Andrea

'Till We Meet Again

2008-01-23T07:09:00.001-07:00

On January 22nd we laid our mom and nana, Andrea Forsyth, to rest next
to her eternal companion. We had a beautiful service that paid
tribute to the wonderful woman we will all miss dearly. Good-bye
mom-- 'till we meet again.

Don't Cry Because It's Over, Smile Because It Happened!

2008-01-23T07:04:00.001-07:00

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Andrea Louise Larson Forsyth 1947-2008

2008-01-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

Our beloved Nana, mother, sister, and friend, Andrea, ended her courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones at the LDS Hospital on Thursday, January 17, 2008.
Andrea was born September 9th, 1947 in Havre, Montana to Andrew Walter Larson and Loretta Ann Menge.
She married her eternal companion, Douglas Richard Forsyth, in the Salt Lake City Temple on November 3, 1967. They resided in Orem for thirty-six years where they happily raised their five children.
Andrea was blessed with many gifts and talents. She loved singing and the performing arts. She enjoyed gardening, and was a wonderful cook and seamstress. Andrea playfully referred to herself as a “Domestic Goddess”! She was an active member of the Sharon Park 2nd Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served in a number of positions over the years. She was a strong supporter of Scouting and a proud mother of three Eagle Scouts and one “Brownie”.
Andrea gave ten years of service to the Alpine School District, through her tireless effort serving on the school board. She was referred to as the “Champion for students with disabilities”. She co-founded the “ Possibilities Unlimited” Conference, to help other parents of children with special needs.
Andrea is survived by her children, Douglas Richard Jr. (Jodi), Colorado; Darren Scott (Jamie), Saratoga Springs; Daniel Patrick (Emily) Nevada; Alisha Louise Heath (Corbet), Highland; Dustin Michael, Orem, seventeen grandchildren, and many loving family and friends.
She has been re-united with her husband, parents, two brothers, two brothers-in-law, and two nephews.
We wish to express our deepest gratitude for the LDS Hospital Bone-Marrow Transplant Team for their tireless efforts in caring for our mother.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 2:oo in the Sharon Park 2nd Ward Chapel, 200 North 200 East in Orem. Friends may call Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sundberg-Olphin Mortuary, 495 South State St. Orem, and also one hour prior to the services at the Ward chapel on Tuesday. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery.

I am so sorry

2008-01-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

I had hoped and prayed, as I know you all had, that she could beat this and be here with us longer. But I know that our Lord must have a much more important need for her. May He bless you all with comfort, peace and healing. She was a terrific woman and she has left you all with many riches and much love to last your entire lives. I have great memories of both of your parents and those will comfort me. My prayers will continue to be with you and yours. God Bless - Love Joanne

Goodbye

2008-01-18T01:07:00.001-07:00

Mom ended her valiant battle with cancer at 11:50 P.M. on Thursday Jan. 17. She left this life surrounded by her family to reunite with her beloved husband. We will all miss her. We thank all who have been a part of her life. We love you.

Doug, Darren, Daniel, Alisha, and Dustin

2008-01-16T15:41:00.000-07:00

Another room change happened today, still ICU: E631
Not a whole lot has changed. Still not responsive, white cell count is continuing to rise.
Love you all,
Alisha

January 15th, 9:15am

2008-01-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to give everyone an update about Mom since Alisha and Darren are busy with caring for her. This morning they moved her to the ICU because she was having trouble breathing. She is fighting several infections. They have not yet put her on a ventilator. One good thing that is happening is that her white counts are coming back up (300 yesterday 800 today) and may rebound enough to fight the infection and everything else that's going on. I know that your prayers count for Mom and they definitely help in our comfort.

-DOUG

Thank You for Fasting

2008-01-13T11:27:00.001-07:00

Thank you Sharon Park 2nd ward for dedicating your fast to my mom. I remember 20 something years ago the ward fasting for me as I was going in for back surgery. I was blessed by the faith of the saints in the second ward, and I know that same faith will get my Mom through these tough times.
Nothing really new to write, one step forward, two steps back. Doug and I are sitting here waiting for the Doctors to come in and tell us everything is going to be O.K. That is what I am hoping for.
Love you all,

Update 1/10

2008-01-10T19:52:00.000-07:00

We had a real scare today, Alisha received a call from the hospital at about 3:00 that mom had suffered a heart attack. It turns out that it wasn't really the case. They took her down stairs and did a endoscopy. It turns out that she had a lot of mucus in her airway and that caused her elevated heart rate. She is back in her room now and she seems to be resting right now. This all comes with a possible new set of problems. We will know in a couple of days if there is any infections that we need to worry about. The problem we are really facing is that nobody really knows what is going on. There are a lot of doctors with a lot of theories. We will just to continue to pray for what ever the Lord has in mind for her and for the strength to accept his will. We love you all

Darren

2008-01-09T20:42:00.001-07:00

January 8th Update

I sorry I haven't written for some time, but it feels like I have talked to most of you on the phone. I have been there almost everyday in the past week. I have seen a steady decrease in functions and speech, which Dr. Asch saw also. Yesterday they did a Lumbar Puncture, or Spinal Tap, they saw nothing out of the ordinary there. I have mixed feelings about that, I was hoping for some infection that they could fix and everything would be fine. But on the other hand she has no Lymphoma in there either, Yea! They are still leaning toward toxicity in the cerebellum, causing a little swelling, that is why the speech is gone, and her head is bobbing. We are hoping this is the problem and everything will be fine too.
Thank you all so much for love and concern for Mom and the rest of us. I have been very scared and heartbroken by this pothole in her journey, but also very comforted by family and friends.
Thank you Aunt Gwen for rallying the troupes, and Sheree for the idea of the alphabet chart for communication.
Love,
Alisha

Update 1/5

2008-01-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to visit with mom this morning for a while. She was alert but tired. She was able to say a few word like hello and I love you. I was there when Dr. Ashe came in and she was very happy with her progress. She still thinks that these side effects from the meds will go away and she will get better. I asked her about the next phase of her treatment and she says that they won't do anything for at least two weeks, but they need to keep moving forward. She said that they need her to get better before they can do anything else. We are greatful for the visits and I know they really help Mom. She is really frustrated and scared and friendly faces are a comfort to her. If you have any time she can use the visits. Remember tomorrow is fast Sunday.

Thank you,

Darren

Mom has been moved

2008-01-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

Well we recieved some good news today, Dr. Ashe told Alisha that all the info that she has read about the kind of siezures that mom has had, suggest that the affect should be reversable. Dan said that she was alert and very aware of what was going on. She still can't speak even though she tries. She has also been moved out of the ICU and back to the eighth floor. We have high hopes for a full recovery and your faith and prayer are always welcome and appriciated. Thank you for all you do.

Darren

Fast Sunday...

2008-01-02T20:57:00.000-07:00

Since this Sunday is Fast Sunday I would like to invite everyone to join our Family in a fast for Mom. Because of her setback we think that she could use a little bit of extra faith. Thank you for all of the prayers and I know that Mom is always on prayer rolls at several Temples.

Thank you,

-DOUG

2008-01-02T19:47:00.001-07:00

Taking A Turn

I talked to mom on New Years Eve and everything was going good, she had just finished the forth and final round of chemo. She was tired and was looking forward to the new year, she said 2008 is going to be great. Then at 8:30a.m. on New Years day I received a call from the nurse saying that mom had been moved to ICU because she was having multiple seizures and that I should come up to the hospital. We I got there she was still seizing and had bitten her tongue and lips, her mouth was all bloody. She was still making sense, but was having a hard time talking. After a lot of test they have determined that there wasn't a stroke or infection, it was a drug interaction between two of the chemo drugs. She was still having small seizers when I left today at 1:00 p.m., they hopefully will subside as the chemo drugs leave her body. We are still concerned about her neurological function, a lot of slurring of words and she can't tract with her eyes. We have a great team of brilliant doctors that are working on getting her back. I have faith that 2008 is still going be great, can it get any worse? Knock on wood!

Thank you for your concern and many prayers,

Love

Alisha

p.s. She was moved to room#.... E639, on the six floor, same room as Scott Christensen (he is a neighbor from Orem).

2007-12-24T06:24:00.001-07:00

Well, the prayers have paid off, Mom gets to come home for Christmas. I am going to pick her up at 9:00p.m tonight, and she gets to stay through Christmas Day. We are so excited to have her here with us out of the hospital. Thank you all for your prayer, I know that they helped. I hope you will all have a great Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Alisha

GREAT NEWS!!!!

2007-12-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

I just got off of the phone with Mom. Yesterday she had a PET Scan and there was NO sign of the Lymphoma. Wahoo!!!! She got the info from her P.A. and so she hasn't yet visited with her Doctors. Yesterday they said that if she was Cancer free they might harvest Stem Cells before the last course of Chemo. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and fasting. I know it's made a difference.

Way to go Mom we love you!

-DOUG

Update 12-17-07

2007-12-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

I talked to Mom last night and she sounded great! She talked to the hospitals head shrinker and he said that if he'd been stuck in the hospital for 6 weeks and coming up on the anniversary of the death of a spouse that he'd be depressed too. He subscribed Ritalin, apparently Ritalin works as a stimulant on adults without ADD. She agrees that it's working very well and from my perspective has certainly improved her mood. She was also just sitting down (ha) to her first meal in 3 weeks and was very excited. They are starting her on food and will take off whatever calories she eats from her feeding tube the next day. She will be keeping her feeding tube for the time being. Thank you all for the prayers and visits they are really paying off. We all hope that she will be well enough to go home for Christmas, that would be a true gift.

Merry Christmas!

-DOUG

Merry Christmas Mom!

2007-12-17T16:51:00.001-07:00

All seven of us went up to see Mom ( Nana) yeterday. It was standing room only--not only because there are so many of us, but because there were so many other people wanting to visit with her! We took up our Christmas presents for her--some new reading material---some music to help bring the Christmas spirit--and some footies that are abnormally soft!!! The kids had all written letters to her, and she read them while we were there! I couldn't help but notice that when she read Alex's letter she became very emotional, and when Alex gave her a hug he became pretty emotional as well, especially for a 15 year old boy! When we left I asked Alex just what exactly he had written in his letter. He smiled and said "I just told Nana I wanted her to be here for all the things I am looking forward to in my life--When I go on a mission, when I get married in the temple, you know, mom, stuff like that!"

I just wanted to take a minute and add a "ditto" to Alex's thoughts! Yes, mom, we all want you here for all the things we are looking forward to in our lives, and even the things that may come our way that we are not looking forward to! It has been a tough enough two years going through life's milestones without Dad--So, mom, I hope you know how much you are needed and loved. Family is all about relationships--the good and the bad--and I find it amazing how, when we let ourselves, it is so easy to let go of all the bad and only remember the good! I guess that is all part of the miracle of the atonement!

So merry Christmas, mom!! I know it probably won't be one of your merrier ones--so lets make sure you are around for many Christmases to come--we still have a lot of good memories to make! I love you, Jame

Merry Christmas from Siberia

2007-12-14T17:12:00.001-07:00

Dear Andrea,

We just wanted you to know that we are thinking of you and express our love for you and your family. May the Lord Bless you as you continue to go through these treatments. We are cheering for you on the other side of the world. You are in our prayers. May you have the best Holiday Season possible. Merry Christmas!

With Love, Elder & Sister Butler in Omsk, RU

I'm so glad to know how to reach you!!

2007-12-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

"Uncle Merrill" passed this info to Meg who in turn passed it to me. I have so wanted to be able to send my love and affirmation of prayers said on your behalf. I know God will bless you and is with you every minute. I have placed you on our prayer list at church and of course you are in my personal prayers at all times. What wonderful support you have from so many people! Please let me help if there is anything at all that needs to be done, I will make it happen!

I will monitor this site regularly and keep track of your progress. And I' m not kidding when I say I think you look beautiful! Love - Jo

Merry Christmas

2007-12-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Andrea, Doug, Darren , Daniel, Alisha, and Dustin

I want you all to know that your in my personal prayers daily and nightly is because prayers do work when there is a wonderful family who needs them . Another thing I want you to know is that I love you all so much. Have a very Merry Merry Christmas ! I hope you got my Christmas message and it should be in your Christmas mail . God is there for all of you and he's very good in what he does to make sure everyone is being good children here on this earth . MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ALL With All My Love, Amy Lin Monson

amy.monson@byu.edu

2007-12-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

Aunt Andrea,

I just wanted to let you know that each morning when I get to work I have pulled up your blog site to find out what the latest is. I think about you every day. My mom and I went for a Sunday drive yesterday and talked about a lot of different things…memories, family and both you and Adam were a topic of that conversation. I want you to know that I love you very much and am pulling for you. Alisha you are doing a great job with this blog site. It is so nice to have easy access to details. We will talk and hopefully see you soon.

Love you,

Cathy

Cathy Forsyth

Account Representative

Nephrology Department

801-812-5413

From Uncle Ron and Aunt Kay

2007-12-09T05:51:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to let you know that we're reading this blog daily and thinking
of you constantly. We work in the Columbus Temple every Tuesday night and
make sure your name is on the prayer roll continuously.

Andi, we love you and look forward to seeing you at your home again when
this experience is behind you.

BTW, we agree with you. You DO have wonderful children.

Love...Ron and Kay

From Me

2007-12-08T15:28:00.001-07:00

Today is Saturday, December 8th. For the third day in a row I have been sitting outside my bathroom door because they have been giving me Lasix, a drug to pee. I've been retaining water and yesterday I lost five pounds. Remember that's water! I hope we do as well today and maybe I won't have to sit here Sunday.
I'm strickly on a feeding tube now - not very attractive, but than neither is anything else about chemo. I have tolerated it very well. I get some ice chips during the day. I know that sounds awful, but it hasn't been all that bad. I don't miss the food, especially here. Every once in awhile I'll see an ad on tv that looks good and I just say, "One of these days I'll have one if those." I don't even miss the chocolate. This chemo has messed me up, but not for long!
I popped in to see nephew, Adam last night and we made a date to go walking tonight. He is right next door in the Stem Cell area. He'll go through all of the stem cell stuff before me so I'll have someone to talk to about it.
Thank to everyone for your prayer and good thoughts. That's the thing that keeps me going.
And haven't I got the best children? YESSS! They are all just helping me along this experience. I am continually blessed with great support.
Love, Mom, Nana/Andrea

December 6, 2007

2007-12-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

I spoke with Mom last night (after playing cell phone tag). She was feeling a little blue but then Aunt Gwen came to visit and cheered her right up. Thank you to all who go and take the time to visit with her. She had some School Board friends visit this week and I know that it meant a lot to her. If you can't make it up there you could give her a buzz on her cell. Her number is 801-400-8562. If she doesn't answer just leave her a message.

Her third treatment is still going extremely (knock on wood) well. She is sounding stronger each time I talk to her.

Just a reminder on how to post to this blog. If you have anything to report just send an email to douglasforsyth.andrea@blogger.com and it will automatically get posted.

I have been thinking a lot about "why" why does this have to happen to my Mother? Hasn't she already had enough trials? What keeps coming back to me is a quote that I think I heard in conference; I don't even remember who said it. "The rain falls on the Just and Un-just alike" In Sunday School this week we were talking about trials and someone said something that rang true to me. He said that we agreed to come to this life and everything that comes with that including genetics and pre-disposition to illness ect. Heavenly Father isn't up there causing trials, they are just a part of life. It's is up to us on how to learn from them to get stronger from them. My favorite scripture on the subject is found in D&C 122 given to Joseph when inprisioned in Liberty Jail.

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

Verse 8 is what kicks me in the butt, and gives me a reality check.

Thank you all for all of your prayers. I know that they are doing the good that they are intended.

-DOUG