Tuesday, January 12, 2010

A Good Fight

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
2 Timothy 4:7




James Stewart Manwill, Jr.
June 26, 1960-January 12, 2010


Jim passed away peacefully today, surrounded by his family.

Viewing Thursday, January 14, 2010 at Grandview 3rd Ward building
Funeral Services Friday, January 15, 2010 at the same location, with a
Viewing one hour prior to services

The family is grateful for all the love and support you all offer. We are thankful for the Lord's Plan of Salvation that gives us great peace and comfort at this time, as well as the knowledge that...



"Families Can Be Together Forever"

A Special Visitor

On Sunday evening we were blessed with permission to have Elder Manwill come home from his mission to Mexico for a short visit. He has given the family such comfort at this difficult time. He promised his father that he will return to his full-time service soon, but in the meantime he is such a source of strength to us all. He spent some time today at Jim's bedside reading him scriptures and journal entries, as well as tending to his needs. He is having some remarkable experiences as a missionary for the Church, and is anxious to return to complete his mission. But in the meantime, what joy, peace and comfort it is to have him home.





Once again the family would like to express their love and appreciation for the outpouring of random acts of kindness you all are showering upon them. Apologies for not being able to allow visitors at this time, but thank you for your understanding.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

On the Lord's Side

Jim is no longer able to update this blog, so we as his siblings will be doing that for him for awhile. Much has happened in the few short days since his last post. As you know, he was a bit discouraged on the day of his last post. Two days later he was taken by ambulance to the emergency room at University Hospital, then transferred to the Huntsman Cancer Institute the following morning. CT scans were performed and the results showed that the chemo has done nothing but feed the cancer. His body is also filled with infection, which isn't responding to powerful antibiotics. After spending 2 1/2 days there he was released to come home with hospice care. He is surrounded by a loving wife and mother who are by his side almost constantly, as well as each and every one of his siblings, who rotate bedside care. His humor is still carrying him through this most difficult time, as the following will illustrate:

Sandra: We need to give your back a rest and turn you to one side. Which side do you want to be on?
Jim: The Lord's side.

Jim and Sandra express their love and appreciation for the outpouring of love and concern that you all show to them. As per the advice of their doctors and hospice nurses they are requesting no visitors at this time. We will try to update this blog regularly, and comments, as always, are welcome and appreciated and will be read to Jim daily.

With love from his siblings,
Louise
Karen
Peggy
Linda
Brent



Tuesday, January 5, 2010

crapy night - crapy day

Lesterday I went to the temple with my Mom, Sister & brother. It was nice to have my brother along since I see that each week at the temple I become more challenged to prepare for initiation. This last time I took him in the handicap locker with me & he had to do most of the work - before & after. As I was leaving, I had a strong feeling it just might be my last time in the temple. That was sad & brought tears to me.
If any of you are considering doing a "Bonus" temple trip, above & beyond what you regularly do, and would like to "donate" it to me to help meet my weekly goal of attending the temple while Daniel is gone on his mission, I would be honored. After completing a "Bonus" then pkease sebd me an email to TempleTripForJim@gmail.com. Thanks so much!!!!

When I got home I was exhausted. Couldn't wait for bedtime. I took something to help skeep, but that only worked until past 1:30 am. From then on I probably didn't get another 30 minutes sleep. Today I have been exhausted.

Sorry to be a downer, but that was my previous 24 hours. No courage here. No strength here.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

I Did It My Way!!!

I decided, I can call the shots!!! At least on a few things. So that is JUST what I did! Late Friday eve I just happened to grap a bit of my hair & pull. Sure enough some came out. I picked another area & it happened there also. I called Sandra into the room & showed her.

THAT DOES IT, I said!!! It COMES OUT when I DECIDE!!!

The next afternoon I had a few family members & my kids over & we videorecorded & photographed the entire process! Complete with stopping when I had just a mohawk! After it was cut pretty darn close to the scalp, I walked into the bathroom. I exclaimed! DANG I'm A STUD!!! Sandra said that my Mom, Jeremy & Vanessa, two of my kids, were having a difficult time seeing me remove my hair.

For many years I have been curious how I would look bald. But I never had the courage to actually do it. But now I was excited! Also I knew there was a fairly large scar under that mop of every morning bad hair day! And I have always wanted to see it. When I was born, there was a very lazy doctor. It was early Sunday morning & he checked my Mom. She wasn't ready to deliver. He went to the doctor's lounge to sleep. A few hours later he awoke & came to check on her again. Still no baby. Without even checking to see if the baby was in proper position, he said "lets just give you a shot that makes the baby come INSTANTLY." He never checked that I wasn't positioned correctly. The incorrect position & the instant shot into labor caused a blod clot on my brain. However noboby realized that. Three days later I was in the nursery & a very seasoned nurse heard my cry. She called over a doctor & told him "that baby's cry was not a normal cry of hunger, sleepy or wet, but it was a cry of pain." The doctor said that if any other nurse had made that observation, he would have said I'M THE DOCTOR HERE-YOU'RE JUST A NURSE. But he knew of her outstanding reputation for so many years. He started researching & discovered a brain clot. That very day they went through the soft spot of the head & removed the blod clots. Three weeks later I was brought back in to remove the scar tissue. I ended up with a very large horseshoe scar that has been hard to see... until now. I am SO VERY EXCITED to see that scar, as for years I have said the first thing I want to do after I die is to find that nurse and thank her! The doctors had said if that hadn't been detected, I would have had no motor or learning development - basically I would have just been a vegetable! Sorry for the long diversion about the removal of my hair.

I went to church Sunday & bore my testimony. I know the ward was shocked to see me without any hair. When I got home from church, I asked Jeremy to bring something to my room. When he walked in, I was SHOCKED to see that he had cut all his hair off! This is the kid that loves hair... longer than I prefer. What an untimate sacrifice he made to show such support & love to his Dad!




Friday, January 1, 2010

Inspiring Afternoon!!!

Today my dear friends Jeremy &Stacy Johnson sponsored an event to "Share in the Stress". There were quite a few people that came, both that knew me & others that didn't know me. I was so mipressed & touched by the outpouring of love & support.
THANKS!!!

This afternoon a niece of mine showed up & told me that she had been talking to others & asking for donations for her uncle. She raised $150 for me. What an angel!!!
THANKS!!!

My sister in Brigham City came down for several hours & teamed up with my Mom to do an abundance of cleaning! They are AMAZING!!!
THANKS!!!

I am so blessed to have so many people that coming from all over to share their love & concern for me. It means so much to me!
THANKS!!!

Happy New Year!!!