But on the next day, PATTY writes:

I went to visit Annette in Hospice today. Yesterday she was pale and weak and seemed to drift in and out of conversations with other visitors.

Last night, my email to some Rescue volunteers was not filled with very good news. Annette doesn't have the strength to get out of bed herself anymore, and yesterday she was mentally losing her sharpness. I had to hide my tears as I left her room and was dreading what I was going to see today. Lynda was there too and was visibly upset with the scenario. Honestly, I was afraid to face today's visit.

After a week of gloomy, rainy, windy, weather, today was sunny and glorious. A Picture Perfect Michigan day. Breezy, in the high 60's - but just beautiful. When I walked into Annette's room, she had a smile on her face and right off the bat said she felt much better today. She mentioned that it looked nice outside - so I asked her if she'd like me to get a wheelchair and take her for a short 'walk' outside. Much to my surprise, she said yes. As I got her ready to go, Lynda walked in with one of her Rescue dogs. What we thought was going to be a short walk around the courtyard, turned into a wonderful gift for Lynda and myself.

The Hospice is on the grounds of Madonna College, a large Church, Chapel, Elementary School, Hospital and more. In one corner we could see a large pond. We wound our way through parking lots, around clusters of buildings and finally made our way to the pond. There we sat in the sun, watching geese and their babies, and a graceful crane. It couldn't be more perfect. The lilacs are in bloom and they are one of Annette's favorite flowers. We picked some for her to hold and smell. It was just three friends enjoying the day as if there wasn't a problem or care in the world. For a moment we got to pretend that nothing was wrong.

Now I know what is meant by taking the time to 'smell the flowers' along the way. This gift of one more day is something that will be burned in my memory forever. It's a lesson for all of us.

CHRISTINE VOTEL writes:

Wiping happy tears yet again with my family here. May this be a lesson to us all. Take time to smell the flowers, hug the 'dales and love one another. For that is what truly matters. Thank you for being there - in many ways you are there for us all, and a piece of all of us is there with you.

On May 17, KIRK NIMS writes:

Just when you think you know Airedales they fool you.

Damn they are smart critters.

We took the boys, Sir Miles, Squire Andy, & Sir Adam (all of them in our care due to Annette) to visit with her this afternoon at the Hospice.

I had called Annette and asked her if she wanted to see the boys.

"YES!" so we took them.

They didn't even try to jump up on her bed. I swear these guys know how they should behave.

Each of them, individually just went and stood by her bedside, snuffled at her and stood while she petted them. All of them wagging their butts and making Annette smile and talk softly to them.

They snuffled around her room as other doggies have been there to visit with Annette. I think that she had six doggie visitors today, four of which were Airedales. Annette's room has a door to the outside so it was easy to bring the boys in to see her.

I believe that she is running about even between canine and human visitors which I know pleases her very much! It makes her happy to see the doggies. Annette smiles a lot which is a good thing.

Annette is tired and weak. She is only getting out of bed a couple of times a day. She was alert and bright today. Sharp; and her memory is as fine as ever. She tires very easily so we only stayed for about an hour total.

We will try to bring the boys by again next week after they are groomed for the trip to Toronto. It will please Annette very much to see them all slicked up and proper.

On May 28, PATTY had this wonderful news:

Next Wednesday, June 4th, is Annette Hall's birthday. We didn't think she'd be around for it.

Today I took Mama Louise & Dozie to visit with her and asked her what kind of birthday cake she'd like to have and she said that someone had already offered to make her favorite - chocolate with choclate buttercream frosting.

Annette is rallying. She's eating and keeping the food down. Two weeks ago she couldn't get out of bed by herself, barely talked and had a distant glazed look in her eyes. Today she had color in her cheeks, carried on animated conversation and flopped around in her bed like an Airedale told to lie down and stay! We don't know how long she'll have this energy and we're not sure why the dramatic change, but we're going to enjoy every minute of it.

On her birthday, KIM COOK tells us:

Keep the ADT Zen flowing folks.

Annette Hall is in the Hospice.

Eating now after 2.5 months of not being able to eat.

Coming slowly back from the brink of death. Improved color, cranky, eating, fidgety, wants outside. (Like a crated ADT puppy on time out.)

Patty called a bit ago.

The Hospice put Annette on a drug for nausea. Her Oncologist just told Patty that there are undocumented clinical reports of positive results in the use of this drug for treatment of ovarian cancer.

Orders are: build her up with nutrition, get her as strong as possible and in four weeks haul her butt to Ann Arbor for more evaluation and see where things might lead from there.

"Do you believe in miracles......" How's that for a birthday present?

ANNETTE & CHANCE - OCTOBER 1998

And PATTY tells us:

Okay - the c*t is out of the bag.

I've been on a mission to find out if this change in Annette's being able to eat is just a 'blip on the radar' or did it mean something. The change in her has been so dramatic, it's a bit unnerving. If I didn't ask the questions, it would haunt me for the rest of my life.

After going back and forth with U of M over the privacy laws and a late night drive to Hospice to get Annette's signature (they wouldn't accept her Mom's), I finally got through with the correct papers and late this evening got a call from the Oncologist who had been treating Annette.

I told her I could accept anything she had to say - bad news included - just explain what might be going on. After a description of the chain of events that have taken place these last couple of weeks and the drug being administered, Dr. Johnston said that this drug, which works on the pituitary gland, has been found to have positive effects on certain cancers including ovarian. Because the data from ongoing trials have not been completed, she can't say why.

I then asked what should we be doing for Annette, would she see her again. She wants to see Annette in about four or five weeks. In that time frame we will know if it is just a temporary rally. But during this time we should get her nourished with good food. If Annette makes it, then they want to do more scans on Annette and see if there is anything they can do for her. The key is that she is nourishing her body and getting as strong as she can.

I'm afraid of false hope, but give up isn't in my vocabulary right now.

When I called Annette's Mom this evening to tell her the news, we had a good cry - I'm sure there will be a few of us not sleeping tonight.

I was talking to someone about prayer and miracles and they pointed out that miracles are not necessarily a religious happening. So whatever each of you subscribes to, prayer, zen, please keep sending it Annette's way.

Oh my gosh - Annette could not believe all the cards she got for her birthday!!! I think the volunteers at Hospice were very impressed with all of them.

She has bags of them! I didn't take a count, but there were well over 50 there for her birthday.

Of course Annette said she thought everyone was making to much fuss over her birthday . . . but I know she liked it. And - in spite of what she says - she knows that there are a lot of people - all over this big Airedale world who care.

What better message to send her!

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TRULY DEDICATED FRIENDS OF AIREDALES, PAGE 10