Thank You

I want to thank everyone who has followed Marty on his sad journey. I am glad Marty is with God, I loved him that much. Marty's pain and suffering has taken it's toll on everyone Although I have suffered along with Marty, as well as the rest of the family, the healing can begin. God has seen me through this far and I know he won't let me down now, I ask for your prayers because only God can touch our hearts and ease our pain. The pain is so great there are no words to describe it. My sister-in-law Patti sent me a poem that her mama stitched into something for her but i forget what it was. I want to share this with everyone.
The Clock of Life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own,
Live, Love, Toil with a Will,
Place no faith in tomorrow for
The clock may then be still.

Funeral Services

Funeral services for Marty will be held at Goff Funeral Home in Monterey TN on Monday Aug 9th. Viewing will be from 5 pm to 7pm with the service to begin at 7pm. Burial in Whittaker Cemetary in Monterey TN on Tues Aug 10th at 10:00 am

Never To Be Forgotten

Martyn Albert Silcox better known as Marty age 46 passed away at 2:45 A.M. (EST) Aug 7th 2010

Update 08/06/2010

Marty's condition has declined. His heart rate is climbing, his breathing is shallow, it's hard for me to truly explain the difference in his condition. I do know that his time is drawing closer. The Nurse said today she didn't think he would make it till Monday that he is down to hours to a day or two at the most. I've known he was going to die for a couple of months now but somehow I've never really believed it. I think I keep waiting for the miracle when he will arise from his death bed and be healthy again. I think I have always known he wouldn't because it's not in Gods plan. God has bigger and better things in store for Marty. A new body, perfect health and a peace unimaginable. I want this for Marty more than anyone will ever know. i have watch him decline month by month now day by day. It's hard and painful to watch someone you love go through something like this and i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, if i had one. I pray that God show his mercy to Marty. I don't want to shorten Martys life but his quality of life is gone. Marty stays on meds to keep him semi knocked out because of the severe pain he is in and the distress with his breathing without the meds Marty would be scared and in a constant panic because he would know just how close to dying he really is.

Funeral Arrangements and more 08/04/2010

I think everyone has figured out by now that I am June, Martys wife of 15 years. Also I am almost blind, not completely but close. I told you the story of how the employee's of Lowes help with the insurance crisis, but I didn't tell you how someone kept a Taxi paid in advance so I could go where needed without having to walk. I do know that Johnny Bates took care of that but unsure of who or whom helped. Also I'd like to mention a couple of people Marty considers a great friend as well as I, who also worked at lowes at one time. Jack Franklin and wife Diana and Allen Layton and wife Deb. From the depths of my heart I want to say thank you and may God keep you and yours in his hands. Funeral arrangements have been made at Goff Funeral Home in Monterey TN. Due to the fact most of the people Marty worked with works days, visitation will be from 5pm to 7pm with the service to begin at 7pm (same evening) then anyone who wants to or can go to the cemetery can meet there the next day. Marty will be exactly as everyone is used to seeing him, T-shirt, shorts and his signed Lowes vest. Marty wasn't a suit and tie kind of guy he wanted to be himself and thats how he will be. Anyone who would like to say a few words at Martys service please feel free to do so. Brother Randy Bilbrey will be holding Marty's service. Randy and Gina Bilbrey have been our friends for many a year and we love them dearly. If I have left anyone out i'm sorry it was unintensional. My mind is a bit overwhelmed.

Update 08/04/2010

Marty had a decent night all things considered. His Nurse Celeste was here earlier today she said his heart rate was staying at around 132, which is faster than it was. Last week it was staying around 120. She also said when his heart rate stays above 150, I forget the exact numbers she gave me, then Martys time with us can be narrowed down to hours. I want to mention that even tho I talk about Marty and his condition as if I were discussing the weather, it is far from easy for me. I am coping and dealing with this situation the best I can and I know God is helping me otherwise I wouldn't be able to handle it at all.

Marty comes home 08/03/2010

Marty came home from Kobacker House today. He is resting comfortably, the Nurse was supposed to come here and get things set up for him before he came home, however, we are still waiting for the Nurse. Marty arrived home about 5:30 pm it is now 8:35 pm and still no Nurse. The Nurse called about an hour ago and said it would be about 2 hours before she arrived. In the meantime if Marty needed any medicine he wouldn't be able to have any because the Nurse hasn't came with it as of yet. I'm not a happy camper about that at this moment. The main thing is Marty is home and he is resting. On a lighter note I hope to be adding more pictures of Marty very soon.

Marty Update 8/2/2010

Marty became very restless, uncomfortable and unable to swallow at times. He began to get choked when he would swallow so we couldn't give him pills. I had to crush his meds and add a small amount of water then use a syringe to put the meds under his tongue and let it trickle down his throat but that still wasn't able to keep him comfortable. Now Marty is in Kobacker House, which is a very nice Hospice House. He recieves shots instead of pills in order to keep him comfy and the Nurse said today that the chance of him coming home are slim. Marty hasn't eaten in close to 2 weeks and hasn't had any fluids since friday. Cancer is such a wicked and cruel disease to both the person who has it and the family caring for them.

Marty and God

I'd like to tell you a little about Martys history with God in hopes that it may help someone out there. Marty was raised with two very religious parents. His Mother a very sweet woman and his Father very stern who insisted you WILL learn the Bible, you WILL go to Church ect. So as an adult Marty has never wanted to hear anything about God. He rolled his eyes, changed the subject, or simply walked away to avoid God and anything pertaining to God. After being told he had Cancer Marty tried to believe but still he shuned God, however, as his disease progressed he began to ask me questions about God, tell me things such as he never felt God wanted him. Marty said when he was younger he went to the alter every church service and he begged God to save him. He said he cried and begged for forgivness, but God never heard him, God never responded and he never felt any different. Marty expected fireworks, he expected a change so massive no one could miss the fact he was saved. I explained (the way I believe) that it doesn't happen that way. That you start as a baby in Christ a newborn, that you grow and become stronger as you walk the path of a christian. Also, that the Devil will lie to him and tell him God doesn't want him, that he isn't saved and how worthless he is. Marty began asking more and more questions and I explained them as best I could and as I was taught. Marty mentioned a few things he had done in the past, nothing criminal or ungodly let me add, I told him that once he asked God for forgiveness and truly ment it from the heart that God forgave him and his sins was as removed from him as far as the East is from the West never to be remembered anymore. I also reminded him that the Bible says there is only one unforgivable sin and asked him what it was and he replied "blasphemy of the Holy Ghost" in which I asked have you done that? He replied no. Although Marty has suffered during his Chemo treatments but he hasn't suffered as much as he could have, because I believe God has watched over him. I say he hasn't suffered as much as he could have because we have seen and talked to people who were taking the treatments and heard the violent vomiting of others, in which Marty was sick once and was nauseous a LOT. Now I believe Marty walks with God, maybe it has taken this to bring him to God I've no idea only God knows.

A bit for information...

As posted by the wife of Marty

Meet Marty,

Marty Silcox is 46 years old and has worked at Lowes, as a delivery driver in Cookeville TN for a little over 10 years.

In July of 2009 Marty began getting sick, unable to breath he went back and forth to the hospital. He would be in the hospital for a week or so then back to work for a couple of weeks then sick again. From July to November all the Dr. said was Pneumonis, Bronchitis, Asthma and C.O.P.D (Chronic Obstructive Pulmanory Disorder)despite alarming blood test results (such as white blood counts etc) and physical discomfort.

In November I insisted he see a Pulmanoloigst who in turn found tumors in his Media Stinum (chest). The biopsy showed it to be Fractured Tcell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma / Leukemia, a form of cancer that children get and is rare for an adult to get.

In December of 2009 Marty began his Chemo Therapy. Marty signed up first on his short term disability then went on long term disability. He was able to draw 60% of his pay, I being almost blind, get Social Security Disability. It became really hard to keep up with bills, doctor visits, preciptions and other things he needed. We had to pay for his insurance out of pocket after so many days had passed and I kept waiting for someone to let us know how much we would need to pay. Finally in January he recieved a bill for over $300 to be paid in 9 days or Martys insurance would be terminated. We were unable to make this payment especially on such short notice on top of which another payment was due in 2 weeks of over $300.

The wonderful people at Lowes, whose names are too numerous to mention, helped us make both of those payments. Had it not been for Lowes employees of Cookeville TN. Marty would have been without insurance. I would like to extend the biggest heart felt thank you to these wonderful people without you and your kindness, I am unsure of where our road may have led.

Months have gone by, it is now July 27th 2010, Marty and I have moved to Ohio to be with family because I needed help to care for Marty, and because we thought that Marty would be able to recieve new treatment or find a cure at OSU's James cancer center. Boy were we wrong. Instead what Marty found at OSU was the honest truth. There is no cure for him. His days of being a Guinea Pig were now over.

Marty is in the last days of his life, he is motionless from the waist down and has been for over a month now. He is using Hospice care at home with the help of my daughter BJ and her husband Kevin. I spend my day with Marty, BJ and Kevin help with his care and I'd be lost without their help. Making sure Marty is well taken care of and comfortable is truly a team effort, with the help of Hospice, BJ, Kevin and myself he is resting comfortably.

My Sister-in-law Patti who lives in Georgia, sent me a poem via email that I wanted to share because it truly describes how I feel, thank you Sis!!! to the author of this poem I thank you!

God saw you tired and a cure was not to be.
So he put his arms around you and whispered "come to me".
With tearful eyes I watched you and saw you pass away.
Although I loved you dearly, I couldn't make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest;
God broke my heart to prove to me He only takes the best.



As Martys time grows closer he has become restless, he is disoriented, talks to people who isn't there and hurts all the time. To keep him comfortable the wonderful people of Hospice have increased his medication and he is sleeping most of the time. Now it's just a waiting game.


One thing I would like to add, having dealt with insurance and all involved I can tell you first hand they can cause you a lot more grief than needed. I found out recently that Marty's Life Insurance was canceled May 5th of this year and we were not informed that we would have to pay it out of pocket. I called earlier this month on the 13th to find out it was canceled, which left me no way to bring Marty home to Tennessee for burial. I have asked for the papers to have him reinstated and they were sent to our address in Tennessee, after I had given them the new address in Ohio and here it is the 27th and I am still waiting on papers.

I need to recieve them soon while Marty is still capable of signing his name, poor as it may be, or before he passes. Met Life is aware of Martys status, yet I sit here day in and day out with another worry, not only of loosing my husband of 15 years but of how to fill his last request and take him home. I Pray no one else has to endure the things I have in dealing with insurance and corporate office ways.

Added by BJ:
This is only the tip of the iceburg, Marty went from regular health insurance to Cobra when he was sick(when he was offically terminated from Lowes because he had been gone for too long.), the cost of the insurance doubled! I dont understand how insurance companies can take such advantage of people in these circumstances. It is sickening (did you catch that pun?) to say the least.

The guys at Lowes gave Marty a Lowes truck parade when they found out we were moving, and gave him a Lowes vest signed by everyone.

Marty had another rough night last night but all things considered he is doing well. Martys heart rate stays around 120 now his breathing is getting much worse, considering it was already bad. He has lost a lot of weight, although his face doesn't show it the rest of his body does. Marty hasn't eaten more than a bite or two in the past week. He has only drank a few sips of water here and there with his meds. It's sad to watch the effects Cancer has taken on Marty, I'm glad I can take care of Marty at home thanks to Hopise, they have supplied everything he needs to keep him comfortable. Hospice is just a phone call away anytime day or night, I can rely on a Nurse to come out and help or just to give Marty comfort as he tends to feel relieved at times just knowing a Nurse is on the way.

Update

Marty :)







Marty with his brother Richard and his nephew




Pictures with the grandbabies and family






He recieved 4 tickets to see a the Columbus Clippers play!!! An awesome Dr. at OSU gave them to him!




A day of fishing! (I forgot to reset the date after I changed the batteries)