Pam Dancing

I am uploading the short video clip that played at the end of Pam's service. Many people commented on it and might want to see it again.  We had just arrived home from a day at Sugarbush and the music was playing in the car, for some reason I grabbed the video camera and let it roll, so glad I did.  This is how Pam would want everyone to remember her, dancing and having fun with her family.

Pamela Chase Paradee

PAMELA CHASE PARADEE
(July 7, 1969 - July 20, 2010)

Bristol, VT

Pamela Chase Paradee, 41, of Bristol, Vt., passed away on July 20,2010 after a courageous 4- year battle with cancer, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon NH. Her strength, character and optimistic outlook were inspirational to all of those around her. She was born in Waltham, Mass. on July 7,1969, the daughter of Stuart and Penny Chase of Bethel, Vt..

She was married on August 2, 1996 to Troy Paradee of Fairfield Vt. She is survived by Troy and their three sons, Tucker, 12 Samuel, 10 and Griffin, 7. She is also survived by her parents, brother, two sisters and ten nephews and two nieces. And leaves behind a large loving family. Pam was an elementary school teacher and an active community volunteer leader. She taught at Robinson Elementary School in Starksboro, VT for the past 12 years and served on various faculty committees. She was very active in her children’s schools and participated in many programs including the 4 Winds Program which she spearheaded. She coached track and field at Burlington High School and Champlain Valley Union High School and was also an athlete who participated in area triathlons and the Burlington City Marathon. She and her husband Troy also founded the Bristol 4th of July road race.


Pam had a spirit and love of life that was contagious. She left an imprint everywhere she went. Her energy was boundless and legendary. Even during her difficult battle with cancer she continued to demonstrate these qualities.

Pam graduated from Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield, Mass. and the University of Vermont in 1991.


A memorial service will be held at the Bristol Federated Church on Sunday, July 25th at 2:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Pam’s honor to Community Outreach Fund, Merchants Bank, 15 West St. Bristol, VT 05443 - Attn, Andrea or to Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Bone Marrow Transplant Research, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, NH 03756. Checks should be made payable to DHMC Development Office, attn: Michelle Clark. Online condolences may be left at www.dayfunerals.com or on Pam’s blog: http://pamparadee.blogspot.com/

A Beautiful Woman

Pamela Chase Paradee lost her inspirational and unbelievably courageous battle with cancer Tuesday.    A giant hole has been left in our lives as she was our anchor.  She will be forever remembered, and her spirit will live on forever in her three beautiful boys and in all of us that she touched.
As you all know, Pam was an amazing woman.  A wife of 14 years, a mom of 3 strong boys, a reputable teacher and a leader in her community.  Pam was an organizer, and goal driven.  A triathlete and marathoner.  One of Pam's mantras we all can live by is Love,  Life and Laughter.  She was vibrant!  A person you always wanted to be around, her energy was bountiful.  Pam has loved all of us and we will love her forever.

A memorial service will be held in Bristol, VT on Sunday July 25th at 2pm at the Federated Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:
Community Outreach Fund, Merchants Bank 15 West St. Bristol, VT 05443 - Attn, Andrea
or to Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Bone Marrow Transplant Research: Checks payable to: DHMC Development Office, Attn: Michelle Clark, 1 Medical Ctr. Dr., Lebanon, NH 03756

THANK YOU! Prouty and update

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to Team Pam for the 2010 Prouty this year.  Our team raised over $3,0000 for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Research and Patient Support.  3 times what I was shooting for, you are all AWESOME!

Here are a few pics from the day:
All the bikers. 35 miles.
Stu (Pam's dad), Tucker, Troy, Jen (sister), Austin (nephew), Connor (nephew), Lindsay (niece), Becky (sister), Matt (nephew).
Next year we are doing 50, come join us!

Stu and some of his grand-kids:  Austin 12, Connor 14, Lindsay 13, Matt 14, Tucker 12.

All of Team Pam!  Walkers, bikers, family and friends! 

If you are reading this than you are part of TEAM PAM!



Pam has been doing well over the last week.  Things have gotten very stable and they are working on strengthening her breathing. She has been spending more and more time off the vent machine (breathing on her own).  Yesterday she did over 12 hours on her own!  This is a significant improvement.  She is getting a little stronger with the breathing every day.  Her muscle and nerve function is not showing as much improvement and will continue to be a journey.  Pam is getting some PT and this is helping to keep her range of motion and give her some small improvements in mobility (extremely small).
Pam had a swallow test this afternoon to see of she was swallowing properly.  It is extremely important that she not Aspirate (have fluids go down the wrong tube into her lungs).  Aspirating is a very bad word in the hospital as it can lead to infection in the lungs and Pam has plenty of lung issues and does not need any more.  Sadly she failed.   Her mechanical mechanisms in the throat are all working properly, just not strong enough or quick enough to keep liquids from going the wrong way (not closing off the airway when swallowing like we all do).
This means Pam will still not be able to take any liquid type foods orally for some time.  This was a disappointment as Pam was very anxious to have some soft ice cream and puddings.  This will have to wait for a while.
Progress is moving slow, but it is progress!  No steps backwards in the last week.  The next steps are to get her weaned off the breathing support full time so she can leave ICU.  Then get her strong enough to not need trach tube at all and remove it.  This will take a few weeks.
I continue to try and juggle my time between Pam and the boys.  This is getting more difficult as they are starting to show signs of wear from me not being around enough.  It is truly an unfair situation for three young boys who have the best mom in the world and can't be with her.

We are continually humbled and grateful for all of the support we continue to receive.  We are truly blessed with our families, friends, communities and medical staff.
Troy

Two months and a Birthday

Yesterday was Pam's birthday and the nurses did a great job of making it as nice as possible for her.  She received a couple of cards that all the nurses from ICU and the HSCU signed for her.  She also got her nails done by Mary (LNA of the year!).  A couple of Pam's friends from work came down to visit and that really lifted her spirits.
She was not feeling great however as she had surgery on Tuesday.  Her feeding tube that was inserted last week was having an air leak and her abdomen has very expanded with air and fluid.  They watched it for a few days and finally decided they needed to fix it on Tuesday.  They made a 3" incision below her breastbone and stitched the stomach around the tube to the abdominal wall.  This will hopefully keep it from leaking again.  If this does not work then they will need to remove the peg and put in a different one in a different spot.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Pam is pretty stable on just about every front right now.  It is going to be an extremely slow and long recovery process.  Any little thing can really set her back so we have to prepare for some ups and downs and a long journey.  Pam has now been at DHMC for over 2 months; hoping July will be the month we can get out of here and on to the next stop in her rehab.

Thank you so much to everyone who donated to Team Pam for the Prouty, we have already passed our goal of $1,000 for the team!  If you still want to give go to Team Pam and pick one of the members who doesn't have as much in their total.  Every $20 adds up! A group of us will be biking and walking on Saturday to help raise money to fight cancer.