Can I call PawPaw?
Well, of course. Try not to stay on too, too long.
she'd started dialing at 'of course'
Hey, PawPaw. It's me, Tobi.
pause
she's his only grandchild and really, the only child he knows
but always, she identifies herself
Can I ask you something?
pause
(i imagine that his answer was much like mine--of course)
Would you send me something?
she laughs
Really? Anything?
then she looks serious
Send me your pillow.
pause
Your pillow. Send me your pillow, the one you dream on.
pause
as i'm leaving the room, she's saying her good-bye
I love you too. Just send it with my Nan, okay? Bye.
footsteps of a little person through the kitchen...
Mom--are you crying?
I am. Sitting folded up in the hallway, trying to make myself as small as possible, I'm crying.
And yes, my mother did smuggle out one rather large pillow from MD Anderson Cancer Center because just the pillowcase would not do for her.
"No. I need to sleep on his dreams..."
june 27th
it's over now. he was denied the bone marrow transplant and is receiving hospice care as there is no other treatment option at this point. my most sincere appreciation to everyone who /msged, emailed, called and sent paper mail re: my daylog and the note on the front page. the response was better than i'd imagined and there is, for each of you, a special place in my heart.
update june 30th
quintin died very early this morning.
he was loved and knew this.
again, to you all, my thanks and love. | 
