The memorial service will be on June 26, 2010 at 2pm at the National Guard Armory at 4124 Carroll Street SW, Covington, Georgia.

Men, no coat and tie please.

Donations in memory of Joe can be made to :

Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation, Inc.
c/o Joe Blasingame
Suite 203-C
5019 Georgia Highway 42
Ellenwood, Georgia 30294-3438

The family requests donations in lieu of flowers.

Thank you,
Carol

We were all with Joe beginning around 8pm last night: Christopher, Shane, Heather, John, Mark, Sarah, Jordan, Lindsey and Cheryl. We made sure he knew that we were there with him and that it was ok to let go. Christopher read some of Joe's favorite bible verses that comforted him through out the journey. Of course he didn't let go, because he knew the 17th was Lily's birthday. So he waited and took his last breath on the 18th. I was in the next room with John and the others were in his room talking and had resolved to the fact it was not the time. Next thing you know they hear Joe take a deep long held breath. Christopher came and got me and as I entered the room he took his last breath at 12:05am on the 18th. He had his own time frame with GOD. I should have known! :) He wanted to slip out the back door! :) No pomp or drama and oh so humble..............

Carol

Joe finished this journey at 12:05am June 18, 2010 and has begun his new eternal journey with GOD.

I love you so much! I will love you ALLWAYS! I will hold you, Joe to your promise to me!

Carol

Not really anything to say............................ Joe's pain meds were increased today and they are putting him on a morphine pump tonight. Now when he is awake, he is very groggy and can not complete sentences. The words he does voice are hard to understand if at all.

I hate this! Watching him become frail, his body breaking down. Seeing him in pain and confused.

Yesterday we celebrated in Joe's room our granddaughter Lily's 3rd birthday. Joe was aware of what was happening. He smiled often at both of his granddaughters, Lily & Ava. Ava is 4 months old and was smiling and cooing at PawPaw.

It tore at my heart when Lily had questions about her PawPaw. She would ask what was PawPaw doing and we would tell her sleeping/taking a nap. But the hardest question was when she was sitting in my lap next to PawPaw and she asked "What did the doctor say?" Yes, that came from a very smart and intuitive little 3 yr old. My reply was "The doctor told him he needed to rest."

Joe has slept/dreamed most of the day. He opens his eyes at times and will mumble. Sometimes we can make out what he is trying to say.

He is experiencing a regularly, irregular respiratory pattern called Cheyne-Stokes. He takes several breaths, then stops, then takes several more breaths, then stops again, and so on.

Joe's circulation is progressively shutting down. His hands and feet are cool and discolored now.

He has stopped eating and taking in fluids entirely. We are swabbing the inside of his mouth with glycerin swabs to keep it moist.

At times he is restless and then within seconds he is calm. You will catch him frowning one moment and smiling the next.

As I have read the materials we were given upon arrival to hospice, it has helped me to better understand the process the body goes through physically, emotionally & spiritually to "let go". It has helped calm me for the transition that Joe is preparing for.

I came home tonight to get clean clothes & things. Christopher is with Joe tonight.

I walked into the house tonight and never have I felt so alone. Everywhere I turn Joe is there....
I realize he will never be back in our home with me. I so love him....