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My dear Rose and all my friends here at CN2,

First of all, Happy Belated Birthday in heaven to Michael. I remember him so well - our lives in parallel across the country. And Jon - your beautiful...

My dear Rose,
Happy Birthday to your sweet Jon in heaven!!! There are so many people whose lives he has touched. Jon has shown us the magic of pure love and purity of soul. Officer Greenwood...

My dear Rose and all my friends here on CN,
I'm sorry that I've been MIA but I am so glad to catch up on all your news. Rose, I wanted to ask you about the fires! Mary Grace, I loved seeing your...

Hi Rose!
How wonderful to imagine you cooking your field roast and veggies on the side. I love how you always cooked like this for special occasions for your guys. You always make your holiday...

Hi my dear Rose,
I miss you. I feel like we need to start a new "Rose' thread in CN. Maybe I will! How are you? Are you OK in these fires and in your berievement? I think of you literally every...

Dear Rose and all our CN community of friends,
I'm sorry I've been away from here for a while - there's a lot going on at home and at work right now, some of it a bit challenging and some fun (the...

Dear Rose,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your dearu friend. "Drained. Grief-stricken. Weary. Prayerful. Grateful" These words crystallise what I feel reading your post and imagining your...

Dear Rose,
I am so sorry about your friend's ALS diagnosis and her recent heart attack. How miserable but oh my, she sounds like such an amazing person! Inspiring. 5460 I am at the cottage and it...

Hi Dear Rose,
I am so sorry about your dear friend. The unpredictable, random nature of loss and suffering just seems huge right now doesn't it? It's all too much sometimes. I am so glad that you...

My dear Rose,
First of all, Happy Father's Day to Jim in heaven. I'm sorry I've been MIA recently. We've been up north at Jim's family cottage which has no internet and then when we got home, Jim...

Hallelujah, Rose, it is done!!!! The phrase "And yet, she persevered." is what comes to my mind. You did it. Well done! It all sounds beautiful - when you're up to it, we'd love to see photos.
...

Hi Rose,
I am so glad that the work is progressing and most of all that everyone on the project is KIND to you. I know you will be so very relieved when it's all done and you have a new bathroom to...

Dear Rose,
I'm just thinking about you. How are you feeling today? Are the workmen there today? Yesterday was a holiday in Canada, but maybe not in the US. For some strange reason, we still have...

Hi Rose, I hope this weekend the weather will be nice and not too hot to sit outside and feel the healing powers of your fountain and nature. I hope that the restoration project will be finished soon...

My dear Rose,
I am so glad that the fountain is running, the work is coming along, that the workers are nice and especially that you had a visit with a sweet dog who returned your love. This is all...

My dear Rose,
Thank you for the updates! I can imagine you sitting outside and finally having the chance to reflect on 'being one' with your beloveds. Even when your house is being demolished...

Dear Rose,
Virginia answered so kindly and wisely. Of course you are not yourself and now is the time be as gentle with yourself as you would be with a newborn Jon or Michael. Because you need that...

My Dear Rose, I echo just what Mary Grace said - your life IS exhausting but I'm so happy that every hour, every day you are closer to being DONE this awful work. You will be in peace. Soon. I am so...

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah that you have a wonderful team that is protecting you physically, emotionally and financially! This is wonderful news. I am so glad that compassion trumps all other...

Dear Rose,
I'm thinking of you and wondering how you are doing today. I'm so glad that your plumber (the Dad) is helping you and of course every day I am grateful for your dear John. So glad that...

Dear Rose,
Here is something to cheer you up from old friends! https://www.facebook.com/ClassicRockers/videos/263345074852359/UzpfSTExNzQxMjU2ODcxNTExODo5NDY1MjI5MjkxMzc0MDc/. Lots of love and...

Dear Rose,
Oh my goodness, I am so glad that you have these dear friends who can help you. What a wonderful family! "Dad" is a kind person and he has passed on his values to all his children. ...

OH Rose, you are my mentor. YOU ARE MY MENTOR!!!! You wrote, "Our home is where we lived, loved, and died. And now I’m going to take care of our home." Rose you have always been a caregiver and you...

Dear Rose,
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and emotions with us. It is an honour and privilege to read and imagine being there with you through these dark days. I am glad that you are...

Beautiful, wise words, Virginia.

Dearest Rose,
I remember researching mould removal companies for you before and there were some that did not require you to move out. I will look again. Here's a company that will recycle med...

My dearest Rose,
I cannot stop thinking about you my friend... wondering if you have slept. Have you eaten? Do you feel the love of so many other parents around the world who love you and thank you...

Ohh man, Rose - some good news and some hard stuff. I am grateful for the good news!!! I am sorry for your aches and pains. A 2 Advil day for you is a really hard day. I LOVE All Creatures Great and...

My dear Rose and Jim,
Oh what a time. Did Nancy text? Did she come? I hope today is a better day, my dear. I am thinking of you. I am thinking of my brother in law too - he went into surgery this...

My dear Rose,
Happy Easter - I loved your card. How on earth did you find time to send a card? I am so grateful for our friendship. I wish there was something I could do to help you especially with...

Hi dear Rose,
Ohhh it is all too much - too much loss, isolation, grief, pain, household chores and worries... So I think it's time to escape even momentarily and enjoy these short videos that are...

Hello my dear Rose,
I am so sorry that poor Jim didn't digest the chicken. I understand that he is wanting some of his youth back - just to have some choices. It must be so hard. But it is you I...

Hi Rose,
Wow, what a life you are living with Jim! It is extreme, that is for sure. Looking after each other - Rose, you are a CARE hero. What strange times we are all living through. Yesterday...

Thank you so much for your prayers and your wisdom, Rose! I am sorry that Jim has been coughing - 2 hours sleep is hardly enough, but we are all thankful for small mercies. I talked to my brother in...

My dear Rose,
Thank you so much for the updates! I have been reading but a little bit out of my mind lately so have been unable to respond in my usual way. My brother in law finally (yesterday)...

Hi Rose,
I'm glad you got a walk outside. Just getting out even for a few minutes each day is so important. Breathing fresh air and seeing nature - things growing. I'm glad Nancy was able to get a...

HI dear Rose
I'm sorry that I've been incommunicado the last few days! We got home from South Carolina just fine and the next morning I woke up feeling unwell. Sore throat and fever but no cough or...

Hi Rose, we are in Winchester VA enroute home. We heard today from Nick's home that he's on lockdown and our Prime Minister has ordered all returning Canadians coming from outside the country (incl...

Hi - question - in the new update, is there any talk of improving the data security? Currently, the forum is not secure and is google searchable (I received a PM from a university friend who had read...

Thank you, Rose and Jim! We are fine - just skyped with Nick and his helper said he was quite quiet today. Nervous, probably. Anyway, he had his favourite nurse with him tonight and so we had a lot...

Hi dear Rose,
We are heading home first thing in the morning tomorrow. Nick is fine, but in isolation for precaution. We'll likely be self-isolating for 2 weeks after our arrival (I hope we can get...

Hi Rose,
I say it again, what a roller coaster life you and Jim lead! Your looming storm and your cancer care reminded me of this NYT opinion piece from Margaret Renkl in yesterday's paper - she...

Hi Rose,
Oh, it is so frustrating that Jim is filling up with fluid again and that he's just not able to take in the foods that you prepare. I'm not clear on how often Jim can manage going in for...

Thinking of you Rose and hoping all is well with you and Jim. Sending much love and prayers xoxo Donna

Hi dear Rose, here is a recipe for sugar free blueberry pie! https://www.food.com/recipe/sugar-free-blueberry-pie-447990. Let me know if it's OK. xoxo Love D

MARK Hyman!!! He is great!

Hi Rose,
We are staying over at hotels for two nights on the way down. Taking our time with lots of stops for Daisy (and us). I think it will be fine - I bought a subscription to Audible books and...

Hi Rose,
I am so glad that Jim felt better enough to eat a good meal!!! That is wonderful news. Don't worry, we are not flying! We are driving down to SC with Daisy. I have alcohol wipes for...

PS: Mike, here's a blog post I wrote in 2013 about the history of braintalk: https://www.donnathomson.com/2013/04/cyber-friendship-love-and-grief.html

Hi my Rose, Thank you for all your guidance for the hospital visit - will do! Or I'll try anyway, Nick has a lot of trouble tolerating anything on his face which is why we could never use a CPAP for...

Hi again, FYI I talk about the friendships forged in BT (Child Neuro forum) in my first book, The Four Walls of My Freedom. It's interesting to think about the trajectory of those friendships and how...

Oh Rose, what a rollercoaster. I pray that the increased lasix will open up some space for Jim's appetite to return. No one could be more devoted and creative in finding solutions for nourishment and...

Oh wow, I remember this!!! I remember too when John Lester left and many of us wondered then too, would our community endure? Being offline during the flood and a couple of other times during times...

Hooray for no cancer cells! Rose, I wonder if the diarrhea could also be caused by the Amoxil? And whether yogurt and probiotics could help. Certainly Amoxil caused Nick and Natalie to have loose...

My dear Rose,
I am home now and have been catching up on all your news. I am so glad that Jim had the drainage! I feel very hopeful that his appetite will come back. The procedure itself must have...

Dear Rose,
What a roller coaster! I'm so glad that Jim (and you) have had some good and happy moments - but it's such a worry that things can change so quickly. I know how important it is for you...

Hi Rose!
I'm just like Mary Grace - I love making apple pies and make my own pastry, using Macs if they have them. Empire apples are a good substitute but any apples will do. In Cat Island, they...

Oh Rose. It must have been so hard to move Jim into Jon's room, but what must be done must be done and there is no one who knows that better than you. Always, you (we) put those we love first. You...

Hi Rose and Funnylegs4, a condom catheter might be a great idea for overnight! It's a bit like using a bedpan and takes a little getting used to but Nick relies on one (for him, during the day), but...

Hi dear Rose.
Jim and I are in Cat Island and settled peacefully. We've skyped with Nick and he is doing great - visits from an old high school helper and also from his uncle (my brother in law) to...

Happy Birthday, Jim! With love from all our family :tennis:*hworry 5352

Thank you so much for the update, Rose. Thank you always for taking the time to tell us (all of us here who care so much about you and Jim) what is happening and why. When I read your thoughts and...

Hallelujah for an orgain shake and a pizza! It made me so happy to read that Jim has a bit of appetite and that John and Nancy are back. Phew. I am so glad that you have some support. Now, my prayer...

Oh man, what a week it has been for you and Jim, Rose! Honestly, it's the principle at work of "what can go wrong WILL go wrong." Hopefully next week with Nancy back, will be much much smoother. I...

Hi Rose,I read this and of course thought of you. https://www.compassionatefriends.org/blog/7-things-learned-since-loss-child/?fbclid=IwAR332iGZ8hq0hTmuUd32WYdR2IEytzx1Mo128XZ6FeKVAh28x0ETtxg6-00.
...

Ohhhh Rose. I am sorry that everything is just piling up on you. It always seems that our loved ones go into emergency mode at 5:01 on Friday afternoon when the doctor is on holiday, when the orders...

Dear Rose,
The longing and sadness for Jon and Michael is so searing, so vivid, Rose. I cannot believe it's been nine months since Jon's death - that is almost a year - how can that be? I am so...

Hi everyone! I'm not sure if anyone is interested in books related to caregiving but if you are, then have a look at my latest co-authored book, The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation...

My dear Rose, Jim and you are being so brave and so loving towards each other. Yes, his words to you made my heart melt! His thank yous.

I'm so glad that the swelling down and that the pain has...

Dear Rose,
Cally and Mary Grace have given you such wonderful support and true friendship. I know you know this, but you are not alone! We love you!

It sounds like you and Jim are working so...

Hi Rose and Callyflower - would pressure socks help at all? You both are the experts here. Rose, I send you so much love and hopes that today is a good day. You are so right - "we can know our body...

Hi Rose,
You are balancing a tight rope between respect for Jim's independence/personhood/dignity and his need for care when his own vulnerability interferes with his self-care. Please don't blame...

Oh my dear Rose, I am so sorry about your rash but I'm not surprised! I remember the last time you had this - I can't recall what particular stress provoked it last time, but I remember your symptoms...

Hi Rose, Oh I am sorry that Jim's vision is failing. I wonder whether a nice big magnifying glass would help? I wonder if watching the The Big Fat New Year's Quiz from the BBC would make you both...

Hi Rose,
How was today? Did the buckeyes win? I am thinking of movies that you and Jim might really like. Two of our favourite British soccer movies are Fever Pitch (with Colin Firth - it's about a...