Thank goodness for small miracles. Tamra is home! This is something she has been wanting for days and it's something we have wanted for her. Today started off well at the hospital when she wanted to take a shower. She got all cleaned up and was able to relax for most of the day. She still hasn't eaten or had much to drink so not much has changed there. Without a big change soon this will shorten the time she might be here with us.
We had a visit today from the relief society president at the hospital and she informed us that many had been asking about Tamra and had meals coming to the house. They did come this evening and we want to say thanks to all that helped with the food. We also had a visit from a couple of lovely women from Sun First Bank. It still amazes me just how much she is loved.
About 3pm Julie, moms nurse from Rocky Mountain Health Care came by to get her ready to go home. We had a small glitch when it came to transporting Tamra back home but between Pauline with Rocky Mountain and a very nice woman named Claudia at IHC we were able to get it arranged. The care she received at IHC was wonderful and I cant say enough good things about the treatment my mom and all of us have had from the people at Rocky Mountain. They truly care for my mom and want whats best for her and it means a great deal to us to know they are there.
After we got her situated here at home it seemed to improve her spirits. She just kept saying "I'm so thankful to be home." She also mentioned to me that she really never thought she would make it back home again. This also means the world to my dad even if it is just for a short time. Now he can glance in on his wife whenever he would like and give her kisses and tell her that he loves her.
Her pain is still being managed by a morphine pump and she is still on oxygen. We have stopped the IV because she has started to retain fluid in her body and if we were to continue there would be a chance that her lungs could start filling with it and the outcome of that would be very painful. We of course will continue to offer her food and water whenever she if up to it in hopes that she will start to drink or eat something but ultimately it will be up to her.
We just want you all to know that she is now home safe and surrounded by loved ones and all your cards and prayers. Home is where she belongs and it always has been.
Thank you once again for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers!
I love you Mom! Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle, meow, meow, meow.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Tamra Juretich Tapp
Tamra Juretich Tapp
Our loving, wife, mother & grandmother age 67 passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at home after a brief battle with Pancreatic Cancer.
She was born July 16th, 1941 in Murray Utah to Matt & Claudia Juretich and later married Jackie Thomas Tapp February 20th, 1960 in Coalville Utah.
Tamra began high school at West High and later graduated from Jordan High in 1959.
She started dancing at the age of 3, was a member of the Jordan High Dance Company with her best friend Penny Walker and later preformed on the Ted Mack show as a beautiful gifted young woman. As a young mother she taught ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance in the basement of her home on Coventry Lane and had a positive influence on the children she taught.
Tamra loved her time serving in the Young Women’s program of the Church. Her greatest joy was teaching and laughing with the Young Women she served. She especially had fond memories as Stake camp director while living in Silver Reef, Utah.
Tamra enjoyed working with her friends at Sunfirst Bank in Hurricane and St. George Utah, where she was always the life of the party. She especially enjoyed working alongside Mont Humphries who she considered one of her closest friends.
Most of all Tamra loved her children, grand children and her husband Jack of 48 years and will miss them dearly!
Tamra’s catch phrase throughout her life was “have a nice day and smile all the way” and loved anything that was bright and sparkly. She was always thinking of others and had the innate ability to make others feel comfortable around her.
Instead of flowers Tamra has requested that you provide an act of kindness for someone in need.
Thank you to the staff at Intermountain Healthcare and Rocky Mountain Healthcare who assisted with her care. Specifically we would like to thank her nurse Julie and CNA Sally who took such good care of her during the end of her earthly life.
Our loving, wife, mother & grandmother age 67 passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at home after a brief battle with Pancreatic Cancer.
She was born July 16th, 1941 in Murray Utah to Matt & Claudia Juretich and later married Jackie Thomas Tapp February 20th, 1960 in Coalville Utah.
Tamra began high school at West High and later graduated from Jordan High in 1959.
She started dancing at the age of 3, was a member of the Jordan High Dance Company with her best friend Penny Walker and later preformed on the Ted Mack show as a beautiful gifted young woman. As a young mother she taught ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance in the basement of her home on Coventry Lane and had a positive influence on the children she taught.
Tamra loved her time serving in the Young Women’s program of the Church. Her greatest joy was teaching and laughing with the Young Women she served. She especially had fond memories as Stake camp director while living in Silver Reef, Utah.
Tamra enjoyed working with her friends at Sunfirst Bank in Hurricane and St. George Utah, where she was always the life of the party. She especially enjoyed working alongside Mont Humphries who she considered one of her closest friends.
Most of all Tamra loved her children, grand children and her husband Jack of 48 years and will miss them dearly!
Tamra’s catch phrase throughout her life was “have a nice day and smile all the way” and loved anything that was bright and sparkly. She was always thinking of others and had the innate ability to make others feel comfortable around her.
Instead of flowers Tamra has requested that you provide an act of kindness for someone in need.
Thank you to the staff at Intermountain Healthcare and Rocky Mountain Healthcare who assisted with her care. Specifically we would like to thank her nurse Julie and CNA Sally who took such good care of her during the end of her earthly life.
Up to date information for friends and family of Tamra Tapp
1/12/09
About a month ago Tamra had a recurrence of some back pain which she has had on and off for years. She had some physical therapy done but it had little effect. Over the following weeks she was very tired and sleepy. The pain had progressed over time and so she had Misty take her into the St George hospital on December 31 to get at CT scan to see if the liver was the issue of her pain. The nurses at the hospital sent her home and said they would send the scans to the doctors for review.
The doctors called on the January 5th to check on here pain and suggested that she come in for a biopsy her liver on the January 6th. She had this done and had to wait until January 8th for the results. Upon receiving the results of the biopsy the family doctor suggested we meet a hospital oncologist because he had concerns about what he was seeing on the CT scan and what showed up in the biopsy results.
An appointment was set up with the Oncologist today at the Huntsman Cancer wing here in St George. Without knowing fully all the medical lingo here is what we learned today. Apparently as some point (nobody knows exactly when) a cancer started at the bottom head of her pancreas. It has traveled from it starting point to just outside the pancreas and has since spread to the liver. Unfortunately there is not a specific treatment for where this cancer started. This is not to say that there are not treatments that can be done because there are but there is no chance of a complete cure.
Tamra has decided on a course of treatment as suggested by the oncologist. Her pain is being managed at the moment and will be modified as needed. It is her and our wish that she be kept pain free even at the cost maybe losing a few months of her life. We will be exploring all treatments as some may work and others may not. We all have agreed on this course and just want what is best for Tamra.
As her treatments and her condition changes I hope either myself, Bart, Misty or Shane will update you all with any new information. Jack is obviously very distressed by this news and I would hope you would all keep him in your prayers as well as he loves Tamra dearly!
On a personal note I would like to ask one favor of all of you. We are creating this blog mainly for Tamra to be able to log in and read messages from her loved ones and be able to send her feelings back to them when she is feeling up to it. So if you could, please do not use this board to leave messages for other family members. Misty and I have found many of our relatives on Face book and love catching up with them there. And just so you know this is also one of Tamra’s biggest wishes as she expressed to us today. She has always wanted the family to stay together and to keep in touch!
Finally, my thanks to all my family for making a bad situation bearable. To my older brother Bart and his wife Pennie. Thank you for being the strong ones and helping organize all that you have. To my little brother Shane and his wife Jamie. Thank you for taking such good care of both Tamra and Jack now and for being there for them over the years while Bart and I have been in Salt Lake. Also thank you to my little sister Misty and her husband Doug for always doing what you can to do help and helping Tamra and Jack whenever they needed you. I love you all!
Chet
3 comments:
It blesses me to see how the seeds of love and loyalty Tamra sowed during her life have grown into a harvest of that same intense love and loyalty being showered on her during this difficult time.
I'll never forget how "I couldn't get away with anything" when I'd come play at the big house in Salt Lake. "My mom said..." and then I'd face a cousin(s) who I could tell had the backing of an entire army wrapped up in the form of their mother. Aunt Tamra said it. It was a done deal.
I hope I am the kind of mother who is fiercely loving and loyal... the way you are, Aunt Tamra, and have been. Thank you for being a great example to me.
Much love to you.
I am praying for you.
Blessings,
Sharon (Whitworth) Olson
Dearest Tamra,
I want you to know that all of my family and I love you so much. We are so sad that you are so ill. Our prayers are with you daily. Also with Jack and your wonderful family. We have so many wonderful memories that include you and Jack and the children. You have been the best mother ever. I am so proud of you. We have pictures of you with your wonderful big smile and we treasure them. I miss you so much. Try to eat and drink, ok?
Love, Rose
Dear Tamra,
I am so glad you have made it home!! I hope you will be able to drink and eat some, to help with whatever strength you have left. I'm so thankful you have good nurses and are surrounded by all who love you. I hope to be able to stop in and see you!! You are so tough and are fighting such a brave fight!! I Love you Woman!!
love, Kristen
Post a Comment