Memorials…

Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive these last few weeks. We apologize for the “drop off” in information. I’m sure you can imagine that we have experienced a bit of a crash since Jim died and have been doing our best to take it easy.

Because of the many varied lives Jim had lived and the vast number of people he has touched, we have decided to have several memorials for him in those special locations over the year. In the interest of creating some intimacy for his family, the initial memorial will be in Boston on May 3rd for immediate family and friends. We plan to be in Chicago in late summer (Septmember?) and Miami in the early winter. If you would like to join us for these, please let us know so we can include you in the plans.

Beacon Hospice, who Jim devoted so much of the last years of his life to, has established a fund in Jim’s name to support work being done towards demensia patients. In liue of flowers, please consider making a donation here:

The James P. Haggerty Fund, The Lighthouse Hospice Foundation, Inc. 529 Main Street, Suite 101, Charlestown, MA 02129

If you’d like to send a card, our address in Boston: 145 Pinckney St. #634, Boston, MA 02114

 

What an adventure it’s been…

Just a quick note to let you all know that we are truly doing well and are so thankful for all the love for our family and for Jim. This note came in from Jim’s niece, Amy Houston, on the night of his death. Nina is Amy’s duaghter, Jim grande niece.

 ”So Nina got out her Shel Silverstein poems tonight; I share with you:”

TRUE STORY

This morning I jumped on my horse,

And went out for a ride,

And some wild outlaws chased me

And they shot me in the side.

So I crawled into a wildcat’s cave

To find a place to hide,

But some pirates found me sleeping there,

And soon they had me tied

To a pole and built a fire

Under me—I almost cried

Till a mermaid came and cut me loose

And begged to be my bride,

So I said I’d come back Wednesday

But I must admit I lied.

Then I ran into a jungle swamp

But I forgot my guide

And I stepped into some quicksand,

And no matter how I tried

I couldn’t get out, until I met

A water snake named Clyde,

Who pulled me to some cannibals

Who planned to have me fried.

But an eagle came and swooped me up

And through the air we flied,

But he dropped me in a boiling lake

A thousand miles wide.

And you’ll never guess what I did then—

I DIED.

 

Monday April 14th, 2008 3:45am

Well Friends,

It’s going to be a beautiful day in the world today because the Spirit of Jim Haggerty has moved onto the heaviside layer. That’s “cat heaven” for those who are not familiar with the term… it’s also a place in the earth’s ionosphere where radio-waves can be propogated “beyond the horizon”. This is how we have been experiencing Jim for the past couple of days – already everywhere. Truly, his Spirit had already expanded out of his body… we could feel him with us in the living room yesterday as we delighted in stories and Love of Jim with dear friends who had come to visit.

We had been with Jim all day yesterday, and Mom was there the night before. We were hesitant to leave him last night, but the circumstances were such that it just felt best to go. Our good man Jason at Tippett Home, who has attended to thousands of deaths over his years in service with Hospice,  assured us that if Jim needed us there, he’d wait. And, that sometimes some of us need to be alone to let go. We left knowing that the right thing would happen, that it already had all along, that there was no need to fret or worry over any decisions, that it was, as we say, “all good”.

And so it was with PEACE & JOY that we received the call early this morning. My first thought… “Well done, Dad”. He’s on his way back to Mass General today to donate his brain… a last act of service to the health industry. We’re so proud of him.

There are many things to be said about this whole experience, but today I’ll just use one: Beautiful.

Thank you all for your Love and support over the last few weeks, today and in the months to come. People always want to know “Is there anything I can do?”… for now we just ask this: Smile when you think of Jim.

Stay tuned… we’ll be planning a memorial service and Celebration of Life!!! Of course you are ALL invited!

Bye Bye for now!

 

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” -Mother Teresa

I love this shot of Jim with our cousins Nina and Henry Houston… it really could have been John and me… Jim’s spirit has not changed.

I’ve been needing to write this for a couple of days and just didn’t have it in me to tell you all how close we are to Jim’s time. He lost the ability to swallow well on Tuesday, so there has been no food or hydration for a couple of days now. John was with him Monday night for spaghetti and meatballs which were much enjoyed.

Jim’s sleeping most of the time now, but is still present when his fans show up. There has been a powerful light burning in that man for 68 years and it’s hardly faint, even now. I want you all to know how beautiful he looked tonight – even through labored breaths, in a hospital gown, in a hospice bed – absolutely radiant! I mean young! …handsome! …and vital with an energy beyond good health… the whole room was full of his warmth… golden. We all felt so calm and clear and so available to just love him and hold a true feeling of good wishes for whatever he needs… whatever is to come.

And driving home tonight, we talked about all the stories we’re hearing about Jim and how we’re experiencing him so fully in this letting go. What continues to come up is how much he inspired people. What has been coming up for me is an awareness of how he truly enjoyed the simple things in Life and what giving there was in most of those acts – like carrying biscuits for unknown dogs (you know they can be counted on for sharing and appreciating the gift!) Or his maverick tulip planting expeditions to the forgotten corners and islands of Storrow Drive – just to bring in a little beauty. At home it was simple meals, prepared with care… do you know he made our lunch everyday he was able throughout our high school years? We were 17 and embarrassed by the way he’d put our names on our bags -but there was no denying, the man knows how to make a snack.

Even in this, Jim is teaching us, giving us the experience of how to be useful, how to be good, how to do the next right thing – and if you don’t know what that is, just do the next thing right. It is strangly from him that we gather our strength in this… I don’t know why I’m surprised. I just didn’t know it could be like this.

And in all this, I am coming to understand what it is to want to memorialize someone. And how the biggest honor we can offer in this light, is to do those things that they did… in our own way, be like them. From what I know and am hearing from all of you, there are many ways to honor Jim and carry on the marvelous way he has showed up in this world. We don’t all have his humor, but we can all access his kindness. I hope you all will.

Photos of Jim in his rugby days

The article above is a little hard to read, so I’ll copy it here:
October 28, 1960

Gritty Jim Haggerty, “Comeback Kid”, Finally Has To Hang Up The Spikes by Jack Verdon

There are many reasons why a young athelete may not play a sport. One reason may be a lack of ability, another may be a better man ahead in the athelete’s particular position. However, the reason that Jim Haggerty is not playing football this year for the Cross is the fact that he suffered a recurrance of a head injury that caught him sophomore year and kept him out of action last year.

The Philadelphia native came back in impressive form this September as he decided to shock the HC coaching staff, among others, and try out for this year’s team. So brilliant, in fact, was his showing that Dr. Anderson installed Jim as the right end in the Harvard opener.

Early in the third quarter, Lady Luck again looked unkindly upon the 6’3″ athlete. The Big Fella blacked out on his feet, but courageously continued to lead the Crusaders in a comeback effort.

Soon, however it was sadly evident that what had been feared had happened once more. Fortunately, nothing more than the termination of Haggerty’s active grid wars was accomplished.

Jim, a graduate of Bishop Newmann H.S. in Philly where he copped All-City pigskin recognition while also starring on the court, keeps his free time occupied with his activities as Club Liason Officer and coach of the Lehy III ‘murals machine.

Turning to this weekend’s contest with Marquette, Jim feels that MU has quite a club, but he says “Of their performance over the past three weeks, the Crusaders should have a bit more.”

One of Dad’s flowers

April 7th

Well, it took us about 15 minutes to settle into Tippett Home. There is an amazing comfort here – well beyond the physical. The staff is so integrated into the work that is being done and the transitions that are occuring for the residents, families and friends. We are all so grateful to have found this place.

From what we can tell, the transition was not alarming to Jim or the disease. Although we know that there is some sadness there, he knowing better than most what it means to move into Hospice. And as we are all settling down into the new, quieter pace of the Tippett Home, we are also having more time to experience the impact of this tragedy. The hospital was so busy, then the decision of where to move, then the move itself and now… Well, we’re watching closely for the changes in Jim, but also for all the things that are still the same… his infectious smile, his helpfulness, his strenght of character no matter the situation, his LOVE for all of us.

Thank you for staying tuned in and please come visit… we always want for Jim to be with loved ones, but we cannot, ourselves, always be there. It would be good to know if and when you’ll be coming, but as we’ve said before – anytime is good! Last thing – sometimes one of us could use a ride from Beacon Hill or we would plan on carpooling if we knew you’d be able to pick us up, so please let us know if there’s a window for this kind of thing.

love to you all!

The Haggertys

 

Prayers Answered

Dear Friends,

Thank you again for all of your love and good wishes for Jim and our family. Today we visited a place called Tippett Home in Needham, Massachusetts – just about 30 minutes drive west of Boston where we’ll be spending the next little while with Jim. It’s an “old school” hospice house, preserving the traditions and values of hospice in truly creating an environment of peace for the terminally ill and their families and friends. It’s rambling suburban county with big old estates and lots of woods – tranquil just to arrive there – and Tippet House must be one of the original places. There’s a big patio and garden, a comfortable living room but mostly an atmosphere of care and competence from a staff that has apparently not turned over in 5 years. What dedication! We move in on Saturday. I’ll add the address/directions to the ” visit Jim” section and we hope to see you all there. You can see pictures of the place on their website:

http://vnacarenetwork.org/services/tippett.html

Bye Bye for now!

April 3rd

(If this is your first time to this site, please read the posts below to catch up on news from the previous week. You can see responses from friends  by clicking “comments” listed under each posting . Comments are currently catagorized by the posting they are responded to.)

Hi Folks,

There’s not much news to report from Mass General. Jim continues to be well, enjoying a healthy appetite, good sleep and visits from family and friends – so please come in if you are able! Our family has enjoyed meeting so many of Jim’s friends and colleagues from over the years. You are all such a beautiful reflection of the man – Jim Haggerty!

We think that the CJD may have “plateaued” somewhat, as the changes this week have been subtle. However, no one knows when it may advance again. Truly each waking moment is a gift.

We are currently pursuing a post hospital care facility / plan and have found this to be devestatingly difficult. Even so, we are praying, hoping, holding-out for a solution that is befitting our good man. Your prayers and good wishes in this direction are needed.

Bye Bye for now!

Betsy

March 30th

Dear friends,

We are slowly but surely getting this communication tool together for all of us! Please pass on this site address www.jimhaggerty.wordpress.com to anyone who may need to know about what’s happening with Jim. I will do my best to keep this updated – I’m still just learning how!

Jim is still on the neurological floor of Mass General Hospital (12th floor of Ellison). It’s a good place for a guy with a bad disease and not so bad for the rest of us either. We are all as comfortable as possible and doing our best to take good care of Jim and ourselves.

As promised, Creutzfeldt-Jakob seems to be rapidly progressing, though mericfully not painful. Jim is sleeping a lot, but perks up just like himself when visitors arrive. His smile is as winning as ever, but often fleeting. The hardest part right now is that he startles easily. There is apparently a great deal of disorientation and confusion happening for him, and considering his vulnerable state, some fear is not suprising.

We gladly welcome visitors. There is really no good or bad time to come – the patterns of lucidly and wakefulness change everyday. If you do want to come, see the section labeled “About this site and visiting Jim” for details.

That’s all for now.

Betsy