For those of you that would like to know, Dean’s memorial service is going to be on a live feed Sunday, July 12th at 9:15am and 11:00am EST. Please go to: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/dean-morris-s-memorial-service

I want to thank the guys that are working to make this happen. Words will never express how much this means to Dean’s family.

For everyone who have followed Dean’s journey with pancreatic cancer the past 2 years, he lost his battle and went to be with our Lord shortly before 7:00 this morning. He was surrounded by his family when he passed peacefully and quietly. We prayed for a miracle but as a friend of ours said “God needed him more”. But he did answer our other prayer, that Dean would be pain free. We are so grateful for that. There will be a memorial service on Sunday, July 12th at 9:15 am and 11:00 am at the Church at Severn Run.

To all who have provided meals, sent cards, called, and posted on this blog, Chris, Callie and I along with his other family members, would like to say thank you and let you know that we greatly appreciate everything. Words can never express the feelings that I have for each one of you. The love and concern that has been poured out to Dean over these past 2 years has been amazing. Dean has always been an easy man to love and I was blessed with 30 wonderful years to have him as my amazing husband.

Pancreatic cancer is a very cruel disease and most people only get a few weeks or possibly months after their diagnoses but we were fortunate to have 2 years. And they were 2 great years. I thank God for allowing us that time.

Please continue to pray for us as we transition in to this new phase of our lives, the one without Dean. This will be a very hard time but I know that we will have a lot of love and support through it.

We love you all,

Lynne, Chris, Callie and all Dean’s family

I just wanted to give a quick update on Dean. This is very hard for me to write but I feel that our friends, who have been so diligent in praying for him, need to know exactly what is going on. Dean’s condition has deteriorated rapidly over the last few days and he is now under hospice care here at home.He is extremely weak and is now sleeping all the time. He is unable to communicate but we continue to talk to him, telling him how much we love him and what he means to us.

I know many of you want to come by and share your love and support, but at this time we need to limit Dean’s visitors. All of Dean’s family will be coming in the next two days and we would really like to be able to spend this time together as a family to love on and pray over Dean. I do not want to offend anyone, but please understand how important this time is for us.

Please continue to pray for Dean. We are still asking God for a miracle of healing, but if that is not in His plan, we pray that Dean will continue to be comfortable and at peace.

Thank you all for the comments that have been left on this blog. We feel the love and prayers and we love each of you.

Lynne

We went to Hopkins yesterday for a follow up to Dean’s hospital stay and we did not get good news. Unfortunately there is nothing else medically that can be done because his liver is beginning to fail. We are meeting with a hospice group as soon as it can be arranged to provide care at home. This is so that Dean can have the best quality of life and not have to make those exhausting trips to Hopkins for things like hydration, bloodwork and pain management. They will be able to do all that from here.

As you can imagine, this is a VERY difficult time for our family. Please pray first, for a miracle that God would destroy the cancer and restore Dean’s health. But also for Dean’s comfort and strength for our family.

We love each and every one of you and appreciate all your prayers and love that have been poured out on us.

Dean is a little groggy tonight and he asked if I would update everyone, so of course I agreed to do it.

Dean is feeling a little better every day. He had a pretty rough weekend this past weekend. His ammonia levels got too high which caused him a lot of confusion. It was very scary for him and us. I took him to Hopkins and they admitted him so they could run some test and get him started on medication to bring his ammonia level back down. He started to rebound on Friday and by Saturday they sent him home. He continues to improve each day and we go back to Hopkins tomorrow for a follow up visit. Please pray that the liver functions continue to be good and that his ammonia levels will stay down.

We do know that the cancer has progressed since he has been off treatments since the end of April. We are just not sure when he will begin the next treatment process because of the cyst that is still draining and his strength. Hopefully we will know a little more tomorrow.

I want to thank everyone for the prayers, cards, calls and meals. Words will never properly express our gratitude for all our friends and family have done for us. Thank you and we love you ALL!!!

On a side note, 30 years ago yesterday, I got to marry the greatest man that I have ever met. God blessed me tremendously with my best friend and my soulmate. Dean,  I would have never known the love that I have known over the past 30 years if you had not been a patient man. I love you more than words can ever express.

Lynne (Dean’s personal secretary and nurse)

It looks like I may be getting out this evening. The drain that was stopped began draining again ( although slowly). The many test that we done this week have helped the doctors conclude that I do not have an infection. Instead they believe the fevers are due to the tumors. This will change my treatment for the fever.

I know many of you have been praying for my family. For that I am very grateful.

I am very sorry for the slow blogging. I have not been on my computer much this week. Most of my online writing (which has not been much) has been through my iPhone. Which has been limiting. So I have also been communicating through Facebook and Twitter. If you are on these already you can fine me and ask to be my friend or follow me on Twitter. I will continue to blog here, but in times where I can only do short messages I will be using these other means of communication.

Blessings!

Tuesday was admitted to Hopkins again. One of my drains is not draining. They take it out today. The other major issue is an infection. Don’t know where it is or what is causing it. More test.

Please excuse the randomness of this blog. I am using my iPhone and I’m on painkillers.

Thank you for your prayers.

I am sorry this is slow in getting written and posted. So much has happened since my last post. I’ll have to get a backup plan together so that if something like this happens again you will be in the loop.

Last week, after a second day of poor liver numbers we met with Dr. Laheru expecting the worst of news. Instead, we found the reason for my pain and to some extent my fever. There were several cysts on my liver. Those cysts which caused my liver to be enlarged which was pressing against my heart and lungs. Solution: drain the cysts. So on Thursday afternoon I was admitted to Hopkins and had the procedure was done on Friday afternoon following a series of some very serious events.

Once done, I began to have some relief.  My heart rate and breathing began to improve. All in all I ended up staying in the hospital for 7 days. We are home now and nurse Lynne is taking great care of her patient!

Thank you for your prayers. We continue to ask for your prayers for the fevers to go away. Also, for Dean’s strength as he recovers from these procedures.

My liver numbers were down a little but still higher than they should be or can be for treatment. This was concerning to my research team so I had a CT scan to see if they can determine why these numbers are remaining so high. My research nurse, Gina, called this evening to let me know that the scan did show progression of the cancer on my liver. We will meet in the morning with my oncologist, Gina, and Lynne and I to discuss the next direction we will take. It looks like this trial will end for me and we will need to take a new direction.

Needless to say this turn of events are of major concern for Lynne and I. We appreciate your prayers for our emotions and ability to make good decisions in the days ahead. Also pray for my research team & Dr. Laheru as they search to find a new trial.

Thank you for your prayers.

It is always great to get away, but there is something about being home.

What a trip to Alaska! We’ll post some pictures in the days ahead. The trip was a blessing as Lynne and I spent this special time together in the beauty of  God’s handiwork.

Back to reality this week as my treatment has been moved up to Wed. We are asking for prayers for 1) liver blood counts will be down for treatment and 2) the infection in my port will be clear.

Your prayers continue to be a blessing to my family and I.