Healing, surgery, love

On May 26 I had surgery to relieve the compression of my left lung by fluid in the pleural cavity. I can now relieve any future accumulation by mean of a catheter in my side, and the pleural tissue may scar over so that less fluid is produced. I received wonderful care from my surgeon and the nursing staff at IMC, and my recovery has been quick and painless.

Yesterday evening, Friday May 29, was the most powerful experience of my life. A fundraising "celebration" for me was held at Westminster, with over 100 people in attendance. There were musical performances by the Chamber singers, Chris Le Cluyse, and my homies Tim Dolan and Tom Cronin, including a spontaneous and beautiful a capella solo by a student. The music was exquisite.

The event was attended by my former students, colleagues, and friends among the staff at Westminster. I sat quietly listening to one after another describe how I had touched their lives, and I was overcome. When I tried to speak at the end, all I could say was that there is nothing more healing than this. And I'm not exaggerating. I now feel as if I'm filled with light. I am so deeply grateful to everyone whom I've had the privilege to know, and who expressed their love and care last night. It's too much for me to comprehend intellectually, and putting it into words is impossible, but I feel it all the way through me, and I feel it all the time. Thank you.

Condition update May 11

Friday May 8, two liters of fluid were drained from my pleural cavity, relieving my breath, and allowing me to function more normally.
This afternoon, May 11, the oncologist suggested that we wait and see how symptoms develop. He examined me and said, "Right now I don't see anything that will take you in six months." We scheduled a return in one month. Of course, this is very encouraging.

Students Giving Back

Tell us how Doug touched your life. 

Humor

Doug says to me today, "I realized this afternoon, that I've got to get back to writing. I have a deadline."

Important Links

Lots of Helping Hands: http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/613782/login/ . When you're available to help Doug with occasional day to day tasks.

Doug's own web site (still in the works) where you can read his poetry and see his visual arts.

http://movingarts.us/index.html

Doug over the years (a place for stories and images)

Doug, 1973. I'm certain Doug was focused on painting. He was living in an apartment in Orange with his mom and attending Cal State Fullerton. This Kodachrome film, balanced for day light rendered a Rembrandt-like warmth when exposed under tungsten light.

Below:

Doug, May 5, 2009

circa 1985, Doug clutches a hapless Booger May.

Baseball Homies

Here's some photos taken a couple of years ago at a Bees game, in fabled Section 102 (or was it 104?)

A motley assortment of Westminster types outside "Delta House," most of us (although not, of course, Doug) in our requisite tweed jackets with leather elbow patches.

Paul and Doug 1973. This was taken in the back yard of the Mellon's house, our home away from home. Paul had just returned from art school, and as a "gift" to his mother, cut his hair. The expressions on their faces, though seemly homo-erotic, were but expressions of youthful debauchery and glee.

Doug in his studio, 1974

paint sketch by Paul Babin

Helping Doug

June 21 update

This is not an appeal for more donations.

Though several thousand dollars have been contributed by generous people like you, the fact is that Doug's medical bills are now up around $30,000. The good news is that creative, hard working people are coming up with a plan to raise more funds.

Meanwhile, the Social Security system has given Doug the "business as usual" treatment. After suffering hours of hold time and information collection, then not calling back when they said they would, they've lost his file and suggested that Doug needs to start from scratch in this process that takes months in the best of circumstances. At one point, a person whose expertise is negotiating this morass was working with Doug, but that person has mysteriously dropped out of the picture.

Here is what Doug really needs at the moment:

1. Someone to advise him on how to manage the mounting medical bills. Strategiesfor maintaining solvency for as long as possible.

2. Someone to help him with the process of getting Social Security Disability benefits. To be relentless in staying on the bureaucrats that seem to care little of his plight. Doug's ability to cope with this is directly related to his ability to breathe , and he's having a rough time of it.

Paul

___________________________________________________________________

Please join Doug's Homies on

Friday, 29 May,

5PM to 8PM
Westminster College (Nunemaker, Honors Bldg.)

for an evening of

stories, music, poetry, food and drink

to celebrate Doug.

Bring your own story about Doug,

a poem, a song, a dance, a drum, or just listen to other people.

We'll have poems for you to read if you prefer.

for information email: jnichols@westminstercollege.edu

Those interested in purchasing a genuine, "Experiencing the Doug" poster (all proceeds going toward Doug's medical expenses) please email: jnichols@westminstercollege.edu

_____________________________________________________________________

Most of you know that Doug is without family in the traditional sense. His parents are long gone and like me he's an only child. The good news is that over the years, thousands of students have been lucky enough to experience him as a teacher. Educators and artists have come to know him as a creator, poet, and compassionate advocate of awareness in all endeavors.

Doug is facing a huge adversary in this cancer. It's made all the more challenging by the fact that his health insurance lapsed at the end of 2008. Without insurance, there is huge uncertainty in regard to his getting the services he might need to continue living.

So what do we do?

First, nothing will sustain Doug as much as his knowing you care. Send him some love. A phone call, an email, a visit will go a long way toward keeping his spirits up. He told me today that the response from so many people to his condition has given him hope that he might be able to win this one.

For people who want to get involved in helping Doug with the day-to-day tasks ahead. Please log on to this site: http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/613782/login/ Here you can make yourself available and see at a glance the what's and when's of Doug's needs.

Third, there is a way to donate money directly to helping Doug. Doug's dear friend Richard Badenhausen wrote to us this week:

"As you know, Doug does not have any health insurance and has limited means. If you are so inclined, you may make a contribution (*non-deductible* for income tax purposes) to the "Doug Wright Medical Fund" at any Wells Fargo Bank (there's one right by campus on the corner of 21st South & 11th East). Checks can be made out in the name of the fund and deposited at Wells Fargo or given to me and I will deposit them. I also have an account number if they give you trouble at the bank, but that shouldn't be necessary. If you do make a contribution, please try to let me know, as I am supposed to keep track of deposits/withdrawals, according to the bank and my accountant. (Doug has been in contact with the Medicaid and S.S. disability offices, as well as Hospice Care.)"

Lastly, you can send your prayers, good intentions, peaceful visions and healing thoughts his way. Picture a tsunami of healing washing over Doug as we summon the unknowable to do what "can't be done".


Paul

Doug describes "My Condition"

On May 1 I was informed that I have adenocarcinoma. It is in both lungs, prmarily the left. It is diffuse and spread widely enough that neither surgery nor radiation are viable treatments. There are two types of this cancer. Chemotherapy can slow its spread, but only has a 30% - 40% chance of response in one type, and 10% - 20% in the other. If the chemo were effective, it could prolong my life expectancy from 12 to 18 months. Untreated, the average life expectancy at this point is 6 months. My oncologist is currently working with radiology to try to identify which type it is.

The symptoms are dry coughs and constricted breathing. I am currently treating the former with a fairly effective cough suppressant, and the latter with an inhaler. My lack of breath makes all walking difficult, and I will begin using oxygen soon.

I am discovering that I have an astonishingly broad range of support among my friends, colleagues, and former students. I cannot overstate how powerfully this affects me -- how it motivates me to investigate possible alternative treatments, and keep at it. I am overwhelmed by encouragement, compassion, and love.

I seem to have skipped all four of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's well-known stages of dealing with this type of information. While I acknowledge my condition and the probabilities associated with it, I am also pursuing the resources suggested to me by all of you. Through this blog, set up by my friend Paul Babin, and the others set up by Richard Badenhausen, we will be able to communicate and coordinate our ideas.

More later. For now, thank you and bless you all.