06/08/25 Dad moved to Riverway Care Center in the memory unit

Friday, June 6, ended dad's hospital stay. He was placed on hospice the day before, June 5th, and arrangements were being made to transition him to the Riverway Care Center.

We coordinated through group texting (Suzanne, Becky, Ruth and me) to get a list of all the things needed and make arrangements to get them to the care center. Ruth worked closely with their Bishop Kyle Schouten, who has been a key player and amazing in this transition, to get help moving and setting up needed items.

In just a couple of hours, Ruth and her team from the ward were able to transform an empty room to a nice apartment for dad to come to.

Friday morning, it was anticipated that he would move fairly early to the care center. Ruth and Eli went over about 10:30 a.m. to be there for the transition. As is the way with hospitals, the wait, wait, wait and wait some more game was going on. Lunch time turned into almost dinner time. It was actually about 4:55 when the were finally able to get him moved from the hospital to the care center.

The care center offers three nice meals a day. Dad has already been enjoying the delicious food tremendously. There is a family room/dining room area where he has met other residents and he seems to be transitioning well.

Dad at the dining table.
Next door neighbor Sara in the background.

Dad in his adjustable bed

Dad in his wheelchair,
provided by hospice- Facetiming Shelly

Ruth taking a break after setting up the room

Becky chilling in the comfy lift chair

awesome bathroom

bedside potty chair

closet set up with all the necessities

Comfy room!

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06/14/25 Pre-Yellowstone

Last year for Christmas I purchased a vacation to Yellowstone for the kids and us. The dates for the Yellowstone cabin were June 16-June 20. We decided to break the trip up a little and drive up the weekend before and drive home the weekend after. Also, because Katie got married, and Dallas has limited time off, he was unable to take his family on the trip. We stayed at his house and got some twin time in before we continued north. Aspen and John moved to Pennsylvania and are in Utah for the summer. On our way up north we stopped at Becky's house to see them and their sweet new baby. Erik recently got a new job so he was also not able to join us on our trip. Holly became our little girl again and traveled with us. Holly and Millie My dad's been in the care center so we stopped by to visit him. He's being well cared for. He is struggling to put sentences together. We came and went to church with him at the care center. He's been asking for a really good pizza. So we w...

06/16/25-06/20/25 Yellowstone

We had a really great week on our Yellowstone trip. We stayed at a VRBO cabin in a remote cabin in Ashton, Idaho. It was just right for our group. We were able to go to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Mesa Falls, the Yellowstone Playhouse, Lava Hot Springs Pools and Slides. We drove lots, played games, did puzzles, roasted hot dogs, made s'mores, enjoyed picnic lunches, ice cream at the frost top, dinners together made by each lil family and so much more. Loved it! (There are lots more pictures in our shared Yellowstone google album. Also, these pictures are not in order of happening. )

07/10/2025 Dad's Passing

Dad's stay at the care center ended up being 35 days. He had a care giver that really connected with him named Michael. Michael cared for him when he was living at home and then came out a couple of times to the care center before he died. He really appreciated those visits and lit up when Michael came to visit and help care for him. I'm thankful that I was able to see him the two weekends about two weeks before he died. He was still able to smile and sit and eat at that time. I'm so glad that Ruth and Becky were able to take the time and spend quite a bit of time with him the last couple of weeks before he died. His condition continued to deteriorate and it was not easy to see him that way and spend so much time there. But my sisters and Suzanne did what they could to make him comfortable at the end. He was found dead in his bed on the morning of July 10. Rest in peace, Dad. I love you!

Griffin Family

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