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Feb. 26th, 2011 10:45 amEighteen months ago, Michael Deets was diagnosed with colon cancer. At the time, doctors estimated that he could expect four or five more years. Now it seems that he only has weeks. The cancer spread to his liver, which has shut down, and he has tumors on his lymph nodes and both lungs.
Michael has kept this very private. He told me that he didn't want to "alarm" anybody. But he agrees that there's no point to that any longer.
He is currently in the hospital, but it looks like he will be allowed to check out sometime soon. Last night, Barry picked me up at my office and we visited Michael. When we arrived, he was downstairs getting fluid drained from his abdomen, which is an effect of his loss of liver function. While we waited, Ed showed up. Then Dayle and Kathy. So when they wheeled Michael back into the room, he had a circle of friends there.
And as we visited, Eddie, Mike, Martin and Allen showed up. Ed had brought ice cream for Michael. i had loaded my iPad with photos from old square dance events, and we passed it around and reminisced. Some of those photos are fifteen years old or more. i also had photos of Baltimore, like the annual lighting of Baltimore's Washington Monument at Christmas. i was surprised when Michael said that he had never attended one of the ceremonies.
i tried not to be too much of a downer, but i did tell Michael how i felt about him and about how much of a difference Chesapeake Squares has made in my life. Michael has worked for the club in one way or another for almost thirty years, i figure. He got involved in 1988. Chesapeake Squares was the safe place that i needed when i was all alone and hundreds of miles from home, back in 1990. i told him what a pleasure it was to work with him, and everybody else agreed.
Michael had prepared a simple will, and the hospital's notary came by to review and notarize it. Barry, Allen and i signed as witnesses. Before she left, Delores bent over Michael and quietly asked him if he believed in God. With quiet conviction, he replied, "absolutely." With his permission, she shared a brief prayer with him.
A few days ago, a group of us had planned to take Michael to Rehoboth Beach, where he has so many wonderful memories. The plan was for him to be checked out of the hospital yesterday and to spend the weekend at the beach. We impressed upon him that we are still committed to getting him there when he feels that he has the strength.
A nurse from the hospice facility visited briefly. Before she left, i spoke with her in the hallway, along with Dayle and Kathy, to get some guidance on how we might arrange the trip. But she also said that she's never seen so many people gathered around one of their friends, and she observed that Michael must be very special.
Eventually, Barry had to leave, so i left with him. He says that he will probably be visiting Michael again sometime this weekend. He'll give me a call if that's the case.
i'll be posting updates here as i get them.
Michael has kept this very private. He told me that he didn't want to "alarm" anybody. But he agrees that there's no point to that any longer.
He is currently in the hospital, but it looks like he will be allowed to check out sometime soon. Last night, Barry picked me up at my office and we visited Michael. When we arrived, he was downstairs getting fluid drained from his abdomen, which is an effect of his loss of liver function. While we waited, Ed showed up. Then Dayle and Kathy. So when they wheeled Michael back into the room, he had a circle of friends there.
And as we visited, Eddie, Mike, Martin and Allen showed up. Ed had brought ice cream for Michael. i had loaded my iPad with photos from old square dance events, and we passed it around and reminisced. Some of those photos are fifteen years old or more. i also had photos of Baltimore, like the annual lighting of Baltimore's Washington Monument at Christmas. i was surprised when Michael said that he had never attended one of the ceremonies.
i tried not to be too much of a downer, but i did tell Michael how i felt about him and about how much of a difference Chesapeake Squares has made in my life. Michael has worked for the club in one way or another for almost thirty years, i figure. He got involved in 1988. Chesapeake Squares was the safe place that i needed when i was all alone and hundreds of miles from home, back in 1990. i told him what a pleasure it was to work with him, and everybody else agreed.
Michael had prepared a simple will, and the hospital's notary came by to review and notarize it. Barry, Allen and i signed as witnesses. Before she left, Delores bent over Michael and quietly asked him if he believed in God. With quiet conviction, he replied, "absolutely." With his permission, she shared a brief prayer with him.
A few days ago, a group of us had planned to take Michael to Rehoboth Beach, where he has so many wonderful memories. The plan was for him to be checked out of the hospital yesterday and to spend the weekend at the beach. We impressed upon him that we are still committed to getting him there when he feels that he has the strength.
A nurse from the hospice facility visited briefly. Before she left, i spoke with her in the hallway, along with Dayle and Kathy, to get some guidance on how we might arrange the trip. But she also said that she's never seen so many people gathered around one of their friends, and she observed that Michael must be very special.
Eventually, Barry had to leave, so i left with him. He says that he will probably be visiting Michael again sometime this weekend. He'll give me a call if that's the case.
i'll be posting updates here as i get them.
