Final Good-bye

Dear Friends and Loved ones of Bob and Anita Verbic,

Bob’s sweetheart passed away early this afternoon.  She was surrounded by those who loved her the most: Bob, Lauren, Brian, and, long-time friend, Teri Nielsen.  It was a very peaceful passing.  Once again, the family wants to thank all of you for your demonstrated love and support.  Thank to those who remembered them in your prayers; who called and visited. Especially, thank you to Elizabeth and Jim McHood who went the extra mile to make arrangements for a visit from her horse and dog, Lina. Long time friends traveled from Chicago to spend a few final moments.  These and many more acts of kindness and service will long be remembered by the family.

The funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2013.  It will be held at the church building of:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Prescott Stake Center

1101 Sandretto Drive, Prescott, Arizona.

Visiting time with the family will be made available from 12 noon until 1 p.m. in the Relief Society room.  Services will be held in the chapel at 1 p.m.

A very dear friend has created a beautiful, musical DVD with photos from Anita’s life. Bob is anxious that all be able to view this peek into the life of his eternal sweetheart. It will be playing in the foyer and Relief Society room before the services and again afterward.

In lieu of flowers for those who care to do so, please send a donation in Anita’s name to:

            Good Samaritan Society –Prescott Hospice

            Marley House

            1011 Ruth Street

            Prescott, Arizona 86301-1729

            OR

            Mayo Clinic—Cancer Center

  Scottsdale, Arizona

Marley House Hospice

This past week has seen a valiant battle for Anita, and Bob as well. She was hospitalized last Sunday. She had many ups and downs in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. She has fought a courageous fight and is ready to finally rest. It has been a beautiful honor and privilege to watch them up close and personal during these final days.  Theirs is a love that is eternal and blessed.

This afternoon she was transferred to Marley House, 1063 Ruth Street, Prescott, AZ. [928-443-5400]. This is a premier hospice facility where she will have expert 24-hour palliative care. Bob will be able to stay with her as he desires. It is a lovely facility where family and friends will be comfortable to visit.

We do want to send out an invitation to all who would like to visit Bob and Anita. Marley House has a cozy library where people can gather for a short visit. Thank you again for all your calls. Bob and Anita have felt your love and prayers. They are both feeling the peace of our Heavenly Father’s protective love and care.  He carries our burdens until He brings us Home.

Anita is in the hospital

The past few weeks have seen a wide variety of activity for Anita. Several weeks ago she came home from Mayo Clinic with a feeding tube. She was very weak. Within a week she was up for a few minutes every day, sitting on the deck enjoying the Prescott spring. Another week passed and she was able to walk into the kitchen, with Bob’s help, and sit at the dinner table participating in the conversation.

However, this past week has been difficult. She has a couple of small infections on her skin. The antibiotics were difficult for her to tolerate and required trips to the emergency room.  Then on Friday, she became very weak. Bob brought her to the hospital on Sunday morning. Her feeding tube had come out part way. Monday morning she underwent the installation of new type of feeding tube. She will stay in the hospital until Wednesday. At that time it is expected that she will go to a local rehab facility for a few days in order to regain some of her previous strength before returning home.

Bob is doing remarkably well. He so appreciates the assistance of professionals to help with her care. The ward and many friends have been so charitable in their countless acts of service. Bob and Anita have felt of your faith and prayers on their behalf.

Children Come to Visit

After a 10-day stay at Mayo, Anita came home on Saturday night, March 2^nd, with a feeding tube installed for nourishment.  Within a few days an infection developed and she was in Yavapai Regional hospital from the 6th-8th. The infection was cleared up and the feeding has proven to be easy for Bob to manage.

As a result, during these two weeks she has gained 3-4 pounds of much needed weight.  This has not only helped her feel stronger physically, but has aided with mental clarity as well.

 Her Monday-Wednesday-Friday blood cell stimulant regimen has been improved in that her Monday and Friday shots are now given at home.  

Over the past couple of weeks Bob has had great help at home. All the children, Brian, Diana and Lauren have been able to come. Being with the grandchildren has been wonderful!   Visits from kindhearted friends have been so compassionate and supportive.

The home scene will change now with the family all gone home. Bob has moved his office into their bedroom so that he can work near Anita’s side. Granite Mountain Home Health Care and Hospice is providing some much needed professional services: RN visits 2-3 times a week, bathing 3 times a week, physical therapy 1-2 times a week.

Bob feels extremely blessed to have this wonderful time with Anita.  Caring for her has been a sweet blessing. She continues to be positive, always smiling and thankful for all that is done for her. These days are precious!

Time with grandkids at Lauren's

s

Come for a short visit!

Anita is home again in Prescott.  Her son, Brian, will be there all week. Lauren will come this weekend and be able to stay for the following week. They are all hoping that Diana will be able to arrange a visit as well.

Anita continues to be weak. She sleeps a lot. She is able to eat by mouth. She also has a feeding [GI] tube to help give her the much needed extra nutrients she has been lacking.  She has good moments during the day where she is able to sit in a chair and visit.

Bob stated that while these moments are very precious, MDS is terminal. Her bone marrow disease is not improving.

Because she has good times during the day, anyone who would like to come for a short visit is welcome. [Be sure you are well!] The afternoons appear to be her best time. Bob loves the company and feels your love and support.  As you might imagine this is a very difficult time for the family. Please keep your visits short [20-30 minutes] based on how well Anita may be doing at the time.

Again, a special thank you to every one who has brought food, sent cards, made calls. It means everything to the family. Your comments on this blog have helped Bob feel your love without him having to retell the story several times a day. He always comments on how much it means to him to hear from you. Thank you!

Christmas with Family and Grandchildren

Bob and Anita were able to be with their grandchildren over Christmas. They ate at their favorite restaurant. There photos were shared by Lauren Verbic Wood.

Anita's Diagnosis

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a group of myeloid (bone marrow) stem cell disorders that gradually affect the ability of a person’s bone marrow to produce normal red and white blood cells, and platelets. Without these blood cells, we cannot get oxygen to the body or fight off infection.  MDS is a group of diseases that have many differences and can be difficult to diagnose. With some types of MDS, a person may live with a few symptoms for years, while other types can be life-threatening within months.

Most often the cause of the changes to the bone marrow is unknown. But MDS can also be caused by treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy for other diseases. Anita has received this type of treatment for many years in fighting cancer.  Treatment-related MDS is often more severe and difficult to treat.  Although the type of MDS can help predict the course of a person’s disease, people with the same type of MDS may respond to the disease and to treatment differently.  There is no definitive cure of treatment for MDS. Instead, most people receive supportive care to manage symptoms such as fatigue and to prevent bleeding and infections.

While we could go into more detail about the disease itself, our current concern is with Anita and how she is progressing.  She has been a patient in Mayo Clinic this past week. She is very weak and has difficulty focusing her thoughts. She appears to be free of infection.  It has been decided that she will receive intravenous feeding as she is not getting the nutrition she needs to progress toward healing. This will, hopefully, happen today. It is uncertain when she might be able to return home. When that happens, she will need home health care on many levels. The hospital is helping to make those arrangements.

Bob has been staying with close friends, Dave and Teri Nielsen, during this time. The next few days will tell us much more about her prognosis. Please continue to keep them both in your prayers.

February 22, 2013

Bob checked Anita into Mayo Clinic this week. She was very weak. Her weight was down again. She wasn’t eating.  They started her on fluids and she perked up right away. She was able to eat some oatmeal.  Her communication improved.

She has been dealing with an infected toe that was feared would have to be amputated. But that, too, now looks clear and infection free.  All of her lab work looks within normal ranges.

It is not known when she will be released from the Clinic but they are exploring home health care options. She would qualify for palliative care which is “comfort care” for chronic illness, not hospice.

A special “Thank You!” to those who are caring for their home, dog, and horses. Bob enjoys your comments on this page and appreciates all your thoughtful emails and cards. Please feel free to write them: verbic7@gmail.com

January 31, 2013

Anita’s blood counts this week were mostly good her white counts are as strong as ever and the doctor may even consider reducing her Neupogen [white blood stem cell growth stimulator] shots from 3 to 2 per week.  Except for her platelet count, which has plunged again, her hemoglobin level is holding up better than usual since her last red cell transfusion.

All the recent tests to investigate the causes of Anita’s mental confusion issues have come back negative, which rules out infection, inflammations, etc. There is a frequently used, rather unflattering term, called “chemobrain”, to described cancer treated patients who suffer from mental complications.  They most often improve. 

In late February Anita will have a series of neuropsychological and behavior psychology tests done to further evaluate her condition. They may then decide to start symptom treatment.

Thank you again for all your expressions of love and support.

Bob and Anita at home in Prescott.

Anita has a great love for horses.

Background

Anita’s past health history is already a miracle.  In 1987, when she was 40 she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.  After three opinions, including a visit to Stanford, she embarked on an aggressive chemotherapy treatment and was told she had five years.  During that treatment she was hospitalized in a near death situation.  The doctor at the hospital adjusted the dosage and lengthened the time between treatments which obviously proved successful. 

 In 1992 she had emergency surgery for colon cancer, had a resection performed and stayed in the hospital for eight days. 

In 2003 the Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma returned and was treated with a less toxic protocol that again was successful. Beside a couple MOHS surgeries for basil-cell cancer, there were a few interim biopsies on her neck and back that showed the lymphoma present, but slow growing.

The doctors monitored her until in 2011 action had to be taken again as it was again through her body. The new treatment again had to be aggressive and was successful in eliminating all the active cancer cells.  However, it resulted in a form of bone marrow failure.

 With her stem cells damaged, the doctors at Mayo Clinic are using white and red cell drug stimulants to try to “wake up” and repopulate her own stem cells.  Last year she had nine red blood transfusions, two platelet transfusions and four hospital stays to help her through this ordeal. She has lost twenty-five pounds and is taking a medication to help her appetite, but that has caused an adrenal insufficiency that requires another drug to restore her cortisol level.  She is quite weak. An infection in December caused some serious mental issues. She is better now, but is often confused and has difficulty processing her thoughts and using her memory.

 We have great doctors working with us at Mayo. Every Wednesday we go down for labs and injections, while each Monday and Friday she gets an injection up here in Prescott Valley.  Often we go down to Mayo for other tests.  The good news is that her white counts are better than any recent history since 1987 and her red counts are relatively stable.  The neurology group is working on finding the cause of the mental issues.

 With your continued prayers and Mayo’s great care, we are looking forward to another successful outcome.

 Stay tuned!