Phil’s Remarks

Phil said some nice things too. See?

Eulogy

Click here to download a .pdf copy of Ron’s Eulogy, which was the most beautiful thing he’s ever said in his life.

Notice

PETERSON, Sheila Mary Sullivan – Peacefully at home May 22, 2008 in Menlo Park, secure in the knowledge that a new presidency is on the horizon. Dear wife of Ronald C. Peterson; loving mother of Molly Peterson, Kathleen Peterson, and Michael Peterson. Beloved sister of R. Lawrence Sullivan Jr., Philip Sullivan, Mary Ward, and Mother Agnes of the Cross O.C.D. (Patricia Sullivan). Marvelous sister-in-law and aunt to numerous Petersons, Sullivans and Wards; close cousin to members of the Wade, Carreras and Sullivan families.

Feast of St. Madeleine Sophie

This will be the last entry on this blog.

Today Ron and Katie and Mike and Molly went to a mass at Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton for the feast of St. Madeleine Sophie. Last night Sheila took her last breath peacefully at around 11:30 p.m., and so today’s mass also served as a memorial to Mom.

We are planning a vigil and a funeral for mid week following Memorial Day. We thank you for all of your prayers, thoughts, and good wishes throughout the last 14 months, and we know that you will understand that we will be in touch when we are able to be.

Coming Home

Sheila’s coming home from the hospital Wednesday, just under a week after we took her there.

After we took her to the emergency room, she was admitted to the hospital, and has been in the care of oncologists, infectious disease specialists, and neurologists. Sheila also has not been very conscious, and for the past several days, has been receiving anti-anxiety and pain medicine, and has not spoken nearly at all.

Tuesday we had a mass with Father Patrick and our family in her room on F-Ground. She did laugh at her children once today.

Her doctors at Stanford believe she may have both an infection in her head port, and a progression of her cancer. The situation means that she’s not a good candidate for further treatment. One of the last wishes she expressed was that she wanted to go home, and Ron, Mike, Katie, and Molly decided to do that for her.

We’ve heard by phone and email from some friends and family, and we’re so grateful for your good wishes and thoughts. Some of you are asking how best to help. We’re asking that you not call the house for the time being, as we’re in a bit of chaos finding a place for Mom, and her caregivers. If you must reach us, try Molly or Katie’s cell phones, or email us; that’s what we can manage.

We’ll try to email with updates when we have them. We’re still grateful for your thoughts, and prayers, and everything else. We feel loved and supported; thank you so very much for that.

Change of Plans

From Cowboy Poet Katie:

Dear Friends and Family:

The doctors informed Sheila on Monday afternoon that there was lymphoma activity on her spine. And they determined to treat it with radiation. Immediately. This displeased The Sheriff to no end.

Today was Sheila’s birthday. This morning, Sheila was taken to the emergency room because of a fall and severe pain. The doctors are keeping her in the hospital – F-3, which is upstairs from F-Ground – and currently we are awaiting news regarding her condition and her upcoming treatment.

Sheila and Ron’s trip to Hawaii has been postponed. Right now, what we need more than anything are your prayers.

Katie and Molly are in town and Mike is arriving Friday night. Mike graduated today from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Masters in Fine Arts degree in poetry writing.

Mike had a great day. Mom has had better. Hopefully, tomorrow.

If you want to know what is going on, check back here, or if you need to, call Molly or Katie.

Love,

Katie
and her typist

p.s. We saw this today, near the MRI room:

No wonder robots are lonely.

Celebrating the Sheriff

Sheila gets a double whammy each year: Mother’s Day is often closely followed by her birthday, or vice versa. 

This year, Sheriff Jackal celebrated Mother’s Day weekend in style: Saturday, we went on a magical mystery tour through the new, improved (“Monstrous and Weird” – Steve Ward; “Confusing, and where are the dried chiles?” – Me) Menlo Park Safeway for a length of time that resembles the average indie movie. Enchiladas were made, in three varieties (beef, chicken, and “medley.” Sangria was made, in one (white). Cupcakes were baked, with frosting (FULL of nutrients, if you consider nutrients to be butter and sugar). All under the watchful eye of the Sheriff, whose eye for violations of social law is keenly calibrated. 

Then on Sunday we took calls from loyal subjects, watched an incredibly ludicrous chick flick (P.S. It Was Long), and ate Fred Steak, Mimi’s Cheese Cookies, Ter and Steve’s Eskimo Pies, and Kasey’s Strawberry Action (I actually missed that part, but I did see beautiful May strawberries going into a bowl, and nobody’s filled me in yet) with Wards, Sullivans and a Growney or two. 

Sheila, Who Must Be Obeyed, has a birthday Thursday…as does a good friend of this blog, Patrick “The Jack” Klafehn. Katie P. will be on site in Menlo Party to celebrate The Jackal (or The Sheriff), and we’ll all be sending good thoughts and welcomes to old age to Patrick. 

We’re glad to hear from you all. Mom and Dad are heading to vacationland next Saturday morning, and Mom’s probably already packing swimsuits (and ziploc bags for swimsuits) as I type. Between now and then, there’s ONE LAST CHEMO DOSE and some Stanford Cancer Center bidness…and I think our cowboy Katie will weigh in. Stay tuned, and stay close, and thank you for all of your calls and food and emails and everything. 

Weekend Highlights

We’re a little less than half way through the radiation treatment and I have successfully gotten Mom to call it ”the zap.” As in, “The zapping seemed a little longer today.” To celebrate two days of NO zapping (zappers take the weekend off) I came to visit. Well, it’s better than nothing.

The highlights:

Chemo #3, Radiation #1

Well, it’s been a busy time around Peterson Manor lately. We had a lovely Easter together – complete with Mike Peterson surprise! (This refers both to what he cooked for Saturday dinner and the fact that he was there at all.) The Sheriff got a badge, and no, that’s not a metaphor. The Sheriff came to the family after The Jackal; she was full of questions and also laid down laws about acceptable behavior. The badge was a silver shiny star obtained at the House of Humor in Redwood City, around the same time we got the piñata. Which was a baby chick. Which Uncle Phil got first whack at, at the Wards’ house for “linner.”

Since then we’ve had a serious development: a modification to the treatment plan.

Jackalstatus

Mom has come out of her procedure where they put the port doohickey in her head. Dad reports she is well, the omiya is covered by a bandage, and she is hungry: he’s hunting and gathering cheese and crackers right now. The Jackal awakens!