We’re Bringing Lina Home
It’s been a rough few days for Lina and for us.
Lina’s condition has continued to deteriorate throughout the past week. Biopsies confirmed that the aGVHD has returned and is wreaking havoc with her GI system again – causing severe damage to her colon. Friday morning the hospital called me in Maine to see what time my girls and I would be arriving in Boston. I said between 5 and 6pm. They said “that might be too late.” We rushed down to Boston and spent the day and night holding Lina’s hand and talking to her. Maybe she can hear us – but she’s completely unresponsive to us at this point.
Saturday, Dr Armand and the whole transplant team met with Chloe, Moriah and I. They were very gentle and kind to us – but were very blunt about Lina’s poor prognosis. “We don’t think we are doing her any favors to continue treating her,” they said.
Last night Lina’s brother John and his wife, Terri and daughter Aja arrived in Boston from Texas and we all met together with the Dana-Farber team again this afternoon to let them know our decision – that it’s time to bring Lina home.
We are all back in Maine now – 8pm Sunday night.
Monday morning they will remove Lina from all medications, IVs feeding tubes, and life support – then bring her home to Maine, by ambulance. Hospice will start helping us later on Monday.
Dr Armand said that without feeding and water, Lina might last a day, or a week at most – but that it was time for her to let go.
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Dear Craig,
I am so sorry that it has come to this. It’s been a long journey that you have all traveled with immense courage, hope and fortitude, I wish there was a better destination. You have been amazing, you have done everything you could do and more, Lina fought to the end and you supported her every step of the way. I am awed by your courage and endurance.
Please let me know how I can help these next few days. I have a work commitment tomorrow morning but could be there by noon, or available for errands if there is anything I can do.
Love to you all,
Danuta
Craig, Chloe, Moriah,
Words cannot express my heartache. I am here for you in anyway I can. I am home and available.
Love to you all,
Sandy
Dear Craig, Chloe, and Sweet Moriah,
We are so saddened by this situation. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time. Please know we are thinking of you all during this upcoming week and are here if you need anything at all.
Kevin & Anne Bosworth
dear chloe, moriah, craig,
thinking of you as you make this last journey with lina, helping her let go, with your love and support for the leave-taking. may you always be there for each other as you are there for lina. you all have inspired me with your courage and patience. courage for the journey ahead.
love,
natasha mayers
Dear Chloe, Moriah and Craig,
My heart is very heavy with this news. You all know that I love my buddy Lina and would do anything to make this easier for her and for each of you. Please know that you are in my thoughts and I am here for you through this time of transition in Lina’s journey.
Please keep us all posted on anything that we can do to help you.
Love,
Joyce
Hey you guys,
This is so hard. I’m glad you’re together and home. Please call on me, Bruce and Skye for anything.
Love,
Hannah
Dear Craig and the rest of the family,
Of course this is very sad news to hear, but everyone’s certainly done all that could be done. I hope things are as peaceful for Lina as possible now that she’s home, and I wish for the very best that we can possibly wish for.
My warmest thoughts are with you all,
Jeff Schwartz
I am happy for you all that Lina will be home with you, even if only a short time. I’m sure this time is difficult and dream like and I wish you all strength and peace. You all have a very large extended “family” and know that we are here for you in any and all ways we can be. Susan
Craig, Chloe, Moriah,
We are so very sorry for all that you have been through. Your strength and courage have been remarkable and it’s so unfair that it has to end this way. We are here for you anytime.
Stephanie and Pete
Dear Craig,Lina,Chloe and Moriah,
We love you all so much. Your courage,strength and hope has been relentless. We are always here for you and the girls.
With love,
Brooke,Bailey,Deedee,Brynne and Kate
Craig, Chloe and Mariah,
I look at the photo of Lina on this website and that is how I’ll always picture her. I remember when Lina was first diagnosed and she told me that she was going to fight for every day she could until she didn’t have anymore strength. And she has been so strong as have each of you. May her transition be peaceful. I can see that strong little body just soaring…..I hope each of you will do whatever you need to do in the coming days. There’s no handbook on this. I’m out-of-town until Friday but I’ll check in with you then. My thoughts are with you all.
Love,
Joan
Dear Moriah, Chloe, and Craig
Because of you, Lina’s spirit soared while her body struggled to live. You are truly enlightened. We wish you and Lina much peace at home. We are with you, Mary and John
Oh, Dear Ones, I think of you and hold you in my heart — Lina, Craig, Moria, Chloe.
Dear Craig, Chloe and Moriah,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I am glad that Lina will be at home with you all. I have been amazed with her courage and strength as well as yours and I know you will remain strong during this next period. I am available for anything needed. Lynn
Dear Craig, Chloe, and Moriah…… You have continuously been in our thoughts & prayers last week. We were sort of getting a silent message that nothing was improving for Lina. I am glad you are going with Hospice, they were so wonderful with Poppy Bert…every nurse was so special, they were like an extended family. I pray you have the same experience. All of you have been so strong, our love is with you all. Priscilla
How to express this journey? Perhaps with one word – love. It is what has embraced us all as Lina, Craig, Chloe and Moriah have struggled to find a way beyond the cancer. So much love has been given. That is what Lina spoke of when I saw her at the end of June. She said, “Craig and the girls have never let me down. Their love is always with me. And all the love of all our friends.” That is what she will take with her. And her way of inspiring love, the force of her own love, is what she will leave with us. My love is with you, Harriet
My darling Chloe, Moriah and Craig-
Lina is at peace-She knows all and knows it is her time.
This is no consolation to the rest of us-but we will muddle through. I am here for you if you need anything at all-Lina is a dynamo and this is how I will ALWAYS remember her. Chloe-I love you more than I can tell you, please don’t hesitate to ask me for anything!!!
You are all in my prayers-
Love Deb
Dear Chloe, Moriah and Craig,
Lina has fought so bravely and courageously, matched only by the bravery, strength and love each of you has shown to her throughout this very, very long journey. There are so many us who are holding your family in our thoughts, hearts, and prayers … I hope knowing this will somehow help to give you strength and peace in the coming days. Be gentle with yourselves and know that an army of people stand ready to do anything, anything at all, that might ease your burden even the slightest bit.
Love,
~ Cindy
Craig, Chloe and Moriah,
I am so glad Lina is going home. Just last June my sister
Jane made her last trip home from the hospital and although we could not tell if she was conscious of all of us being there with her, I remember her last week vividly
and know she was very happy to be in the home she shared with her family. I know it’s a very difficult time, but being away from the hospital will help all of you, I’m sure. Love to you all and I hope Lina is free of pain in the coming days.
Moie
I have followed your journey. My heart goes out to you and your family. We will keep you in our prayers.
Craig, Chloe and Moriah,
The last time I saw Lina was at the Democratic Caucus. She was very weak physically, but alive and engaged intellectually and spiritually. It was an event she had to be a part of, for so many reasons, and of course, that was just so typical of this strong, committed woman we all know and love. In fact, she was reveling in it all.
Coming home now will be good for you all. My mother had the benefit of hospice care last fall, and the gentle, caring, respectful embrace of it was a beautiful blessing for her as well as the rest of the family. It is a gift of gracious peace.
May the love of this giant community enfold you all.
Paul, Carla and Fritz
Craig, Moriah & Chloe,
Thank you for keeping us all updated through these trying days. I think it is good Lina will be home with everyone around her. Take comfort in each other at this tender time. Sending you love, peace and grace.
peace- we are thinking of you and your family- as you know my mother died when I was nineteen- after a long battle – she finally came to peace with dying and was able slip from a deep sleep to death- tell the girls that they will be alright it will take time to belive that they will be, but they will be alright- you too – love to you all
Craig, Chloe, and Moriah,
I am so glad I visited Lina after the graduation, she has been in my prayers. She will receive excellent care from Hospice. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help as I am available. All my love,
Evelyn
Dear Craig,
I was part of a group that received your last email from Charlie Bernstein. I’ve never met Charlie, but had a delightful conversation with him on grant-related issues. I’ve enjoyed his updates about Maine Initiatives since.
So I opened up his “Tell the Bees” link to find out more and have spent most of the morning reading through three years of notices and updates, filled with surprise, fear, frustration, hope, excitement, joy, and all the emotions that fill the lives of a family. I read through Lina’s journey with much interest and was amazed at her strength…and of yours. Your daughers have undoubtedly internalized the best of both mom and dad. I am from California and have a daughter at Oregon State University, so I remember clearly the college tours that Lina wrote about.
So, I can’t help but feel the emotion that comes with bringing Lina home. Both my parents left this world in the care of Hospice. My father spent his last weeks in my home…with family…and at peace.
I know you don’t have time to read through all of the non-stop emails, now, from a great support sytem that you are fortunate to have. I just wanted to thank you for your thoughtfulness in keeping everybody updated, and to let you know that your story…your journey…touched more people than you know.
All best,
Margarita Ramirez
California
Craig, & Chloe, & Moriah and my beautiful buccinni Lina – I have been heartsick since Craig’s posting last Monday, and trying to reconcile myself to where Lina is now – for so long I’ve pushed all thoughts of death aside because our Lina was going to get through this – no one has more strength of will and dedication than she does. No one. So now, I am accepting it and happy that Lina is coming back to her beautiful home – her artful place of respite and warmth with the family she loves, her wonderful dog, and all the things that represent the causes, art, music, and people who she loves. And, I am still hoping for that BIG miracle that might bring her health back. I know her spirit and love are still strong and I celebrate that and that she is still with us for now. To Craig and his fantastic girls, I hold you in my heart. And John and Mark, too. love Eileen
It’s been wonderful having Lina (and her sharp, kind, reasonable mind) on our grants committee at Maine Initiatives. My wife, Ellen Ryan, met Lina back when she was with Bert, and remembers her. We’re both sad to hear your latest report.
It’s good she’s home. It’s a warm-hearted home, the right place for her to be.
Peace,
Charlie
My love to you all. Julie
So many memories over so many years flood back to me as I think about Lina. I feel so sad for everyone who loves her. Craig, Chloe & Moriah, try to take as good care of each other as you have of Lina. My heart is with you. Madeleine
Dear Craig:
My heart goes out to you and your family. There are people with whom one feels an instant connection and for me, Lina was one. In my last conversation with her before she went to Boston, we both spoke of getting to know one another better upon her return. Clearly with the turn of events, that is not to be, and it is my loss.
In such a sad and difficult time, I only hope that knowing of yet another life that Lina touched will be of some comfort to you and your family.
My thoughts are with you and your famiy.
Ellen Golden
Dear Craig, Chloe. and Moriah
I’m sorry for your family and the hardship you are going through. I can’t imagine having the strength you’ve had dealing with all this and the difficult decisions your family has had to make. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Chloe pleased know how much you are loved by our entire family and we are all here for you.
Love
Bonnie and Steven
Craig, Chloe, Moriah,
I add my voice to all the others in sending you love and courage now. Like Madeleine and Eileen, I too, go a long way back with Lina, and am finding it so hard accepting this latest message. Harder finding words to express the sadness I feel for you, her family. That her suffering will end is all for the good. Even now, her strength and courage in this final battle have given us life: to be good to one another, cheerful always, and to be fully living our lives. We thank you dear sweet Lina.
Holding you three in the light, and sending all my love.
Marta
Craig,
We are sadder than I can tell you. We are thinking of you and the girls, and Lina, all the time, and sending love.
~Jana and Chris
Dear Craig, Chloe and Moriah,
I am full of sadness and think of you and of Lina all the time. I hope she is not in pain so much.
Love
Michael
Chloe, Moriah, and Craig,
I feel it is most important for you three to truly understand how much love surrounds you. I wish you strength in this difficult time and offer my utmost support in any way shape or form.
As Thoreau stated, “There is no remedy for love but to love more.” May her love shine through the three of you.
Steven Whitten
Craig,
I so wanted this long and bumpy journey for Lina to come a different ending. I’m glad you’ve brought her home. I wish the sea air and flowers she loves and the family she loves with her will ease her leaving. I hope the love of so very many friends will help make it easier for you, Chloe and Moriah to let her go. I am thinking of you all the time. I’ll be in Maine again next week.
love,
Rae
from Red Wing, Minnesota