A very sad couple of weeks – Goodbye Nana

This is a difficult post to write and I’m not exactly sure where to start.

We had a lot of joy and celebration on Evans birthday a few weeks ago but there was 1 very important person who was unable to be there – Nana.  The Tuesday before Evan’s party, Nana went into the hospital.  She was feeling pretty crummy and by the time the party came around she was still hospitalized with no real good grasp on what was going on. On Sunday, Evan’s actual birthday, we visited Nana in the hospital. She felt and looked a bit worse but was otherwise the same.  That would be the last time we would have a conversation with her. The next day, she was rushed to the operating room for surgery on her leg.

Over the next few days things quickly spiraled out of control. Nana was diagnosed with a septic Staphylococcus infection as well as necrotizing fasciitis (WARNING: Graphic pictures) on her lower right leg. Her liver and kidneys began to fail and she later developed pneumonia from a Psuedomonas infection in her lungs.  Nana never slipped into a coma but was heavily sedated as she was dependent on a ventilator.  We had small glimmers of hope for recovery but several of her organs were too damaged. We learned Nana would never recover and she was released from her physical body Saturday August 3 at 3:20 pm without any pain or suffering and surrounded by loved ones. Nana was only 57.

We were completely unprepared for her passing and her sudden illness was always seen as a temporary inconvenience until things got very serious very quickly. But she should not be remembered for her passing but rather how she lived.  Nana, Papa, and Xander all moved to Michigan from Florida to help take care of Evan so we could both work. It was that selfless attitude that was quintessential Nana. She loved her grandsons dearly and doted on our little boy so much. Xander will remember her more because he is six but it will be up to us to make sure Evan remembers. I am so happy she got to be with him so much and he will always know how much she was there for him.  It’s impossible to hold back the tears when Evan calls out for Nana or goes looking for her in their house. I know that time will heal and we find comfort in the fact that Nana is no longer in any pain as she had been dealing with it for years but we are still frustrated that she wasn’t able to live to a ripe old age, help us get through Evans next surgery, or watch both boys grow up to be the amazing men that we know they will be.

Terrilyn (DeMond) Seiwell
(June 7, 1956 – August 3, 2013)

Obituary in Lansing State Journal August 5, 2013 reads as follows:

Terrilyn Seiwell of Portage, MI Formerly of Spring Hill, Florida Age 57, passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, August 3, 2013. Terrilyn was born June 7, 1956, in East Lansing, Michigan the daughter of John and Mary (Adams) DeMond. Terri was born and raised in East Lansing. She spent much of her life in Florida and then returned to Michigan in 2011. Terri enjoyed going to the beach and gardening. Her true love was for her family, a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend will be dearly missed by all that knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Erma Sue Phillips. Terri is survived by her loving husband of 25 years, James; children, William Wood and Heather Seiwell; sister, Sherry (Jerry) Frisbie; grandchildren, Xander Seiwell and Evan Wood; friends, Debbie Babb, Ginger Sprowls and Sarah Wood. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held, Tuesday, August 6, 2013, 2:30p.m. at the Palmer, Bush & Jensen Family Funeral Home, Lansing Chapel with Chaplain Steve Ezop officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends, Tuesday, August 6, 2013, from 1:00 – 2:30 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to the Capital Area Humane Society in memory of Terri. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.palmerbush.com.