Category Archives: Niilo health

Niilo to the Ridge this week

Heather spoke with the doctor this morning about the family’s desire to bring Dad home. If Dad continues eating as he ate breakfast this morning, it is likely that Dad will return home on Tuesday or Wednesday.

We will, of course, keep you posted. Your comments are so heartwarming.

John, I hope others join in on May Day & other thoughts we can share with Dad.

–Chena

John Dunker sends word:

(This was posted on “About” on Sunday evening. Moved here by Chena. Folks, please don’t post on “About!”)

Amy and I wish we could be there to talk with Niilo and you all. It would be strange to not get a Niilo mini-essay in response to a provocative comment; I hope he is storing those up for a better day soon.

Among our thoughts that Niilo might enjoy hearing are that, at the Folk Festival a couple of weeks ago Charlie Hunt (mandolin) and his wife (accordion) played a Finnish folk song; I think it was “Metsan Kesaiilta” (sorry, I can’t do the umlauts, and the spelling is likely wrong). I don’t know if Niilo knows the musicians, but he probably knows the song. Maybe Gary already reported this. It was good talking with Gary while he was here, and catching up on the Koponen clan.

Amy helped me convert an old red linen tablecloth into a flag today. We will fly it Thursday, May Day, and raise a glass to our comrade.

I just remembered something Niilo told me long ago, about his meditation practice in Meeting: As I remember it, he said that he would visualize and sense the circle (which I think he said included others not physically present), and then embrace each person, one by one. Please ask Niilo if I remember that right. There are so many of us, it’s a huge task!

Our love to you all,
John & Amy

Diane Benson sends word:

(This was posted on “about” and moved here:)

I sent a card and I am hopeful Niilo received it and knows that we are thinking of him. Niilo and his enthusiasm have helped me to continue on and fight the good fight. He inspires me and has from the first moment I met him back in 2006. The articles he has sent to me, the conversations, and the inspiring words in his letters are my treasures. The picture with him and a group of supporters is one of my favorite photo’s taken during this wild ride of campaigning. He is in my heart as I know he must be for so many. I feel blessed to know him and I look forward to getting to know the rest of the family.
With love and prayers,
Diane

Friends Are Wonderful

I loved hearing from Bob Betts and from Kotty. Some of the grandkids grew up with Niilo and some lived too far away. He has a special feeling for all of you. Today I listened in as Dane, Heather’s son, told his mom about visiting Grandpa, and the big wave Niilo gave as Dane charged off to Soldotna today for firefighting work. Also today I read two postcards from my son Max, who lives in Somerville, MA but grew up in Fairbanks. They share a love of politics and so much more (same college, same “collect every paper you ever touched…”). And Dad loves Sanni so much, and Kotty’s dad Bob (Sanni’s husband died not so long ago of cancer) held a dear place in Dad’s heart. Kotty, Grandpa is so appreciative of your thoughts.

The hospital staff said Dad had a lot of visitors today. He sure was wiped out when I visited for the second time before supper tonight. Waved off the offer of a second helping of chocolate pudding. The flowers from an eighty-something are beautiful: thanks! It is meaningful to Heather and me that people visit Dad, and I hope it is good for the visitors and for Dad also.

Kotty, I agree with you about the stories. Niilo stories need to be told and shared. He is an amazing person and so many of us know just certain aspects of him. He could tell us about anything he thought we’d be interested in: language and where it came from, history, anthropology, B-12 deficiency….oh lordy, a million different things. Nancy Hidden Dodson once told me how if you opened a file drawer in his mind, no telling all the associated files which would be opened up. We have all learned so much from him and learned that all of life is so interconnected.

But above all to me, he has been loving and calm, so oriented to peace and joint resolution. Thanks to those of you who have communicated how he has enriched your lives. Bob, I look forward to more of your Niilo stories.

–Chena

Beautiful Dad

I had such a wonderful afternoon and evening with Dad. The antibiotics, perhaps, were working their miracles, and he was with us today. There were the times singing Finnish songs–I had to close the door, though, because I couldn’t stand to be overheard, as it was incredibly difficult for me to sing through the tears and the stuffed up throat–with Dad trying to sing along. The “I love you” holding of hands and talking to each other as family closed in: what can I say except I have been so lucky to have been born to my Dad and Mom?

Dad was in pain. His stomach, he says. But he talked to us about his undergraduate years at Wilberforce in Ohio, which he’d gone to as an alternative to his preferred Antioch (couldn’t afford the tuition.). He laughed when we recalled the graduation picture showing masses of black faces with one white face in the upper left, and another in the lower right–both Niilo! He told us he was the first white graduate of Wilberforce. At Antioch, Coretta Scott was a student. He told us how smart she was and how wonderfully she sang. She later went on to marry well….

Dick was there when the doctor talked to us about how Dad was doing. We feel for Dick, who has delivered mail, messages, and more for years to Dad on the Ridge. Maybe I will always think of Mr. Farris and the Anchorage Daily News together, but Dick is much more than that. We all need our friends, and in Dick, our father has had someone who daily gives of himself, even if he is “mean, rotten, and ugly.”

Today was meaningful to me. Dad was of course so gentle, so loving and giving, and also talking about how from the early days he has worked for a better world (modestly, though, he talked of others too who were always doing so much) for all of us. We touched on the fire station–I reminded him that there is a Koponen Fire Station and more. To those of you who know his story, the family invites you to share with other via this forum or others.

Love, Chena

Lucid this afternoon

Following getting the antibiotics for the infection Heather mentioned earlier. The PIC line that fed him intravenously all the way to the heart broke where it went into his arm so was replaced with a simple IV. However, for whatever reason, Niilo is lucid this afternoon and visitors would be welcome. Heather, Joan, and Chena have all been visiting today.

We would imagine his stay at FMH won’t be extended, but the current thinking is that he may be better suited at home than at Denali Center.

— Gary

On the Move

Niilo’s stay at Denali Center was short-lived: Another urinary tract infection sent him back into the hospital (this time room 263) via the emergency room. When you’re not as young as you used to be and your health isn’t what it used to be, every problem lays you lower than it used to. With a new round of I.V. antibiotics, we hope to see Niilo feeling and looking at least somewhat better within 48-72 hours.

With Koponen ‘kids’ spending more time with Niilo, it would be great if other old (and young) friends could treat Joan to drives to see the birds at Creamers Field, or the caribou calves at the Experiment, or movies at Alaska Public Lands Information Center, or to go bowling (only if you score reliably below 100) or even just dropping in to say hello.

Fairbanks had another 17 degrees F and a dusting of snow overnight; watch out for slick roads.

Heather K.

Standing is SOoo Hard

As Chena noted, today was a very busy day, with meals, family and other visitors, nursing evaluations, Primary Care Provider and later Physical Therapy (and maybe Occupational Therapy but I missed them) evaluations. Niilo seemed to be having a hard time making sense of much today, but squeezed our hands whenever offered, and commented a couple of times on the subject of his roommate’s television shows.

I read Dad the letter Diane Benson sent him. (Thank you, Diane.) Dad remembered Dietrich Strohmaier but had a hard time hearing him; Dietrich doesn’t have the loud voice of one used to having to work to be heard, but he sure does have the memories of shared times and interests! He reminded me how healing classical music can be, so I got a working CD player (in the bedside drawer now) with earphones and brought it in. Even when Niilo wants just to sleep, it can muffle the other noises to make that easier. Please offer to put it on for him when you come visit.

Particularly worrisome is Niilo’s increasing weakness over the past few days: He could not stand up straight. It seemed like it took more energy than he had, just to get almost up despite considerable help. The physical therapists will try again over the next couple of days, but unless he can stand safely with support he cannot even use the bedside commode. He also seemed not to have energy to talk or to focus for more than a moment.

More blood, urine, and other tests will be done again.

We don’t know whether the future holds meaningful improvement or continued decline. We encourage friends to visit for 5-15 minutes: Pull the chair up close to the bed, squeeze his hand, and talk to him for a bit about a common interest, even if he seems to be sleeping. And leave a note in the little book on the nightstand so we can remind him who came. Room 116, Aspen Wing, Denali Center (19th ave off of Lathrop St, directly across from the Medical & Dental Arts Bldg.)

And if you can’t visit, please write or call and we will tell Niilo for you. It has been encouraging to know that he has so many people who care about him. Niilo Koponen, 710 Chena Ridge, Fairbanks AK 99709

–Heather

heatherkoponen@hotmail.com, (907) 479-0981 (has message machine) or chena@chena.org 907-488-2001

Raw Broccoli

From Heather 4/22:

Niilo Gobbled a dish full of raw broccoli first of the hospital foods tonight, after yogurt, blueberries, canned fish strips and rye bread brought from home.

He also sang the Finnish song Minun Kultani to me and told me something about sea urchins.

Rob and Peggy were other visitors this evening; he recognized both and was interested in conversation.

As long as things keep improving, Niilo is scheduled to be transfered to Denali Center, a shortterm care facility connected to the hospital that has plants and nice common visiting areas where Niilo should be able to spend some time out of his bed and chair. With the weather warming so rapidly, he may want to spend some time outside.

It is uncertain how long Niilo will spend at Denali Center before coming home; It will depend on his digestive system working reliably and on whether he will be strong and balanced enough to not risk falls if he gets up in the night. He is on the Active list for a room at the Pioneer Home here in Fairbanks, but it is not likely that such a room will be available really soon.

When we left tonight, Niilo bid us ‘bye with, “Nakemiin!”