August 25, 2000

Dear Family,

A little news, and some recollections from recent days... some
incidents that are illustrative of the remarkably strong spirit
God has gifted Skylar with.

A few days ago a prayer group from a neighbor's church came
to visit Skylar. There were perhaps six or eight ladies who
came to pray, and as they started filing into the bedroom
where Skylar lay on the bed, he became agitated. At times he
doesn't like having too many people around. He asked them
to leave the room... but then, as they were leaving, he was
sure to be gracious and say "Thank you for coming!".

Skylar's Grandpa Vaughn told how Skylar, who received a real
police hat as a gift from the local police department, recently
"arrested" Grandpa - for leaving toilet seat up! As Grandpa
was being "arrested", Skylar began singing a theme from a
popular television show:

"Bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do?
Watcha gonna do when they come for you!"

When Skylar had his party last Saturday, he wanted to open the
present from Dr. Rich first. When he was asked "Why?", he replied
logically, "Because it's the biggest one."

Today Skylar had a vist from Stacy, his Nurse/Practitioner from
the hospital in Stanford, and Kate, a home-care nurse, also from
Stanford. Although he was very weak, very sleepy, and was
under the influence of pain medication, it was evident that Skylar
was glad for the visit. As Stacy brought greetings from other
nurses and hospital staffers, Skye asked by name about many nurses
and aides that Stacy failed to mention.

During the vist, Stacy, Kate, Mama, and Nana were recounting many
stories of Skylar's exploits while at the hospital. How on one
trip there for chemotherapy, Skylar hopped up on the gurney and
said "Where's my chemo? Let's go!". How he would slip out of his
room and go to the nurses station, where the nurses would let him
sing over the intercom. How he made friends of almost everyone
who met him.

While Stacy and Kate were still there, in spite of his difficulty
breathing with his oxygen mask, Skylar started singing a little
song for them and tapping his feet.

After dinner, Skye's brother Chris and I were thumb-wrestling. We
thought Skylar was sleeping; however, a while later Skylar said to
Mama, "Give me your thumb". We thought he just wanted to hold her
hand for comfort; but he started trying to thumb-wrestle her!

Skylar is often concerned about the feelings of others. The other
night he was hungry. He asked me what we had had for supper, and
I listed the various dishes. He asked for one of Grandma's green
beans to eat. Nana went and got if for him. When he had eaten it,
he loudly proclaimed "MMMMM", and then said, "Tell Grandma it was
good so I don't hurt her feelings."

Skylar's breathing has grown even more labored today; the doctor
tells us that his lungs are wetter than yesterday. Yesterday the Dr.
told us that Skylar's heart has been forced over to the right side
of his chest by the increased pressure of the tumors. I don't know
how long he can continue.

We have been working today on some details for Skylar's memorial
service. It has been a difficult day, full of both tears and
laughter, a day we never imagined facing.

As much as we will miss him, our prayer is that the Lord will take
Skylar safely and swiftly home, away from this world of pain and
sorrow, home to the peace and light and joy of His presence.

"To depart and be with Christ is far better" - Paul

"Thus says, the LORD, "A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation
and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She
refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no
more." Thus says the LORD, "Restrain your voice from weeping,
And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded,"
declares the LORD, "And they shall return from the land of the
enemy. And there is hope for your future," declares the LORD,
"And your children shall return to their own territory."
-Jeremiah 31:15-17

Thank you for your continuing prayers for Skylar and for us.

In Christ,

-Dann (for us all)