dad's obit

NORMAN, Jr., William G.
Col., USAF (Ret.)
Col. Norman, age 65, passed away December 9, 2009, after battling Melanoma. Bill will be remembered for his contributions to his family, friends and country. He served as an Air Force Officer for 26 years. While serving he flew the C-130 in Vietnam, T-33 Instructor Pilot, F-111 and A-10 Fighter Pilot, Army Liaison Master jumper with the 82nd Air Borne Div., AF Defense Air Attache' to El Salvador, Director of Intelligence Panama, Diplomat IADB in Washington D.C. After his retirement, he taught High School JROTC for 15 years. He leaves behind Jo (wife), Nick/Hope, Amy, Kelley/Devon, grandchildren Shane and Jessie, family, friends and his JROTC Cadets. He will be truly missed. Visitation on Friday from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., with Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church (5057 Cottage Way, Carmichael). Mass with full Military Honors Saturday 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Cemetery (6700 21st Ave, Sacramento). PRICE FUNERAL CHAPEL will accept flowers (6335 Sunrise Blvd., 725-2109).

They failed to include my brother in the obit. I'll give the step-mom the benefit of the doubt, she's going through chemo right now and more than likely has a case of chemo-brain. I've sent a note to the newspaper to find out if we can change it. I just can't wait until this weekend is over and I can get back to my life.

well, hell

guess it's time to keep track.

Dad sent me an e-mail yesterday, asking me to call him at home when I had time to talk. I planned on calling him tonight, but my step-sister called me first. Basically, he's dying.

He's had melanoma for the past 8 years or so. Had several spots removed, some pretty big surgery on his face. Seems it came back with a passion. He has a couple of skin lesions on his head that I guess he didn't realize was melanoma and so it's turned into multiple malignant melanoma. He's got it all over.

both lungs
both kidneys
somewhere on his spine, hip and shoulder
Liver
gall bladder

He actually doesn't have it in his brain, which is good, I guess. He's in a lot of pain (lungs, kidneys, liver) and the codeine wasn't doing anything for him, so they switched him to morphine last night. When I talked to him tonight, he said he's been asleep for the past 18 hours or so. He said he hasn't slept much in the past week from the pain. He's out of it, his brain isn't working all that well, he has a hard time with his sentences and he sounds exhausted, which makes sense.

He says he's planning on starting chemo as soon as the insurance comes through. They plan on doing 15 minutes a day 4 days a week. I'm not sure how long they plan on doing that for. They say the chances of the chemo working are about 15%.

He turned 65 in September. It's a lot farther than he expected to make it. Says he's not afraid of dying but is having a hard time with his emotions. Don't know what to think of that.

Turns out my step-mother is undergoing chemo for breast cancer right now. She will have her 5th of 6 treatments this week, they are 3 weeks apart. I think all of hers is precautionary as she had a lumpectomy and I guess they got all of it.

Guess I had better tell the rest of the few relatives we have. I'll update when I know more, which probably won't be that often, knowing they way our relationship has gone.