a infection called Bariese Syndrome.  All visitors and medical staff wore gowns, gloves, and mask.
One of the head Doctor on staff, informed me that Lynn may only have eight weeks to live.  As he is very sick, and with Leukemia, the body will go down.

Lynn is home now, its been going on two weeks. He goes to Hospital in Tooele, Mountain West Medical Center, Mondays and Thursdays.  He was going in everyday has his blood drawn and checked then the Nurse calls Huntsman to find out about transfusions.

Not only have they decreased the number of days to be checked, today he was told the blood count was lowered, so no transfusion today.....none this week... and it will be  four more days before he can get checked again. I am not sure why...