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ALI'S BATTLE BLOG
This blog is dedicated to sharing updates on Ali’s journey as she bravely fights stomach cancer. Here, friends and family can stay informed about her progress, treatments, and milestones.
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Two Months Without You, Ali, Valentine’s Day Without My Forever Valentine
Two months without you… sixty days that feel both endless and like a blur. It still doesn’t feel real that you’re gone. But today isn’t...
keithrichmond1982
Feb 14, 20252 min read
One Month Without You, Ali (January 14, 2025)
Today marks one month since you left this world… since you took your final breath and became our guardian angel. It’s impossible to...
keithrichmond1982
Jan 14, 20256 min read
A Reflection On Loss, Kindness, And Connection (December 24, 2024 - January 3, 2025)
When I posted Ali’s eulogy on December 23, 2024, a eulogy I had written with my whole heart and which Ali’s cousin, Naly, delivered with...
keithrichmond1982
Jan 4, 20253 min read
Ali's Eulogy (December 22, 2024)
We are here today to honor and remember Ali Rattanasouk, a woman whose love, kindness, and devotion touched everyone she knew. Ali was a...
keithrichmond1982
Dec 23, 20243 min read
One Week Without You (December 21, 2024)
Today marks one week since you became an angel, Ali. It doesn’t even feel real as I write those words. The last week has been nothing...
keithrichmond1982
Dec 21, 20242 min read
Today Heaven Gained An Angel (December 14, 2024)
Today, at 2:07 PM, heaven welcomed an angel. Not just any angel… but a guardian angel. Ali, my wife, my partner, my everything, passed...
keithrichmond1982
Dec 14, 20244 min read
Cherishing The Time We Have (December 13, 2024)
Today has been one of the hardest and most emotional days of my life. Each moment feels like a wave crashing over me... Up until today,...
keithrichmond1982
Dec 13, 20243 min read
Celebrating Avalynn’s 2nd Birthday (December 11, 2024)
Today was Avalynn’s second birthday, and we celebrated with a small party at Ali’s parents’ house. We wanted to keep things simple, not...
keithrichmond1982
Dec 11, 20242 min read
Exhaustion And Grace: Finding Light In The Hardest Days (December 10, 2024)
One of yesterday’s hurdles involved getting Ali’s liquid morphine prescription filled. While her hospice nurse was able to secure the...
keithrichmond1982
Dec 10, 20242 min read
Moments In Grace: Navigating Challenges With Ali At Home (December 9, 2024)
I wanted to take a moment to update everyone on how things are going with Ali since my last message. As you know, she’s been home on...
keithrichmond1982
Dec 9, 20242 min read
Inch By Inch: Love And Light In Cancer's Shadow (December 3, 2024)
Yesterday, Ali’s hospice nurse came by for another abdominal paracentesis. The fluid build-up in her stomach is relentless, and while...
keithrichmond1982
Dec 3, 20244 min read
Staying Positive, Adjustments To Medication, And Abdominal Paracentesis Procedure (November 24-26, 2024)
Hospice care is, for most people, the final stop. We’re not naive to that reality. The stats for stage 4 stomach cancer paint a grim...
keithrichmond1982
Nov 27, 20243 min read
Navigating New Routines And Care At Home (November 22, 2024)
Today brought a mix of new additions and adjustments as we continue to focus on keeping Ali comfortable and supported. Some much-needed...
keithrichmond1982
Nov 22, 20242 min read
Transitioning To Hospice Care And Managing At Home (November 21, 2024)
Today has been one of those days where every moment feels significant. After yesterday’s difficult news and the big decisions we had to...
keithrichmond1982
Nov 22, 20244 min read
13th Day In Hospital: Prioritizing Comfort And Praying For A Miracle (November 19, 2024)
Today, we received news that no family ever wants to hear. It has been a devastating day, filled with gut-wrenching decisions and moments...
keithrichmond1982
Nov 20, 20243 min read
12th Day In Hospital: No Final Answer On Endoscopy Or Surgery Yet (November 18, 2024)
Today has been another long but steady day in Ali’s journey here at Vanderbilt. While last night wasn’t the best for sleep, Ali did...
keithrichmond1982
Nov 20, 20241 min read
11th Day In Hospital: Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) Duration Adjustment And Nasogastric (NG) Tube Removal (November 17, 2024)
Last night, around 10:00 PM, the medical team transitioned Ali from a 24-hour Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) cycle to a new 16-hour...
keithrichmond1982
Nov 18, 20243 min read
10th Day In Hospital: Liam's 2nd Visit And No Viable Less Invasive Options (November 16, 2024)
This morning, I took Liam to breakfast before heading to Vanderbilt Hospital to visit Ali. He was thrilled. I had planned to bring...
keithrichmond1982
Nov 16, 20242 min read
9th Day In Hospital: Abdominal Paracentesis Procedure And Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) Training (November 15, 2024)
Ali’s sister and I spent this morning in Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) training, a crash course on managing Ali’s Total Parenteral...
keithrichmond1982
Nov 16, 20242 min read
8th Day In Hospital: A Day Marked By Progress And New Challenges (November 14, 2024)
Today brought a step forward… finally, things started to move! It’s a relief to hit this milestone as we wrap up our ninth day in the...
keithrichmond1982
Nov 14, 20242 min read
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