[JustJo]

Thank you everyone....so much.

I had asked Snack to come post an update when I couldn't yesterday...mostly because you have all been so supportive of me during this incredibly difficult time, and I am immensely grateful to all of you.

I keep waiting for the phone to ring from the hospital to tell me she has passed, even though I know it may not be right away. It's a strange feeling to know that she is essentially gone into unconsciousness and we'll never speak again...but that her body is still there, hanging on for a little longer.

Her decision was to be kept unconscious and pain-free until the end, with hydration and TPN removed. Since she is already going into kidney failure, the end will be very soon.

She has made arrangements to donate her body for medical research on Crohn's disease, since it was 50 years of that disease that set her up for this final cancer that is killing her. She hopes that perhaps doctors can learn something from her that will help others...especially Rooster, who she loves more than anyone on the earth, and who has all of the genetic disposition for Crohn's.

It's the most generous thing she's done in her life....and it still amazes me that she made that choice in full knowledge of what it entails.

I have started work on the scrapbook she asked me to make for my son....with all of the silly pictures I have of the two of them together....wearing funny goggles, sword-fighting, mom in a "coonskin" cap....a helmet....the goofiest hat at Disney....always with Rooster, laughing with him, being his constant willing companion into fantasy and silliness.

The first picture in the book was taken when he was about 2 weeks old....she is holding him up in front of her face...and the look on both of their faces is identical....excitement.