Thank You

On behalf of our sons, Matthew and Peter, their wives, Doverly and Sarah, our grandchildren, Micah, Jonah, Kyla and the little one soon to be born, as well as Beth’s parents, Rudy and Lucy and all the extended family, I write to say thank you. Thank you for your prayers, your postings to this blog, your calls, your cards, your visits, and your many acts of compassion and caring. We shared every one of them with her during her hospitalization.

The injury Beth suffered to her lungs due to a toxic reaction to one of the chemotherapy drugs was just too extensive for her to survive. As Beth and I tried to come to grips with the extent of her injury and the degree of disability she may have faced I asked her once what concerned her most. Ever the educator, she told me that when she tried to think about her future all she saw was a big, blank white board with nothing written on it. She expressed to me many times that she could feel your prayers, that she was not afraid and that she was at peace with whatever God had planned for her.

Beth was laid to rest Friday in Green Hill cemetery in her home town, Altavista, Virginia. Later that day we celebrated her life during a Memorial Service at Lane Memorial United Methodist Church, also in Altavista, led by our friend and former pastor, Linwood Cook. Linwood offered a beautiful homily describing Beth’s commitment to her family, her church and the Commonwealth. Radford University President Penny Kyle shared stories of Beth’s friendship and of her service to the University community.

On Saturday a tremendous number of friends and family gathered for a second Memorial Service at Beulah United Methodist Church in Chesterfield County. The turnout was so large we had to arrange for a remote video broadcast of the Service to the Fellowship Hall. Special music was provided by Beulah’s Sanctuary Choir, by a vocal ensemble from the Appomattox Regional Governors School and by one of Beulah’s Praise Bands featuring a video presentation of family photos assembled by Matthew. Chesterfield School Board Chairman Marshall Trammell and Superintendent Billy Canaday offered remarks describing Beth’s life of service to the community and her love for children and education. Our friend and current pastor Bob Stamps read a missive from Peter describing his love for his Mom and the mentorship role she had come to play in his new career as a teacher. Bob went on to deliver a comforting homily of hope and resurrection.

We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern that has come in so many forms. We know you will continue to pray for us as we try to regain our footing and begin to resume our routines and responsibilities. We are a family of faith and we are approaching this great loss in that context. We miss Beth but we know that her death has not ended the impact she will continue to have on our lives. She has left us a wonderful legacy and a charge to continue to care for one another.

Well done, good and faithful servant. We will continue on the path you have shown for us to follow.

Jim

Services & Press Release

A memorial service will be held at Lane Memorial United Methodist Church in Altavista, VA on Friday, June 16th at 2:00 PM. A second memorial service will be held at Beulah United Methodist Church in Richmond, VA on Saturday, June 17th at 2:00 PM.

Please see the note below regarding memorial contributions.

View the Chesterfield County Public Schools press release regarding Beth.

The Davis Family

Going Home

Beth peacefully passed away at 6:00 this evening with Jim at her side. This is a poem from the devotion her sister, Dee, read to her this morning:

When our Captain bids us "Go,"
It is not ours to murmur "No."
He that gives the sword and shield,
Chooses too the battlefield
On which we are to fight the foe.

- Corrie ten Boom

Information about memorial services will be posted here as soon as the plans are finalized. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributing to the Beulah United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or the Radford University Foundation.

The Davis Family

Another Mask

Beth had a long night last night as she struggled with a cough. She also is running a fever right now. The doctors have put her on antibiotics and are working with yet another mask to help her get comfortable. Please continue to pray for her.

Matt

Tsuru

One of Beth’s students at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School recently approached a teacher and school administrators with a request. Cranes or "tsuru" in Japanese, are possibly one of the oldest birds on earth and have a long history in Japanese traditions and legends. Legend holds that the crane lives for a thousand years so cranes have come to serve as a symbol of peace and long life. Folded paper cranes are given to people who are ill to wish them a quick recovery. It is said that anyone who folds 1,000 paper origami cranes will have their heart’s desire come true. The student suggested that the students in the school could produce 1,000 origami cranes on Beth’s behalf. On Friday four large boxes were left on the Davis’ doorstep. Inside were approximately 1,500 swans in every conceivable color and size. Many included notes of encouragement. We have shown Beth a large sample of the handiwork and she was greatly moved. She selected one particularly colorful swan to keep at her bedside (space is seriously limited in the ICU). We will carefully preserve all of the swans for her to see and enjoy when she recovers a little more. The family is appreciative of this wonderful gesture and we thank everyone who participated.

Jim

Tag Team Masks

Last night, Beth was moved back to the old mask. The new mask was starting to get uncomfortable. The hospital staff believes that switching between the two types of masks will be the best option while Beth remains on the ventilator.

Beth was able to get her oxygen level down to 65% for most of the day yesterday. During the night however, the staff had to bump the oxygen back up to 100% to get Beth comfortable. She is also still taking morphine for the pain associated with her chest tube. Beth was able to rest comfortably last night.

No Silly Title

Forgive me, but I could not come up with an appropriate title this morning.

Beth had a good day yesterday. Her oxygen level was down to 87%, even while she was eating yesterday. She is still on morphine, but is trying her hardest to only accept the minimum amount necessary. Her spirits are still incrediably strong, despite being half drunk on the medicine.

Also, after what has seemed like forever, Beth received a different style mask. This one presses on different parts of her face, which will hopefully allow several sore spots on her nose and forehead to heal.

We are all obviously anxious for Beth's recovery. We appreciate all the cards, e-mails, etc. that we have received over the last several weeks. We all knew that Beth had been a part of many people's lives, but we are constantly amazed at how important she has been to so many people. Please continue to share your memories and stories with us. We will be sure to share them with Beth.

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Matt

Living in a Morphine World

The family met with Beth's oncologist yesterday evening and he filled us in on some details of Beth's adventures. During the night, Beth began having pulse-oxygen level problems and the hospital staff had to turn her oxygen level back up to 100%. Beth also was complaining of some pain in her chest and back. Eventually, Beth was diagnosed with a partial collapse of her right lung. A surgeon was called into her room and he inserted a chest tube into Beth's side, causing the lung to re-inflate.

The chest tube is very painful and Beth was put on morphine. Living in the morphine world, Beth was pretty much out of it all day yesterday and it was decided to let her rest the entire day. Jim was able to spend some time with her and the rest of the family got to spend a few seconds with her as well.

During the day, the family was blessed with several spontaneous visits from Beulah church members and from some extended family. Each visit served as a much needed distraction to the circumstances of the day and was much appreciated.

Despite the set back yesterday, I am happy to report that the hospital staff has restarting the weaning process for Beth. At some point during the night, they were able to turn her oxygen level down to 90% and Beth has tolerated it well.

The family would like to say a big "THANK YOU" to everyone who has been praying for Beth and us over the last several weeks. The strength of so many people praying can be felt by Beth and the family and it means so very much to us all. Please keep up the good work!

Matt

Set Back Last Night

After a difficult night last night, a x-ray this morning revealed that Beth had a collapsed lung. A surgeon inserted a chest tube to reinflate the lung.

Beth is being medicated for the pain and is resting today. Her overall condition is stable despite this set back. Please continue to pray for her strength.

Matt

The Eagle Has Landed

For the first time since May 24th, Beth's feet touched the floor today. She said that her legs felt like marshmellows, but she did not get short of breath during the process. She will probably begin some physical therapy in the next day or so to start building her leg muscles back up.

Beth's oxygen level made it down to 70% again today. During meals, the nurses have been turning her oxygen up to 100%, but today, they only turned it up to 90%. The oncologist indicated that he wants to get Beth to 50% oxygen. At that point, she should be able to switch to a nasal mask (instead of the mouth and nose mask).

The oncologist also indicated that he wants to get her going on chemo again in the next couple of days (obviously without the drug that caused the reaction). When Beth was admitted to the hospital on May 19th, she was supposed to receive her 6th treatment that day (out of 8 total treatments). Because of her condition, she has now missed both her 6th and 7th treatments. The doctor wants to get her back on track before she looses any ground to the progress she had made in treating the cancer. We don't have any details on what the treatment will be like or how many more treatments will be needed at this point.

Matt

Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Despite seeing it many times in my life, I am still amazed when I see God's work in our lives. Yesterday, Beth asked her mother, Lucy for the words to the hymn, "Breathe on Me, Breath of God". Lucy did not have them completely memorized, but planned to bring a hymnal with her today. Shortly after Beth and Lucy's conversation, Beth's pastor, Dr. Robert Stamps, arrived to check in on Beth's progress. Not being aware of the conversation just a few minutes early, Dr. Stamps began praying for Beth. To Beth's and Lucy's great comfort and joy, Dr. Stamps prayed through some of the lines of the hymn!

As far as Beth's progress goes, she has stablized at the 80% oxygen level. She is feeling better each day and we are hopeful that her lungs are getting stronger as well. The doctors have no indication when Beth recover enough to move out of the ICU.

Of note, it was pointed out to me that Beth is on Nitric Oxygen, not Nitrous Oxide as I mistakenly reported in the last posting. I will leave the explanation of this to someone who understands chemistry better than I do. Either way, Beth is not taking hits of Hippie Gas as previously reported.

Matt

Hippie Gas

Beth's son, Peter, flies back to Los Angeles today. He has been able to spent a lot of time with mom during his visit, and for that, she is very grateful. We will all miss having him around.

Beth had a good day yesterday. By the end of the day, her oxygen levels had been brought down to 75%. Beth has been receiving very small amounts of nitrous oxide ("hippie gas") mixed with her oxygen ever since she went on the ventilator. The gas helps her absorb the oxygen more efficiently. The medical staff is planning to turn down her nitrous oxide level today to see how she reacts. They attempted this a few days ago, and Beth did not react very well to it, resulting in the staff having to raise her oxygen level back up to 100%.

Beth's appetite remains good. She is still tolerating the hospital food (plus the extra stuff we sneak in). We have quite a system for helping her eat. Beth holds her mask while the family and/or nurses spoon the food to her. We all know how much sugar, butter, salt and pepper Beth likes on everything now.

Matt

From Los Angeles to Richmond

Well, my brother has arrived, and so did the smiles and tears. Peter was able to make it in from Los Angeles this afternoon. Beth, Jim, Peter and I were able to spend a good hour just by ourselves. Don't tell anyone that we stayed way past visiting hours! Beth's spirits were lifted high as her three men stood around her bed, holding hands and praying for her full and complete recovery.

Peter has enlisted the help of Beth in naming their next child. He or she is due in just three short weeks. Beth was presented was two options for the girl name several days ago and gave Peter her answer tonight. I'll let Peter and his wife, Sarah, announce which name they are going to use though. Besides, they could be having a boy and they have not come up with any names for that situation yet (feel free to post your opinions here).

Beth's oxygen did get turned back down to 80% this afternoon. She was handling it very well when we left this evening. She has a big day tomorrow with a good portion of her family making the trip into town to see her again.

Matt

Rocky Road

Beth had a rough go of it yesterday. As the staff tried to continue weaning Beth off of the ventilator, they took it a little too far too quickly. They ended up putting Beth back on 100% oxygen for the rest of the day and night.

As of this morning however, they began weaning Beth again. Her oxygen is currently at 90% and will be cut down to 80% shortly.

Her sister, Dee was here yesterday and her neice, Emily was here for the last two days. Her brother, Marshall, is here now. All of the visits from her family mean so much to her. Beth is really looking forward to her son, Peter, arriving from Los Angeles today as well.

I have many new comments to approve for the site and will take care of them as soon as possible. Beth really enjoys having them read to her. Thanks again for all the prayers and words of encouragement.

Matt

Prayers Continuing

Beth had another progressive day yesterday. Her oxygen has been turned down to 70% during the day and she is still getting stronger and stronger. Her oxygen level had to be turned back up to 80% during meals and while she slept last night. Please continue to pray for the healing of her lungs and pray that Beth will have strength and energy as these long days can be so exhausting for her.

Beth has been on the ventilator now for 9 days. Please pray for God to protect her body from an infection since the doctors have told us that the longer she is on the ventilator, the higher her risk is of developing one.

I would like to draw everyone's attention back to the post titled, "Praying from Sea to Shining Sea." I have been updating this posting everytime I hear of another believer who is praying for Beth in another state or country. As of this morning, believers in 26 states and 4 countries are praying for Beth's recovery. Our family is so grateful for every single prayer that has been lifted up for Beth and for us.

Matt

A Message From Beth

Dear Friends,

I just want everyone to know how much I appreciate all the support and prayers from each and every one of you. My family reads the comments, e-mails and cards to me each day and I can feel the power of the prayers here in my room. I appreciate it all so very much.

I am looking forward to getting home and back to all the activities that I love so much. I miss seeing everyone, but am confident that I will see you all soon.

In His Name,

Beth
(dictated to Matt on June 1, 2006)

Progress Being Made

Good news to report this morning! Beth was able to remain on 80% oxygen all night, beginning shortly after dinner last night. We are hopeful that God will continue to build her strength over the coming days so that she can be free from the ventilator.

While you are praying for Beth's recovery, her family would like to ask that you join them in praying for her other friends and family that are struggling with a multitude of health problems. Pray that God's will be done in their cases just as he is working in Beth's.

Matt