Greetings to all family and friends who may still check this blog site occasionally. I wanted to give a quick update before I leave Saturday for India.

Our team of 9 are almost ready to go – last minute preparations are coming along well. All our financial support is complete, but we will always need prayer support continuing through the entire mission trip and beyond. The Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes were officially signed for release from the port in Mumbai, but as is often the case in India, bribes are looked for and expected, so they haven’t left yet to get to Delhi. And then they need to be released from Delhi, too (more bribes expected), so please pray for the speedy and supernatural passage of the boxes through the very inefficient bureaucracy and red tape.

Daniel and Becky will be remaining here to carry on with their schoolwork and classes. Thanks SO much to all of you here who are helping make it possible for me to go by helping my kids. Daniel continues to enjoy his Cabrillo Community College classes. He’s still not exactly sure what major he will pursue, but it will likely be in some aspect of computers and how they’re used. He’s working on completing more of his General Ed classes this semester, and has decided he’ll continue at Cabrillo for next year, also. Becky is on pins and needles waiting to hear where she might get accepted for college next year. She’s applied to UCLA, and also to UC Santa Cruz, but notices aren’t due until mid-to-late March. Senioritis and focus has been a bit of a struggle for her since the new year started.

My job with Visiting Nurses is going well – I’m definitely feeling much more comfortable and confident that I’ll be able to handle whatever comes my way, but I know I still have plenty to continue learning. One problem is that because my position is per diem, and being the most recently hired staff person, I get called off of work frequently. There’s no vacation or sick pay, so when I don’t work, we don’t have income. Please pray that a part or full time position may become available soon.

God  continues to hold and guide me (and us) as I go through this process called grieving for someone I love. It was 10 months ago yesterday since Scott died. In some ways it seems like just yesterday, and in others, it feels like a lifetime ago. The theme of our India team’s skit for the children is of how what was once a rather ugly, awkward, earth-bound caterpillar, after going through the chrysalis phase, becomes a lovely, airborn, winged butterfly. God can and will take our lives and make just such a miraculous change happen if we let Him. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt, that even though life is hard, God IS GOOD. Many times I feel like my life is still in that chrysalis stage, and I am waiting for Him to show me what His purposes are for me in the coming days, months and years. But I know I can trust Him, no matter what.

Thanks to all of you for your many, many prayers. It is such a source of encouragement to know we are remembered often  in all your prayers. Please pray for God’s protection during the trip and travel, as well as for those who remain at home – health and safety.

Many blessings to all of you,

Lynne, Daniel, and Becky

I have been thinking for some time that I’d like to write an update on the blog, so the contents of today’s mail was certainly the incentive I’ve needed to actually do it. 

I had submitted to both USCF and our local Dominican Hospital financial aid applications, along with an explanation letter suggested by the attorney I’ve been working with. I received a notification today from Dominican Hospital that the almost $8,000 I’d been billed for Scott’s care was TOTALLY forgiven. Thank you God!

There is still a “known” or “billed” amount of $20-22K remaining from UCSF (probably additional bills have yet to come), from whom I have not yet received a reply, so we would appreciate prayer for a similar response, Lord willing!

Overall, it has been a good summer for all of us. We left July 16 to drive up to Seattle, where we were able to join immediate family to celebrate Scott’s mom’s 91st birthday on the 17th, as well as 60-80 other extended family at the annual Halverson Picnic/Reunion. For 2 weeks we really enjoyed getting away, being with friends and family and feeling very surrounded with love and protection. Thank you once again, Ted and Jane, for letting us stay with you and be a part of your family, too.

We returned a week ago late Friday, then enjoyed having 3 of Scott’s closest friends – Clint, Dan, and Marty – with their families, join us here at Mount Hermon on Sunday for a week of summer camp. Jill Briscoe has been the main speaker, and as she brought the life and times of the prophet Jeremiah to vivid life, so much of what she has shared feels like it was directed straight towards me. God has a way of doing that!

We are continuing to work towards finding out what God has in store for us in the near future. Daniel will be taking at least one year to attend the local community college this fall, and Becky will be in her senior year of high school. I am praying for direction as far as job hunting – nursing or something else, as well as whether full-time or part-time. I haven’t really concentrated yet on calling for information on options, but would appreciate prayer for God’s guidance, and that I would be carefully listening. We will be here at Mount Hermon at least through this coming school year, but don’t yet know what God will have us doing or where after that time. Maybe here, maybe not – but I’m sure God will show us when it’s time to know.

Many thanks to so many who have told me of their continuing prayers on our behalf. We are so grateful, as God continues to chip away to make us more like Him, since that is our greatest hope and prayer.

Bless you all, Lynne, Daniel, and Becky

Happy Father’s Day to everyone reading this. I know it’s been over a month since I sent out any word via this blog site, but we’ve had many calls have come in asking how we are doing, so thought I would give a quick update.

We’re hanging in there day to day – sometimes it’s a little easier, and the next day may feel very hard again, so it really depends on when we’re asked, and how life feels right then. Emotions can be very unpredictable, and change from one extreme to the other with no notice or obvious reason. We are so grateful for all of the prayers and encouragements from friends and family who keep reminding us that we are loved and not forgotten.

I am trying to figure out our financial picture – amazing how much time and effort it takes. We would appreciate prayers for God’s wisdom and provision, since all the thousands of dollars in uncovered medical bills (that fell in between the cracks when the first medical insurance money ran out) are beginning to come in. We are applying for financial help from UCSF, but I’m concerned that we may have to go through the life insurance Scott left for us to live on for a while. Many people have been so generous in the past, but financial help is NOT what I’m asking for right now – just prayers for God to work everything out in the best possible way.

This coming week, the three of us are all actually going to be on “vacation.” Daniel and Becky will be going with our church’s high school group for a week-long house boating, wake boarding, water skiing, etc, event, and I will (unexpectedly and last minute) get to spend the week up at Lake Tahoe with Mount Hermon’s Family Camp at Lake Tahoe. I think we’re all really looking forward to some time away relaxing and having a little fun. So if you call over the next week, we’re fine, but not answering the phone!

We hope all of you are well, and we continue to thank you for all the practical help, prayer support, and love we are continuing to be showered with. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and He will never leave or forsake us.

Bless you all,

Lynne, Daniel, and Becky

Greetings on Mother’s Day to everyone. Thank you so much for the many, many cards, hugs, phone calls, prayers, and all the comfort and encouragement we’ve received from so many. We are so grateful for all the outpouring of love.

I know it’s been quite a while since I’ve had the physical and emotional energy to put together anything that would be even semi-coherent here on the blog. Life has often just felt like a fog. Some days are okay, other days, I just don’t want to get out of bed. There’s a lot of official and financial details to take care of, and I seem to only be able to handle a few each day, and some days, none at all.

The past two days I’ve been going through the many pictures we have taken over the years in preparation for the memorial service, which has been both really good, as well as really hard. Too many times I’ve thought, “I’ve got to ask Scott where this was,” and then remember that I can’t. A week ago on Saturday, a whole crew of people came over to help get rid of overgrowth and brush in our front yard since it hasn’t had any attention for the past year and a half. Scott loved his roses, and now that so much has gotten cleared out, I keep looking out the window, maybe at dusk, and think I see him down there by the road tending his beloved flowers.

Friends of ours, Ted and Jane Hutchinson, have a coaching ministry to couples as well as pastors and their spouses. Ted was the pastor who married us a little less than 24 years ago. One of the wonderful gifts they gave us, was when Scott was too weak to type, he was able to dictate to Ted his thoughts, counsel, and love to me, Daniel, and Becky before he died. I’d like to share with all of you (with his permission) what he wrote in Scott’s honor a few days after he went Home to be with his Lord.

Well, I’m technologically challenged enough that I can’t copy and paste successfully, so all I can do is give the web addresses, and hope many will be willing to take the time to click on them and read what Ted wrote. The two are: www.soundviewcoaching.com and www.soundviewministries.org and it’s newsletter 409 on April 29.

We’re looking forward to seeing so many family and friends this next weekend as we celebrate Scott’s life. God bless you all, and thank you for so many expressions of love.

Lynne, Daniel, and Becky

P.S. Two songs that are meaning a great deal to me right now are, “I Will Rise” by Chris Tomlin, and “There Will Be a Day” by Jeremy Camp.

Many have asked about when a memorial service for Scott might be, so they could make plans to come. Mount Hermon has been so wonderful in allowing our family to use their facilities to remember him.

We will celebrate Scott’s life on what would have been his 51st birthday, Sunday, May 17th, here at Mount Hermon at 4pm. There will be a light supper reception afterwards. There needs to be some kind of count for meal preparation purposes, so if you plan on staying for the supper after the service, please either call Cindy Ritchie at (831) 430-1230, or e-mail her at cindy.ritchie@mounthermon.org.

Thanks so very, very much for the love, prayers, and encouragement all of you have given via this blog. We feel very loved and upheld.

God bless you all,

Lynne, for our family

As many of you already know, Scott went home to be with his Lord a little after 6 this morning.

I was able to be with him most of the night he was readmitted to the ICU on Tuesday night, and all day Wednesday. By 7pm, he was a little more stable, but his BP had been needing increasing pressors to maintain. The ICU medical staff felt he was stable enough for me to go back to the cottage to get some sleep.

Got a call about 11:45pm saying he had coded a couple of times, and that I should come in soon. By the time I arrived, he was more or less stabilized, but non-responsive, and the ventilator and pressors were pretty much maxed out and all that were keeping him going. The ICU staff were wonderful, and gave me a few hours to cry, talk to him, touch him, and decide what to do.

I made the decision to not pursue any escalation of treatment, since he was pretty much not able to respond any more anyway. I called our friends Ken and Mari Harrower, who were able to come up and be with me through to the end. I am so grateful for their presence, love, and encouragement, as well as friends Susan (Anastasia) Schaaf, and Conrad and Kimberly Podsada who were all willing to be wakened in the middle of the night for comfort and counsel.

I watched his BP, oxygen level, and heart rate all spiral down during the early morning hours, until by about 6am, all the values were incompatible with life, and asked them to turn everything off. His deeply depleted systems just could not overcome the massive assault of the sepsis infection and pneumonia.

After a second night of only 1 1/2 hours of sleep, I wasn’t safe to drive home, but really wanted to be with Daniel and Becky, so they could learn from me what had happened. Mari drove me home, while Ken followed in our car. I was able to communicate what they needed to know of their dad’s death, and we had a very painful but precious time of all three of us holding each other and crying for a while.

Thanks so much to all who have expressed their sorrow, love, and comfort as we figure out what life looks like now. We couldn’t have gotten through all of this up till now without the many prayers and support of all of you. The road now looks different, but no less difficult for a while. I am so thankful that Scott is now whole, healed, and in a place of great joy, and I know that I will see him again.

God bless you all,

Lynne, for Scott, Daniel, and Becky

It’s been a day of ups and downs, balances and imbalances, but he’s hanging in there. Pneumonia is now on the list along with the sepsis, so he’s running a fairly high temp at this point (between 102-103F). The heavy duty antibiotics need 24-48 hrs to work before they’ll know how he’s going to come through this. His BP has been very dependent and sensitive to the IV pressor meds, and his O2/CO2 balances have been up and down. One side effect of the BP pressors is the potential of eventual failure of other vital organs, especially the kidneys. This morning they were talking about the possibility of his needing continuous dialysis, but so far, his kidneys are doing more or less ok. 

This morning, Scott and I had a “conversation” where he was mouthing questions such as “what happened,” “why did it all happen,” “what’s the plan,” and “let’s get going!” I was able to explain all I was aware of, and basically told him that all the “plan” was going, and that his job was to keep breathing, and rest so his body could fight the infections.

He is far from out of the woods, but every 12 hrs he keeps holding his own, the more likely he could pull through this infection onslaught when he has so little reserve at the start of the episode. I’m really hoping he might be stable enough that I could go back to the cottage here in S.F. tonight so I can catch up on some sleep. Please continue praying that he can be balanced enough during the night that I can feel comfortable enough to be gone.

Many thanks, many blessings on you all, and much love from all of us.

Lynne

Talked with one of the Nurse Practitioners at the ICU who said Scott had coded not 5 minutes after he got to the Unit. I asked her if I should come back up tonight. She said he’s doing ok right now, but he’s still really struggling to breathe and would be back on the ventilator soon. She thought it would be good for me to come up tonight.

I’ll be leaving soon (around10:45 or so) to return to UCSF. Please pray. . .

Well, not only did Scott not come home as scheduled today, but as of 9:15 this evening, he’s had to be readmitted to the ICU for respiratory distress.

I came up to S.F. this morning, after being delayed here at home all day yesterday waiting for the hospital bed, oxygen set up, etc to arrive. He was beginning to have a little trouble breathing and needing more frequent suctioning, but some frequent respiratory therapy treatments seemed to help, and a chest x-ray showed no extra fluid in his lungs. The decision was made to keep him overnight, watch him, and discharge him in the morning. 

Since I was expecting him to come home, I didn’t come prepared to stay overnight  in the city, so around 6:30, since he seemed to be doing a little better, I headed for home. Hadn’t arrived at home for more than 10-15 minutes or so, and got a call saying he had gotten worse very quickly during the evening, and was being sent to the 13th floor Moffitt ICU. They didn’t feel I needed to turn around and return tonight, but I’m expecting a call from the ICU medical team sometime tonight with an update and a hopeful cause of the problem.

Please pray for a quick diagnosis and resolution of the respiratory problem, and for peace and comfort for Scott, as his road home just got who knows how much longer.

Thanks so much for all your prayers, love, support and encouragement.

In hope, Lynne for the Halversons

Just wanted to put out a quick update, as well as start trying to line up help for the many things necessary as Scott come home.

We’ve been told they expect him to be discharged to home on Tuesday, but knowing how many things still need to fall into place, it could be 24-48 hrs later. A few medical issues, as well as transportation and equipment issues have to be resolved and in place just to get him home.

This afternoon, three friends – Dale and Joanna Pollock, and Clarke Hall – all came over to help me move unnecessary furniture out and rearrange our bedroom so that all the big medical equipment being delivered tomorrow morning will now fit. Thank you, all 3 of you, for the much needed help!

A big need will be for help in maybe a couple of 2-4 hr chunks each day for people who can just be with Scott and take care of some basic comfort needs – no medical care, in order to ease up my burden to attend to the multitudes of other details that need attention. If you are able and willing to help with any of this, please call Cindy Ritchie at 430-1230 to leave your name and number, and she’ll get back to you about scheduling some times. We’ll start by only scheduling a few days at a time so we can evaluate how it’s going as we figure out what life at home is going to look like with Scott at home.

God has been answering so many prayers re: our finanial needs (and how!), but we’re still waiting to hear officially that the transition from the old to the new insurance has taken place and gone smoothly.

Please pray for wisdom in being able to have everything that will be needed in place before he leaves the hospital.

God bless you all, and thank you so much for the prayers, the encouragement, and so much help.

Lynne, for Scott, Daniel, and Becky