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