2026 A New Year

I have not updated this site for a year and a half (more or less). 

I'm going to try better in 2026. 

It was a rough time with some great times sprinkled in. So here is a quick catch up. 

Last posting was in July of 2024. 

We had the rest of the year activities with nothing really out of the norm. Holidays were celebrated. Sierra started the series of surgeries on her knees to fix problems from her car accident. She stayed with us during this recuperation time. 

Then there was 2025 For New Years we went to Tucson to see friends. Sierra and I got to go to the Ignite! Sign museum. Something we had wanted to do for awhile. 

Sue was not feeling well and proceeded to get worse when we got back to Phoenix. 

January 16, 2025 - Admitted Sue for Double Pneumonia. While in hospital they did CT Scan and determined that the cancer had returned and was growing. They had to get a quality biopsy to determine what route to take. 

 January 24, 2025 - While in Hospital Sue had a stroke centered in the language area of her brain. Luckily they caught it with the telemetry and quickly intervened. Needed some language training but was not a real bad case. 

 January 29, 2025 - Biopsy concluded, Results would be that the cancer had returned. Instead of Grade 1, they said it was Grade 2, but they will treat it like it was grade 3. More invasive and aggressive. 

February 2, 2025 - Sue did NOT want to spend another birthday in the hospital. They released her the day before. They had run tests and the cancer that everyone thought was slow moving and very treatable had mutated, it was now aggressive. But Sue was able to have her birthday at home. 

April 1, 2025 - Sierras Birthday. Theresa, Mike, Sierra, Sue and I had a wonderful dinner at Stuart Andersons Black Angus. It was very fun and Sue really enjoyed it and the food. On the way home Sue wanted Ice Cream so we stopped at Brusters. I got a LARGE Death by Chocolate Milk Shake. The lid popped off and I got Milk Shake over a fair area in the front seat including Sue. She laughed real hard over that. 

April 5, 2025 - Sue tired, asks for her favorite Mexican Food, Sierra and I go to Top Shelf and pick it up, I ask for a Pepsi. Since she had Covid, she could no longer enjoy Pepsi Cola, said it tasted awful. She didn't drink it a lot, but it was a treat. After her last stroke she found she liked it, but only with Mexican Food. She really enjoyed her meal and her Pepsi. 

April 6, 2025 - Evening. Sue became unresponsive. We suspected a stroke and Sierra called 911. Sue didn't want to leave. I think she knew this was the last time she would be in her beloved sanctuary. She was taken to the Hospital. We stayed with her all night. They rehydrated her and other than showing signs of another stroke she was very responsive. In the morning she insisted we go home and get some sleep. She whispered, this is really bad. I told her yes, this is really bad. 

April 7, 2025 - After getting some sleep and taking care of the Cats, we went back. Theresa joining us at the hospital. Sue has a fever of 103 and has Septis. 

April 8, 2025 - Sue insisted I get the income tax done, she normally does it, but hadn't been up to it. I took care of it. 

April 9, 2025 - Hospital calls in morning. Sue combative, ripping her oxygen off, saying she is tired, she is ready to go. We get there, try to keep her calm. They strapped a Bipap on her so she can't get it off. Hard to hear when she talks. We call her stepsister Gloria in Flordia, tell her she needs to get here as fast as possible if she wants to see her sister. We let all our friends and family know as well. In the evening, a new pulmonary tech comes up and says Sue is holding oxygen good enough we could put her back on her canula for a bit. Then it was like a switch was turned on. There was Sue. Talking, making jokes, laughing. Kat and Scott came down from Flagstaff and spent time with her. Nancy came in from Tucson and spent time. Then the tech said, we had to put her back on the Bipap. The switch turned off, our window was gone. We headed home expecting to get a call at any time. 

April 10, 2025 - This was our 31st. Wedding Anniversary. Hospital called, said we had to come over. Sue was slightly responsive, could nod her head, but we could not tell what she was saying because of the Bipap. Our friend Donna showed up for a bit. Sue was no longer responsive and fighting hard for every breath. We kept her from ripping off the mask, she was so strong! Gloria was able to make it and talked to Sue a bit, we said our good byes and told her to go ahead and go. Her stats dropped down. Sierra and I were holding her hand, we felt her leave, ten minutes later her body shut down. Roughly around 7:00 PM. My Brother Mike came by, it was nice to see him. We believe we were given a miracle the night before. We had Sue, we had closure. We dutifully took care of all the things necessary when some one dies. Sue had already picked out the Urn she wanted, so that was taken care of. Sierra was still recuperating from her surgery so we got to spend time grieving together and keeping each other going. 

We had family in Florida that was going to graduate from College the first of May. Sue had wanted to go to it so much, but we didn't know whether she would be able to. We also know she would have wanted us to go. So late April we flew to Florida. It was a bittersweet time, but we did enjoy the trip and seeing Aimee graduate. We got to ride the Brightline train for a bit. Visit a wildlife reserve. Saw many, many alligators. It was a welcome relief, we still grieved, but we had a good time. 

 

 Next up was my birthday, May 25, 2025. I spent it in Flagstaff with Sierra, now back to her home. Spent time with friends, went to the new attractions at Lowell Observatory. 

 

Went to Wupatki and Sunset Crater. Then on the Fourth of July Sierra and I drove down to Tucson and visited with friends. For the weekend we drove to Tubac and Tumacocori Mission. Really enjoyed visting them. We went to Tombstone and explored the Court House. Stayed in Benson so we could go to Karchner Caverns. Had breakfast with friends. Then went through Colossal Cave in Tucson. Then we headed back to Phoenix. September 18, 2025 - Our old sweet Musette. Mom cat to all our other cats, had to cross the rainbow bridge. It really hurt. Musette was really affected by Sues loss and she often wanted to be comforted. 

November 10, 2025 - Sierra flys to Denmark for a week with a friend. She had a great time. Thanksgiving 2025 - We had Thanksgiving at Theresa and Mikes. It was a real nice get together with very good food.

Seattle Trip. Day after Thanksgiving Sierra and I took off for Seattle. Just because. Flew in and took the light rail into town and (AT LAST!) I got to ride the Monorail up to Seattle Center. A quick walk and we were at our home base. Next day we met up with an old friend and went downtown. We walked to Pike Place for lunch and to shop. Then we walked to Pioneer Square and took the Underground tour. A really fun day. Sunday we went to the Museum of Pop Culture MOPOP. Spent hours in there. Early evening we went through the Dale Chihuly Glass Garden and really Glass Art nerded out. Monday - Monorail back to Light Rail to Seatac to Phoenix. Another great adventure in the books. Note that videos for a lot of these adventures can be found on my Facebook Channel My PHX Oasis. Also check out Fulkerson Foodies on Instagram for our more gourmet quests.  

 

 

 Sierra came down for Christmas and New Years. We did a lot of exploring around the Phoenix Metro area, some old places like the Brass Armadillo, some new places like Organ Stop Pizza. We kept busy. Had a great New Years Day party with friends. And now you are caught up.