[J3] (SC22WG5.6067) Stan Whitlock

[Steve Lionel]

Those of you who were at the "Geezers' Meeting" in Berkeley may have 
noticed that Stan was not his usual jovial self. A few weeks after, I 
found out why; Stan was having severe neck pains and headaches. When he 
went to the doctor to find out why, it was discovered that he had Stage 
IV pancreatic cancer that had spread to his lungs and neck vertebrae. 
Stan underwent radiation treatment and had started chemotherapy - this 
helped with the headaches but he soon developed other problems.  
Eventually it all became a bit too much and Stan was moved to a 
beautiful hospice facility nearby.

Initially, the doctors had said that Stan still had a few weeks left, 
but recent changes have shortened that time-frame by a lot. I visited 
him today - he is comfortable but heavily medicated and in a neck brace. 
He awoke for a minute or two while I was there, but I am not sure he 
recognized me. His son and daughter were there and they told me he often 
was not lucid when he woke up.

I have attached the latest update from Stan's wife, Carolyn, which has 
more information. Stan is no longer reading email, but if you wish to 
send some thoughts you can do so to Carolyn at carolynwhitlock at 
comcast dot net.

Just a week or so ago Stan had sent me an email titled "Worst Retirement 
Plan Ever", in which he asked if I would "say something quietly at the 
next FIDS". Stan's children (David and Jen) agreed today that it was 
best to tell you now, as October is likely to be too late. Stan wasn't 
hiding his condition, but he was extremely reluctant to have it be 
generally known.

Stan has contributed so much, not only to the Fortran standards process 
but also in making sure that the DEC/Compaq/Intel implementations were 
the best they could be. He was very pleased to be granted "Emeritus" 
status on J3. That his time left with us is short is extremely sad.

Steve

--

Dear Family and Friends,

Unfortunately, Stanley had his 7th fall in one week last Sunday and 
finally agreed to go to the hospital.  A CT scan and a MRI at that time 
showed further deterioration in his C1 vertebra, new deterioration in 
his C2 and C3 vertebrae, and enlargement in the tumor in his neck.  The 
pancreatic tumor still has given no indication of trouble except in the 
form of pancreatic cancer cells metastasizing to the neck, lungs, and 
liver.

On Sunday, the oncologist told us what options there were and after 
consultations with other doctors, we all agreed that the only 
compassionate option was to let nature take its course.  We discontinued 
the chemo after his first treatment.  On Tuesday afternoon, Stan was 
admitted to the Community Hospice House here in Merrimack.  At the time 
he left the hospital to be transferred to hospice, his oncologist had 
estimated that he had 4 to 6 weeks left before he completed his life.  
Today, the hospice doctor went in to check on him and, afterwards, told 
me that she believes he’s declining more quickly than the assessment on 
Sunday.  For the three days that he has been in hospice care, the 
children and I agree that he has declined more each day.

This afternoon, Stan told me that he felt ready to let go.  He’s fed up 
with the discomfort from not being able to stand without assistance and 
not being able to get out of bed or change his position in bed by 
himself.  He isn’t eating.  He sleeps a lot. He is receiving palliative 
care including meds to relieve his pain and anxiety.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that death is imminent.  If any one of you 
wants to pay a short visit to him at the hospice house, please 
understand that he may be asleep when you come (it is all right to wake 
him).  He is not particularly verbal (hard to believe, isn’t it?) 
because it’s hard for him to talk with a neck brace on.  You may not 
want to remember him as he looked when you visit.  That’s certainly 
understandable.

Our son, David, has come from Oregon.  Jen still has to go to work in 
Manchester, NH, but comes directly to the hospice house after work.  
David and I are at the hospice house with him from late morning until 
Stan gets sleepy in the evening.

Please know that we all are touched by your caring, kindness, and 
concern.  We really appreciate your offers to help in any way you can.  
We all wish we had a magic wand that we could wave and have him return 
to the “good old Stan, who was always making people laugh.”  Your 
emails, cards, and telephone calls help keep me going.  Thank you!

Fondly,

Carolyn