In lieu of flowers ...

Please send donations to these organizations. Their missions were dear to Nyshie.


Imagination Celebration - provides mostly free, hands-on artistic and creative opportunities for everyone in the Pikes Peak region. Through children's theater, a community arts center serving low-income families, and "What IF... A Festival of Imagination and Innovation" programs, more than 150,000 people participate in Imagination Celebration initiatives each year. www.imaginationcelebration.org


Indigo Mountain Nature Center - is a sanctuary for captive-born wildlife, exotic and alternative pets nestled in the mountains west of Colorado Springs. Indigo Mountain is home to over 70 animals including black bears, sugar gliders, hedgehog, hybrid cats, wolfdogs and coydogs. Each animal is given the space and opportunity to live out their lives with dignity and in a natural setting. http://www.indigomtn.org/

Remembering Nyshie - A Gathering of Family & Friends

Please join Paul Seymour and his family, February 8th at 11am, to share stories and memories of an incredible woman, wife, mother, and friend, Nyshie Seymour. Nyshie Seymour passed away January 27th, 2014. Nyshie has requested a gathering of friends and family. Please dress casually and for the outdoors. Finger food and beverages welcome. Please carpool if possible, parking will be tight. Gathering of Friends and Family in Memory of Nyshie Seymour When: February 8th, 2014 at 11am Where: Seymour Residents, 315 Northfield Road, Colorado Springs, CO For More information please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/229070660609711/

We've lost our Giant ...

Sadly, Nyshie passed Monday (1-27) evening.  She had a very peaceful death.  Just stopped breathing.  No pain, fear or discomfort.  She did it the way she did everything—with grace and beauty.  She looked so much at peace and finally without pain and worry.  I so miss her as I know all of us do.  A dear friend just sent me this, “Death leaves a heartache that no one can heal.  Love leaves a memory no one can steal.”  I thank everyone more than I can ever capture in words for all you have done for her, me, and all of our family.


I will post details of “The Gathering” soon.

Paul

brief update ...

Mom has gone downhill drastically, even from yesterday.  She is sleeping almost entirely.  She has come to for a bit, here and there, seems confused, has a sip of water & then back to sleep.  I think this is day 3 of no food and she's only had a few sips of water today.  She has had some mild agitation, trying to get comfortable but, she has not been in pain, thankfully.  Hospice was coming out to take care of a couple things this afternoon. I haven't checked in with Paul about that so far.

As the reality of her not being with us hits like a ton of bricks we are grateful that she's not in pain.

Thank you all so much for the love & support.
Maggie

Hello to all, Nysh is still with us but it is becoming clear that this will not be for much longer. She took a significant turn for the worse yesterday. She is extremely weak and can only walk a couple of steps, even with assistance. She is sleeping much of the day and eating just a couple of bites. She is still wanting fluids though. Hospice was out and said it could be a few days or a few weeks, but we are entering the last phase of this journey. She truly is so tired of feeling ill. It has been seven years since all of this began and she has been absolutely remarkable in her strength, love, and attitude. She is feeling pretty much at peace as am I. I think we are as ready as we can be. So sad to be losing someone so special. I know I will never be the same without her. Thanks for all the love and support you have shown her. I know this has been the cornerstone of her courage and will. Love to all, Paul

Well, time for an update. Surprise, surprise, Nyshie continues like the Colorado weather, if it’s not to your liking just wait a moment. Uncertain and ambiguous are the words of the day and actually the years. After discontinuing the experimental protocol she began to feel better and gain a couple of pounds. Something in it was just not agreeing with her. When she stopped the medicines she developed edema (swelling of her feet and ankles) which is a sign that the cancer is progressing and her liver and kidneys are getting worse. So, now of course her labs are getting much worse as well. Her CA125 shot up from 833 to 3400 in about a month, the highest it has ever been. Her liver values also shot up again. But, she is feeling much better and has more energy so she has decided to give it another try. We are going to start with one of the medications and add another every few days. There are seven different ones in all. This way we hope to identify which one(s) were giving her trouble. It was actually a bit overwhelming when we saw what her lab values did because it indicates to us at least that this regiment does have power. We were both pretty resigned that the inevitable was coming soon so to see her gaining again was really quite unsettling. It is hard to get our hopes up again on some level, but she is now ready to try again as she continues to beat all predictions. My brother John, his wife Linda and their three daughters came for a couple of days and we had a wonderful visit (see pic below). Nysh’s brother Gene and sister Liz are coming in a week or so. We are glad that she is up for the visits and able to enjoy them. We shall see what happens next. It continues to be quite the journey. P.S. I went skiing in Vail last weekend, first time on skis in about 8 years. Did ok, meaning I only fell once and did not get hurt. It was a nice change of pace for a moment. Keep doing what you are doing. Paul



Leslie, Lynn, BGGN, Lisa & Linda Seymour



The roller coaster continues, of course. Nysh hasn’t been out since our venture to McDonald's and Whole Foods. There is a sense of safety being at home and she really has little desire to venture forth. Some good days, and bad ones, as usual. One thing we did was get a hospital bed and put it in the dining room with some comfy recliners. This has been a wonderful move. Now she can direct all activities without having to yell from upstairs. For those who have not been to our house we have a 9 foot bay window for her to look out of, seeing the forest in the daytime and city lights at night. A wonderful spot for all of us. We should have done this a long time ago. She is very alert and engaged with life and continues to cheer on the Broncos, wearing her Peyton Manning jersey every Sunday. Mostly, we are both at peace with some occasional periods of sadness and anxiety about what is to come. But, overall just taking it one day at a time. She has lost weight again as her edema has subsided with the diuretics. We had a happy New Year with a steak and lobster dinner and then early to bed and late to rise as usual. We hope 2014 brings many blessings to all. Paul