Update on John's condition

Hi Everyone, I wanted to give you all an update on how John is doing.

Unfortunately I do not have good news.

First, I would like to apologize that we have not been able to call and tell each and every one of you directly. Secondly, I know that after reading this, many of you will want to call and talk to Liz and John. But right now they need their peace and privacy to focus on the challenges at hand. If anyone would like to call and get more information, please use my cell phone number: 781-738-3572 or email address: jsappet@gmail.com and I will answer or return messages as soon as possible.

(Stop reading now if you are an emotional person- this is not an easy one).

Since Thursday July 12th, John’s condition has seriously degraded. It is apparent that the cancer is now taking over and John’s body is starting to shut down. John now spends the majority of the time in a restful state. Every few hours he will wake for a short period of time (5-15 minutes), during these awake periods he will fluctuate between a coherent and incoherent state (Hepatic encephalopathy- With severe liver impairment, toxic substances normally removed by the liver accumulate in the blood and impair the function of brain cells.) Jaundice has set in and his skin and eyes have a very dark yellow color to them.

John’s body is in an extremely weaken state, when he talks it is not very much over a whisper, and many times hard to decipher what he is saying. His muscles have now atrophied to a point where he can only make only rudimentary arm & leg movements. Getting in and out of bed or walking (which he still does a couple times a day) requires one or two people to assist him and protect him from falling. Walking a short distance 15-20 feet is about all he can do at any one time.

When he is in a coherent state you can tell that this is taking a large toll on his emotional state, he gets extremely frustrated with his body failing him. Throughout this journey, John has fought hard all the way, in his current state; his mind is still fighting but his body is not responding.

John’s hospice nurse (Gail) came for a visit today. She was shocked at how much his condition had degraded since her last visit on Thursday. On Thursday John was mobile on his own and not showing any major changes since he entered hospice care. Moving forward the hospice care will be more aggressive, we will be getting daily visits from either John’s nurse, chaplain, or social worker.

Even though John’s physical condition has deteriorated, it is refreshing to see that his personality traits have not. He is still a stubborn Sappet! If you try to assist him getting up or walking he will surely yell at you that he can do it on his own. And he is still a very loving man; even when he is in a restful or incoherent state, and Liz says that she wants a kiss. When she leans in, John is always ready to return her kiss.

Our focus now is making sure that John is comfortable, and we pray that when the time comes he is at peace.

Thank you all for all of your prayers, love and support. I know that all of the cards, letters, calls, and emails have meant the world to John and Liz. It has helped them feel that they are not in this journey alone, please continue your support.

I will leave the message on this note. When the hospice nurse came today, she was wearing a rubber bracelet with a very poignant and fitting message, that I would like to echo; “Cancer Sucks”

Again, please give John and Liz their peace and privacy to focus on the challenges at hand and contact me at 781-738-3572 or jsappet@gmail.com.


Again, thank you all for the love and support that you have shown John and Liz.

God Bless you all.
-Jeremy