Cindy's Celebration of Life Service

Cindy Hawkins Celebration of Life Service: 

https://www.youtube.com/live/OZcpk4QqN5Q?si=TktGMdQoHhNbYx83 

GBM: Cindy Update- and Obituary

From the Hawkins family, an update about Cindy: We wanted to let you know that Cindy passed away peacefully last night, Wednesday evening, May 8th. She passed peacefully with Dave, the siblings and her mother, Bertha, by her side. We are thankful she is at peace and are thankful for the life she lived. At the same time, our hearts are broken. 

She was an amazing mom, mimi, daughter, sister and wife. Thank you for your continued love, support and prayers! Our communities are God-given and so amazing. 

 Obituary and Arrangements at the link below: https://www.millerstewartfuneralhome.com/obituary/cynthia-cindy-hawkins 

 Visitation is planned for Saturday, May 11th, 4-7pm and Sunday, May 12th, 1-4pm and 6-8pm at Clinton Frame Church, Goshen. The family will hold a private graveside service, prior to a celebration of life service at 6:00 pm on Monday, May 13th also at the church. The celebration of life service will be live-streamed through Clinton Frame's Youtube channel, @ClintonFrameChurch.

GBM: Cindy Update (April/May)

Update post from Hawkins Family on behalf of Cindy: 

 We wanted to give an update on mom-Mimi-Cindy and to also say a huge thank you to our communities… 

Cindy continues on hospice care at home. She is comfortable, no pain, and per her nurses she is truly the definition of grace and humbleness in end of life care. Even with very limited mobility, She continues to sleep in her own bed and when she is awake she is alert and taking it all in. She does nap/rest on and off throughout the day, but can do that from her cozy armchair that sits in the living room where she can keep an eye on grandkids and the busy-ness of Amish Highway 35. Verbal communication continues to be a struggle, but we have adjusted to a lot of non-verbal cues and nodding/shaking of the head. This has been a difficult adjustment as we want to continue to meet her needs and want to hear her conversations and thoughts again, but we are glad to have her alert enough to give us non-verbal feedback and some “I love you”s and the occasional sassy comment that makes us smile! ☺ 

Cindy continues to enjoy visits from family and holding the newest addition to the family, Hayden Lloyd. We have really appreciated the hospice care we continue to receive from Center for Hospice and are thankful to be at home with mom and so thankful she is comfortable. We’ve got a good rotation of support in place with siblings and family to help support both Dave and Cindy. The Hawkins home continues to be filled with love, laughter and difficult, but special moments that we know Cindy appreciates. We will continue to make these things a priority on this journey! We (Dave, Cindy and the whole crew) want to say thank you all so much for the continued thoughts, prayers, meals, sweet treats, messages and cards, and love that you continue to pour onto us. We appreciate the fantastic blessings of God’s love that have been provided by many of you. 

We don’t know what we would do without our incredible communities. These communities have been established because of mom and dad’s intentionality in building positive relationships and genuine friendships within our wonderful, God-given world…and for that we are forever grateful! Thank you all for being there for us in ALL the ways. We appreciate it more than you know. 

God’s story for Cindy’s life continues to be evident to all of us. It is no surprise to us that this journey has so many “God moments”. If we attempted to write all of them, we would have a really thick book. 

At this time, we don’t have any pressing needs to fill, but have appreciated when people reach out offering! We are still limiting visitors as this can cause over-stimulation and exhaustion for Cindy. 

Cindy has loved hearing your cards, texts and emails so keep them coming. It has also been awesome and healing for us to read them to her and make more connections to her legacy. So many lives she has touched and continues to touch! 

Feel free to email and we will be sure to read them to her! Cindy’s Email: Cindyjh4@gmail.com Thank-you all again for your continued love, prayers and support as we continue to walk this difficult journey. This loving support is felt deeply 💙 

 -Alli, Mitch, Kevin, Abbi and Dave and the the rest of the Hawkins Family

GBM: Latest Cindy Update

 This is the Hawkins family writing with an update on Cindy:

After getting home from Florida (yay!) and following our routine follow up scans and appointments in Chicago and a busy few days of family activities, Cindy continued to decline in her symptoms of weakness and fatigue. Starting on Good Friday, her weakness continued to increase and we decided to take her to the hospital on Monday after Easter. She was admitted at Goshen Hospital for further observation including an EEG, blood tests and another MRI scan of her brain. The medical team wanted to rule out infection, small seizures and other potential areas of growth.
With the scan MRI scan a new area of tumor or radiation damage was seen close to her brain stem. The neurologist concluded that this was the cause of her decline in mobility and strength.

She gained some strength back in the hospital, and through further conversations with her medical team in Goshen and Chicago, Cindy and Dave, and with all of us, it was decided to enter into hospice care at home. Cindy was discharged on Friday (April 5th) and returned home. We met with the Center for Hospice Care team this week and are feeling very comfortable moving forward with this team surrounding us.

Cindy wanted to be sure everyone knows hospice does not mean she (or we!!) are giving up! Hospice allows for comfort care. It’s another step in this glioblastoma (brain cancer) journey and will allow Cindy to have a quality of life that she has longed for-No more chasing treatments, it will be about symptom management, care, comfort, being in spaces where she is comfortable (like home), and time with family.

Cindy has had some ups and downs since her hospital stay, but today is feeling much stronger. While she continues to be fatigued, she is in good spirits, responsive when she is awake, and is enjoying visits from her kids and grandkids. And continues to give Dave a hard time! :)

This is not the update we want to give but we felt it was important for you all to know the latest. We do not know timelines or what each day will bring, but we are thankful for time to spend together and comfort care for our mom, mimi and wife. Thank you for all your prayers, thoughts and love! We all appreciate it so much!

At this time-we are asking for no visitors as Cindy fatigues easily even with “small talk” and her energy is a limited resource at this time. Thank you for your understanding.

If you want to write a note to Cindy or have something to share with her- email Cindyjh4@gmail.com and we will be sure she is able to read or hear your notes.

-Dave, Alli, Mitch, Kevin and Abbi and the the rest of the Hawkins Family

Another January Update

I Know who holds tomorrow! Just don’t know what that entails...

Dave and I now get to spend about 2 weeks in Florida. We have been excited for this opportunity to have a few less doctors appointments and a less hectic schedule. Dave will continue do his work remotely and I will continue to find some clarity to my scattered brain with some rest. 

We arrived last Friday, and the day after our arrival to our home in Florida, I began having excruciating rib pain, so off we went to the ER AGAIN! With tears streaming down my face I pleaded “where is God? Why has he left me?” Dave compassionately talked me through it. 

After x-rays and a scan, The doctor said I had a “very large” blood clot across the top of my lungs. (pulmonary embolism for you medical folks). So three nights in the hospital for blood thinning IV’s and I was discharged. Oh and two doses of morphine for pain – oh sweet relief for pain! 

I’m glad to be back home where I’m comfortable. Dave & I walked to our car dragging the IV pole filled with DRIP IV OF JEREMIAH 29:11 and lots of Hope and a future. 

Seems I just can’t avoid medical facilities! Maybe God thinks I enjoy all the attention I get while I am in the hospital. Ugh!!! 

That being said, I have gotten really good care while having made my various hospital visits, no matter where we have been Anchorage AK, Chicago, Goshen or Sarasota. Below is a photo of one my great nurses LaRonda in Sarasota. 

 Thank you for your continued prayers! Cindy

January 2023 - I KNOW WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE

I know who holds tomorrow! I just don’t know what that entails. I’m still moving slowly from chair to bed and trying to “putter” and get some things done. Yesterday I was so frustrated trying to accomplish a photo order I just laid my head on the table and let the tears flow. And I may or may not have thrown the remote control. Ha! A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. 

                                 

My brain continues to be the biggest frustration for me. Dates? Appointments? I can’t remember any of it! To make any visitation times, appointments,  please connect with Dave.  

Last Wednesday, my oldest Alli came to my rescue! She spent about 3 hours here and decluttered and helped with picture orders. I absolutely have no idea what I’d do without my amazing kids! I really am blessed. And a friend brought chili and cornbread for our dinner. It was delicious! We now accept visitors but ask that you limit your visit to 15 minutes, and text or call first. Preferably Dave. He knows the calendar. That’s really all I can tolerate at this point. If you see me out & about I’m sporting new headgear, which is called OPTUNE It’s really lovely looking and it’s another way to fight this **** cancer!

 

Super grateful for this lady that is my sidekick when we want to do what Dave tells us not to do. ("too much out to eat, pace yourself, we have a BIG day tomorrow!"  Honey, every DAY is a big day around here in case you didn't notice!) And of course, to get our nails done.  

I had a seizure a few weeks ago which earned me a ride in an ambulance (a first for me). Once at the ER they got the seizures under control quickly. I was also admitted to Sarasota Memorial for one night in February for IV, x-rays, breathing treatments for RSV...so yeah, I guess we have a few things going on. Ha! But we get to sneak away to our snowbird home in florida when we want to. *How are we old enough for this stage of life?!? We’ll spend a good portion of Feb/March there. 

 I also forgot about the amazing long weekend in January that I planned with 8 very dear volleyball coaching friends  (including my coaching daughters). We attended NCAA women’s volleyball championship in Tampa. This trip had been a long time coming and may be a new tradition. 

Enjoy the pictures and please pray for a good long future for me and my family. Also pray that I can literally use my weak left side and place each day at His feet and not WORRY!!  God's beauty and majesty!  Oh how I long to explore Heaven!  My Uncle Wilbur went ahead of me (funeral was Saturday)  I sure hope he's telling everyone I know, to prepare for my arrival, because my heart is ready for all of the hugs and dancing on streets of gold!

Julie & Terry  treated us siblings to a delicious Brazilian meal.

Because you lasted until the end, I'm treating you to some cute kid pictures...