Shell

[Jim]

Friends, Family, I have some news regarding our resident redhead.

I spoke to Rich tonight. He's Shell's brother. She isn't doing very well at the moment.

As you know, she has been in Hospice care for a while now with nurses taking care of her in her apartment. She took a turn over the weekend and has been admitted to in patient Hospice care. The nurses told Rich that she does not have long. I don't have a whole lot more information to share at this moment. Based on what I was told, I doubt it would be a good idea to try getting her on the phone at the moment. Honestly, I would expect her to be furious with me if/when she finds out about this thread. I'm more than willing to take the hit on that.

Michelle isn't a religious person, but, she does believe in something. If you're the praying type, I think now's the time.

[Gimpy]

she has been on my prayer list for a long time!

[Ben]

She's in my prayers.

[martycanuck]

Even though I knew this day was coming yesterday was a day it hit me particularly hard.

[Drea]

Thanks for letting us know, Jim. I can't imagine how hard this is for you as well. Please know that she is in our thoughts and prayers.

[glennfrommars]

I just spoke with Rich, Shell's brother. He said that around the 1st of Sept. Shell had driven to N.Ky for lunch. Which was a few days after I last spoke to her on the phone. Shell sounded very alert and "chipper" then. Rich was out of town and received a call from their Mom saying she needed medications and Shell refused to take her to get them. Rich received a call on the 7th from the home hospice nurse saying they had come in to to find Shell disoriented, had not been out of her bed, falling asleep mid-sentence, and she was not taking her pain meds or eating. It was decided that she needed to move to a hospice care facility. I mentioned that I had texted, but not received replies, he said that he could pass on any message, but that currently, Shell is not responsive enough to reply.

[Jim]

Thank you, Glenn. Rich relayed much of that information to me, but, it slipped my mind by the time I sat down to write it out.

[Debbie]

I’m very sorry to hear about this, even though I knew this day would come. Sending prayers.

[Char]

There was a message from Shell on my machine when I got home from Roseville. I'm SO sorry I wasn't here to talk with her.

Shell called me sometimes twice or three times a week to chat. Since I'm on the left coast I was the only one awake when she couldn't sleep. We spent many hours chatting on into the night. I got in on ALL the family stories. Just YIKES is all I can pass on. I do believe I was able to provide a bit of comfort by just listening and letting her vent. 

[MalcolmR]

Thanks to all of you who have been helping her.

[Jeannette]

Even though we all knew it was going to happen it doesn’t make it any easier. We are a family here and we’re losing one.

She’ll helped me through a lot of stuff over the years, I will always cherish that. I will kiss her.

[Nathalie]

She's been in my prayers for a long while. I was hoping the reason Shell had not touched her blog in days was because her life was uneventful for a change. I am really sad I was so wrong.

Thanks for letting us know Jim and Glenn.

[Gimpy]

I've spent more than a few hours on the phone too and made a couple visits. Shell has been on my church's prayer list for about 4 months.

[Juli]

Could one of you who talks to Rich make sure we know of the funeral/memorial arrangements as soon as possible? If it's on a weekend day, I'll want to go.

[Jim]

Sept 15, 2018 14:54:52 GMT -5 Juli said:

Could one of you who talks to Rich make sure we know of the funeral/memorial arrangements as soon as possible? If it's on a weekend day, I'll want to go.

In talking with him last night, he wasn't sure where her will was located. Not surprisingly, they hadn't really discussed final arrangements. She told me many times, long before she got sick, that she didn't want a funeral. She wanted a bonfire and a kegger.

At times, she acknowledged that her mother would likely insist on a traditional Catholic funeral. Depending on her mood that day, sometimes she would  say she's willing to compromise on that while other times she would talking about giving her mother one last F.U.

It's a shame, really. Her entire family is toxic. I'd say 90% of the stories about her mother are true. Rich is hard headed, but, I do think he's the best person to handle things at the moment. (He's still dealing with his son's drug and mental health issues, too). I never spoke to Trish when she was sober. Brandon still has his head up his ass.

Unfortunately, it's likely that there isn't any life insurance. The last policy I took out on her was canceled when I changed jobs. Likely, the money that I gave her when she left is gone. She may be flat broke. As we all know, funerals aren't cheap. Still, whatever information can be passed on will be.

As for my attendance, we had talked about it a while back and I don't plan to be there for a variety of reasons. Between my own hangups regarding funerals and religion and being the villain in her final story, I think it would be a bad decision all around. I'll likely take the day off and cuddle with our dogs. 

[frodi]

I don't know what to say. Apart from that one afternoon 4 years ago that I met with Jim and Shell in the flesh I've never had any conatct with any JADites. Yet she always seemed to be up and ready for it. My thoughts are with all concerned.

[Debby]

I've been trying to think of what to say and all I can come up with is, I'm sorry.

[Char]

Shell and I discussed all aspects of final services from her ma's desire for a formal service, to cremation, to donating her body to science. The last I heard she wanted to get one of those boxes containing a tree, have her ashes added to the box, and the tree planted. She didn't tell me if she went ahead with that idea or not.

[Jackie]

Like others have said knowing this day was coming doesn't make it any easier. {{{Hugs}}} to you Jim.

[Dan]

This sucks. How many have we lost already, and now Shell isn't looking good.. Damnit...

[annette]

What? Oh No....Prayers for her and the family.

[Ben]

Please keep us updated.

[glennfrommars]

Um, Shell just called. She is back home. She didnt like the food.

[Jim]

Yeah, she called me, too. She's not happy that I shared what Rich had to say. She saw my post on Facebook.

[Gimpy]

I thought she sounded pretty good. She said the doctors give her 2 to 3 weeks

[mank]

Prayers for Shell.

[Stan]

I'm just waiting for Shell to log on and kick everyone's ass for having this discussion.

[Jim]

Sept 17, 2018 9:14:20 GMT -5 Stan said:

I'm just waiting for Shell to log on and kick everyone's ass for having this discussion.

I figure she's just going to haunt my ass after she passes.

I probably deserve it.

[Char]

I dreamed abut Shell all through last night.

Shell, you should be glad we care about you.

[glennfrommars]

Sept 17, 2018 9:14:20 GMT -5 Stan said:

I'm just waiting for Shell to log on and kick everyone's ass for having this discussion.

She was here last night after I spoke with her.  She may be relacing her boxing gloves.   



/edit:  She may have logged in via phone. Something was said about her computer having troubles.