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Photo Album from
Letters for Lizzie
Fall, 1988, Lizzie, before the ravages of illness, with her
little Jonny, born in March.
Jan., 1995, the “Friendship Quilt” made in three weeks by a
gang of Lizzie’s new friends in Huntington, IN. She had just been diagnosed with
terminal cancer, had had one chemo treatment, and her dear new friends wanted her to
sleep with a token of their love.
Jan., 1996,
Lizzie’s heart failed as a result of the cancer treatments. She was unable to
live at home, needing IV medicines to keep her heart functioning minimally.
When surgery to implant an assist device could not be undertaken, Lizzie's
friends from her days as a young mother in New York came to say a final goodbye.
Jeannie, left, came from Texas; Mimi, from Tennessee.
Middle son
Andrew, then 17, me, and Lizzie’s youngest sister Mary, who had left her job as
a children’s book editor in New Mexico to help us all in Indiana.
March 1996.
Lizzie had been sent home to die on February 5, with portable IV pumps that she
wore day and night. On March 8, she was still alive, had made a cake for Jonny’s
8th birthday, and was getting set to party – best she could.
“Spider web”, a
game that our kids loved to play at their birthday parties when young, had to be
set up in 1996 by Lizzie’s sister Ann. Lizzie’s strength didn’t permit more
than looking any more, but she wanted to soak up every precious moment of what
was likely to be her last spider web.
April, 1996.
With Lizzie still alive, we pleaded with her doctors to list her for a
transplant. On April 17,1996, we headed off to the hospital for a three day
evaluation – but with no promises.
May 1996. With
Lizzie weakening in the hospital, awaiting a heart transplant, oldest son Nick,
borrowed a friend’s car and drove down to the hospital -10 hours away – to visit
mom and bring his girlfriend, Sydney, whom he married in 2000.
June 1996, the
week before Lizzie’s heart transplant. She has decorated her IV pole for the
Fourth of July. Mary and youngest son Jonny visit her at the hospital. Mommy,
somehow, has presents tucked away to bribe Jonny to come back.
June 1996, post transplant.
Lizzie’s mom and I check
in on our hero.
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