Thursday, October 3, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Thank you!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Remembering Barry ** June 9, 1954 - June 14, 2013 **
Barry Charles Ress died at home June 14th after bravely suffering through the decline of ALS for over two years. He made it a few days past his 59th birthday and almost to our 351st month together. Thursday 6th was our last candlelight (electric) dinner together then a show in the living room with Barry controlling the remotes. He was still managing the Netflix queue ,which I decided was an indication of quality of life. That ended the next day when he took a turn for the worse after starting a fentanyl patch. He woke me up and insisted I remove it at 5am on Saturday and looked like he was going to die the day before his birthday. He improved and I read him his birthday cards the next day, but he slept most of the day on his respirator. Then Monday 10th he surprised me by insisting on getting 4 cans of nutrition after a 3 day fast.! He was always persistent and clearly loved being alive. He did not complain about his fate or act angry. He was an undemanding patient and made it easy for me to care for him at home. He was mostly comatose wednesday , but when I kissed him and told him I loved him he opened his eyes. He was breathing peacefully on his respirator. He managed Thursday 13th to type out “I love you with all my Heart” on his ipad. It took him an hour. I was very moved. We have had a good life together with many adventures backpacking, traveling and building our house at sea ranch. Barry loved being at oceanwave and would sit on the beach for hours everyday and enjoy the ocean in his special spot at the end of the beach. He will be cremated and go back to his special spot. Barry has many wonderful friends who showed their love to him. He was a champion of the underdog and in his nurse practitioner career took on some of the most difficult cases: aids patients at the county hospital and clinics, kids in juvenile hall, seniors in a skilled nursing facility, and inpatient palliative care patients. There are many people who are thankful for his life. I will miss him greatly. Donations in his memory can be made to Friends of the Oakland Public School Libraries 5945 Johnston Drive, Oakland, Ca. 94611 or on line at fopsl.org. I hope to arrange a celebration of his life in the future. Thanks to all who have made Barry’s life wonderful and who supported us in its end. Special thanks to daughters Tasha and Kate, my Dad and siblings and Barry’s sisters Lee and husband Gary, Martha and husband Lee and cousin Judy and the rest of the Ress clan.
Love, Chip Rath
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