Rest In Peace, Jason William Pfeiffer - January 2, 1970 to June 25, 2012

[beartalon]

Dear Friends,

It is with great sorrow that I write to tell you that Jason passed away today due to complications of leukemia.

Early this afternoon, he passed quietly in his sleep, without pain, surrounded by friends holding onto him in love.  For those of you who sent messages, I read them all to him this morning.  He was not aware of anyone today,

Comments

[teddyb]

I am deeply saddened to read this, Paul. I knew Jason was fighting a tough battle with the leukemia, but it still came as a shock, and even though I tried to prepare for the possibility, I always held out hope that he'd get another remission. I offer my condolences to you and to Jason's family.

I am trying to take some comfort in knowing that Jason is now at rest and at peace, and by remembering the last time I saw you and Jason, when he was having such a good time doing one of the things he loved most in life, making rollicking good Celtic music with his good friends and fellow musicians in Nollaig. That was such a fun night, and it is wonderful times like that I am counting on to sustain me in this very sad time.

I hope that you are also able to take some comfort in remembering those good times, and in knowing that you made this transition bearable for Jason with your strength and your love.

[beartalon]

I remember that Nollaig concert. It was at the Transzac just before Christmas right? I think I had just returned from Newfoundland for my father's funeral or it might have been before, and we were speaking of Jason's recently ended leukemia treatment and my father's passing.

Yes, there are plenty of memories to hold onto, and my friends are helping me make the transition bearable with their strength and their love.

Thank you for yours.

[bitterlawngnome]

I'm so sorry. But I'm glad to hear it was peaceful and without pain.

When I get back home I'll find & repost some pictures of him.

[beartalon]

Thank you. I shared my own webpage with your pictures from our photoshoot in 2006 on it - my webpage, not a FB photo album - and asked people to respect the copyright. I might have gotten the show your details wrong, but many people are enjoying the pictures.

[bitterlawngnome]

Don't worry about the copyright issues, if people are going to rip them off they will, regardless of anything you or I might do. Can I see the page?

I'm going to re-process the photos, cause the tools at my disposal now are much more sophisticated.

[beartalon]

Sure, here you go: http://www.beartalon.com/paulpic01.htm

I used the original 27% and thumbnailsizes you provided, not the later ones you gave us at full size. The file names are the same as the ones you gave, if that helps.

[tonethbone]

Dear Paul
This is a big shocker to me. I knew that Jason was dealing with leukemia...but I had no idea that he was this critical.
I am so, so sorry

[beartalon]

The complications started as Jason reached the low point between the chemotherapy treatment removing his immune system and it starting to recover. The infections he had were strong and required strong drugs to counteract them, and the drugs themselves caused side-effects, the known risks they all carry. He didn't recover fast enough to be able to receive a new chemotherapy treatment to fight off the new crop of cells that also appeared just as the infections were cleared, but not the weakness from the drug side-effects.

We had decided long before this happened what our treatment options would be at any failure along the path and enacting that decision led to his peaceful passing.

[soberloki]

I'm sad that he's no longer with you, but I'm glad you got to be with him.

He must have known how loved he was, and I hope you know how loved YOU are.

[beartalon]

He did, and I do. Thank you.

[persephoneplace]

Interesting, isn't it? He was far from able to respond today and yet I had no doubt that he heard those words and was aware of the love he was surrounded with. i don't think that is just projection. I was convinced of it at the time and remain so.

[beartalon]

I am convinced too, but I had to try not to look at him so much because I couldn't see the recognition of my voice or any reaction to my words on his face. Thank you for arriving when you did and helping me with the reading.

[bitterlawngnome]

There is a lot of clinical and anecdotal evidence that people hear and respond physically to voices, especially voices they know and love. Also evidence that people can understand the gist of what is being said long after they can no longer respond. You'e not imagining it at all.

[beartalon]

I was trying not to let my compromised self give in to the voice that said "This is useless." That voice has often been wrong and I HAD to deliver those messages at whatever personal cost to myself.