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Lawrence Heath Obituary
Memories and Condolences
for Lawrence Heath
21 Entries
Ron Hein
October 19, 2016
Eric, I was sorry to hear of the passing of your Father. He obviously was a courageous man to keep fighting through all of his health challenges. Having had my own battles, I can only begin to understand what strength and faith he must have displayed. My Office Manager lives next door and hear you playing the trumpet following his death. Let that be solace for you in your times of loss and fear. My prayers are with you and your entire family.
Jerrie Ross
October 16, 2016
My father was well-liked and well respected someone you could trust and rely on. He was intelligent and articulate with a mathematical logical mind. When I think of my father the words that come to mind are: hard worker, caring, humorous, faithful, respectful, craftsman and family man. Even though he had accomplished a lot in his life, it wasn't always easy. He had a few different jobs but no matter where his career took him he had a strong work ethic. Whether it was at work or any other task my father always put in 100%
My father loved to tell corny jokes, jokes he would make up as he went along. He passed this trait onto my brothers Jim and Eric. My brothers have carried on with Dad's trait with pride.
My father had a serious side one you did not question as a child. Somethings are not to be question only obeyed. George Heath passed his trait to my dad. Not all traits are good ones nor should they be passed to others. Dad would agree to this.
My father passed one of his traits to me it was a HEATH tradition: BREAD BUTTER & ONION sandwich. I fell in love with those sandwiches and still eat them today it's a trait I carry proudly and so did dad.
My father overcame a lot of obstacles in his life but I think his greatest obstacle of all was his fight with Parkinson's for 26 years. A survivor is a person who copes well with difficulties in their life my dad was a SURVIVOR for 26 years. Nerve cells in the brain communicate by using chemicals. A chemical called dopamine is essential for normal movement. When the cells die they can no longer produce and send dopamine so the signal to move doesn't get communicated. By the time a person starts to experience symptoms of Parkinson's they've already lost 50% of their dopamine producing cells.
Let me enlighten you about Parkinson's disease symptoms: tremors, rigidity, or stiffness, slow movement, loss of movement, balance and walking problems. STAGE 1: loss of motor symptoms on one side of the body. STAGE 2: symptoms spread to both sides of the body. STAGE 3: balance becomes impaired. STAGE 4: freezing, fast steps, balance, difficulty swallowing. STAGE 5: dependent on a wheelchair. Sleep disorders, acting out one's dreams, can't sleep, staying asleep for long periods, loss of smell, flaky skin of the head and face, constipation, pain, fatigue, depression. As it progresses swallowing problems, speech problems, cognition issues. Restlessness/anxiety, difficulty writing, urinary urgency, bathroom accidents, excessive sweating,
Medications were important and taken every 2 1/2 hours starting as early as 6 AM up until 10 PM every day of the year. Average day of pills was 20+ pills a day. There were side effects from the medications, frightening hallucinations, unusual impulse behavior, excessive spending, paranoia, dementia, memory, thinking, dryness of the mouth, nausea, decrease in blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, vacant facial expressions, vivid hallucinations, sleep/wake disruption.
Doctor appointments were ongoing averaging twice a week every week, doctors in Kansas City and doctors in Topeka. There are things you can do to try to help management of PD. For a while I took dad to a Tai Chi class even participated in a class with him. Dad was in physical therapy at least a couple times a year he attended speech therapy three times. Dad's good friend Rudy would pick him up and they would go to Tallgrass together and work out. There were plenty of days dad was real tired and didn't want to go but he would keep on pushing. Doing these things would help him in managing the Parkinson's symptoms.
Surgery and Deep Brain Stimulation is the granddaddy of all surgery to help with PD. It's 4 multiple surgeries over a time span of a year, very risky and a lot of recovery time. The payoff was worth it things changed for Dad. For a few months dad went back to driving a vehicle and functioning as a normal adult. It was then we begin to see that all he had gone through with definitely worth the outcome. It was amazing to see dad driving and just being Dad. But his joy of having control over his body didn't last long. Dad started falling down and that's when we learned he had Mercer staff infection in his brain and the rod and the pacemaker would have to be removed. We came very close to losing dad on this day and it was touch and go for a few days. DAD DID IT!!! He pulled through, fought off the massive Mercer infection in his brain and was in the hospital for over six weeks recovering.
Dad went from being an independent head of the household to very dependent person needing cared for every day. Despite his worsening illness dad never grumbled or complained about his sometimes obvious discomfort. He would pick his daily dresswear, and always look better then the rest of us. Dad always kept himself very well groomed.
Besides the Parkinson's he had other health battles he fought, triple bypass, stents in and out, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, several aneurysms, kidney and liver failure. Ongoing issues with his teeth rotting from all the medications he took that would make his mouth so dry. In the beginning dad had mild symptoms but as time went on he had every symptom and every stage of Parkinson's. Everything that I listed he dealt with every day on a daily basis and most the time had a pretty good attitude about it. How he went through all of that and kept good spirits is beyond me.
Betty was always there for him and she was a big part of him managing so well. The last five years I started helping Betty) it just became too much for her and one person alone cannot care for a Parkinson's patient in stage 5. The truth is most of the time she did it all by herself. For the last year Dad was in and out of the hospital a lot and every day was based on caring for him. He became totally dependent on us to be able to function and live. My dad fought for his life long and hard and he never stop fighting all the way to the end. Being able to help care for my dad is something most adult children don't get to do. I'm the lucky one I got a chance to really know my dad. Throughout all of his struggles with his medical issues he continued to try to be there for all of us. Around 10 years ago I told my dad he had to fight for his life and this he did. He put up a long hard fight and he did this for his family and I'm very thankful I got to help care for him, it gave me time with him I would have never taken. I love and miss my dad, your loving daughter Jerrie. PS dad I watched the Red and Green show for you last night.
Mary Franzen
October 16, 2016
Betty, I was so sorry to read of Larry's passing. I remember the wonderful stories you shared of your life together. You had such a loving relationship and you were a good Godly wife. Love, thoughts, and prayers to all of you.
Dan McCarthy V
October 13, 2016
Mrs. Heath, Eric, & Family,
My deepest sympathies to you for Mr. Heath's passing. May God be with you and help you through this, and may God's eternal light shine warmly upon him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jessica Stein
October 11, 2016
I am so very sorry for your families loss. I had the absolute pleasure of getting to know the Heath's at the bank. Larry had a fight and determination that was greatly admired. What a wonderful man with an amazing woman by his side. My condolences, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Jerrie Ross
October 10, 2016
I miss you daddy.
October 6, 2016
I was so sad to hear of Larry's passing. He will be missed. He was always so kind and warm, truly a special man. Catherine and him were quite a team. Love and prayers to all the family....Lois B....one of O'Calls gals
October 6, 2016
Betty,
I am so sorry to hear of Larrys passing.
I am going to miss his hugs! I am so glad that I had the privilege of meeting him and spending time with him at the office. What a wonderful man, he will be missed by many. Hugs to you!
Lea
Dr. Forrest office
October 6, 2016
Betty-
So sorry for your loss. Larry was a very special person and so lucky to have a loving caring wife. He will be missed.
Love, Sue Crawford (Dr. O'Callaghan's office)
October 6, 2016
Betty, with deepest sympathy, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Marcella Tinoco
David and Janice PAYNE
October 6, 2016
Oh, Betty... it's hard to express our sorrow. Our 'Maintenance ' family was always so close. We think of you often and we will keep you in our prayers.
October 6, 2016
You are all in our thoughts. Your former neighbors. Jim and Barb Rankin
October 5, 2016
Betty, I am sorry to hear about your husbands death. You will be in my prayers. Paul Fay
October 5, 2016
Betty
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I know how you feel and you will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you.
Larry Graham
Kenny and Alice Ziegler
October 5, 2016
Betty and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May all the wonderful memories help you through the days, months and years to come. Larry was a special guy. Always a smile and kind word. You both were always so good to Alex and treated him like your own grandsons. Love and prayers,
Alex, Kenny and Alice Ziegler
Wendy Dickinson
October 4, 2016
You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Eileen McGivern
October 4, 2016
Betty and Family- The Administration, Staff and Residents of Brewster Place send our deepest sympathies to you all on the passing of Larry.
Barbara Montgomery
October 4, 2016
My thoughts and prayers are with you Betty and the family. May Larry rest in peace.
Danette (McCarthy) Knight
October 4, 2016
Remembering all the fun times and smiles our family and yours shared. The New Years you always shared together and how Larry would come over and sit with Dad when Mom went to work to make sure Dadwas OK during his illness. Larry and Dad were special men and know what a wonderful place he was at when he opened his eyes in this journey. I have no doubt he is surrounded by God and Gods love and catching up with my Dad and the many friends he had here on earth that are also with him now. He was a very loved man and still is. Betty and family you are in my thoughts and prayers. May the wonderful memories your family shared carry you thru these difficult times.
Deb Boss
October 4, 2016
Betty, we are praying for you and the family. Hugs.
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