Dear Friends and Family,

We want to give you an update on our mother, Pat Folkerth. We know this will come as a shock and surprise to most of you.

Mom has been diagnosed with both acute dementia and advanced colon cancer. She has lost significant weight over the winter months and it is now clear that her physical condition is grave. After consultation with her medical team and with all three of us, she has opted to forego further cancer treatments, and will enter into Palliative/Hospice care at her apartment at Highland Springs. One member of her medical team estimates she might have 3-6 months left with us.

This is no doubt as much of a shock to you as it has been to each of us these past few months. We have all known Pat as healthy, strong, and active. But based on her current physical condition, these issues, as well as her own wishes (via medical directive)—we are all in agreement that this is the best course of action.

You might ask: “What can we do?”

Cards and letters would be wonderful. And if you are in need of her address, please feel free to write any of us privately and we’ll send it along.

We’re not quite sure how well in-person visits will go. She is still answering her phone for now. Be aware that her cognitive issues affect recent or short-term things. So if you do speak with her it’s possible she may repeat questions or even forget she has cancer or dementia. Just be prepared.

We would appreciate your prayers and thoughts for all of us as we seek to make the best of the time we have left with Pat.

And we’d close with this plea: Mom made the decision to update her medical advance directive after Dad died. Please, if you need to get your own affairs in order—it will help your family greatly in the long run.

Pat has always been a remarkably strong woman, mother, wife, grandmother, aunt, paralegal, teacher, and friend to so many of you. We feel so richly blessed to have her as our mom.

She said today, “I’ve lived a long, good life…”

Please continue to offer us all your prayers and thoughts in this time. Thank you all for your friendship and for loving our Mom.

Much love,

Eric Folkerth
Dianne Folkerth
Linda Folkerth Elmer