An Update on the condtition of Donald Grant DeMan - - As you scroll down this page, you will find entries that preceded this one. The last information received will remain at the top of this page.
June 19, 2001
A short communication from Diane DeMan today. She wanted me to tell you all that Don had a peaceful sleep the night before, awoke happy, smile on his face and in a little while was gone. He said simply, "I have to go"
There was no pain, no suffering. We are all grateful for that.
Here are a few comments from some of the folks of the Inditer.com family:
Dearest Bill:
I am completely stunned by this news! Please convey our heartfelt condolences to his wife and friends and loved ones, especially you. I am so very sorry.
With deepest regards,
Samantha and Kimit Muston
I just wanted to say back to Don, wherever he now is, that I love you, Don and will miss you so much. We'd been email friends for quite a while and I looked forward to his frequent joyful messages.
I never met Don in person but his personality came through very clearly in the emails and in his writing. From this I know that he still exists somewhere out there and I am certain he is enjoying his new state of being as much as he seemed to enjoy his life as Don Deman.
My heart goes out to his wife.
You are in our thoughts and prayers, Diane.
Bill,
I was shocked and saddened when I read your update on Don in the
Inditer last night. I snail- mailed a couple of cards to to him at
St.Joseph's Hospital last week; didn't dream he would not live to read
them. I sent Diane a note via e:mail last night. I hope she has plenty of
good support around her. Don has often expressed, in email notes to me,
his amazememt at your courage as you keep going in spite of your obstacles.
Little did he or we know that he would go so soon. Although my association
with Donald Grant DeMan was brief, he will always hold a place in my heart
as a dear friend.
Hope you have a good day and thanks again. Don was lucky to have you for a
friend.
Bill:
Naturally I Am crestfallen to read the news.
I feel uniquely honoured that Don's last piece in Inditer was dedicated to me.
In writing back to you, I forgot to ask: How are you taking the news?
I realize you and Donald Grant lived pretty far apart and never met but I also know that you were nonetheless very close to him.
My condolences extend thus to you as well as to Diane.
Grant ran a string of police stories (Dead by a Damn Site, Locked Cabin, Binny Flowers, Hot Rod Hearts) where each one in succession was so good I never figuered he could top it and then Grant did just that.
"The impossible, we do today; the miraculous will wait for tommorrow." (David Ben Gurion)
And the loss to all Inditer-ists is immeasurable. If you are the Cecil Rhodes of an Empire of Literate English, then Donald Grant was its Lord Kitchner who marshalled the forces by his ceaseless encouragement to the other writers.
ed note: Dear John: Thanks for including me in your note. Donald Grant DeMan and I did have a special relationship. Before Don left, he joked with Diane, "Bill and I now have a contest - who gets to wear his golden wings first." Donald Grant DeMan won.
Dear Bill -
I have had the email off this weekend, and what sad news now. Thank you for
letting me know. Don was such an incredible human being, and it was my
privlege to share a wonderful correspondence with him over the past few
months, -- I know I am a better person for having had that exchange of ideas
with him. And then to have been blessed again by association with Diane, who
is also a tremendous human being. But I'd never have met either of them
without Inditer. Thank you, Bill, for brining us all together. And I have a
feeling that even if Don has left this earth, he's still part of the group,
and probably looking down right now saying something along the lines of,
"Well don't just sit there...write something new...."
All the best to you,
Kathryn Jennings-Hancock
June 17, 2001
Donald Grant DeMan died at 8:15 this morning. In a phone conversation with his wife Diane, we heard that Don was with Diane, his friend Larry at whose place he had been temporarily staying, his pastor and other local friends.
Don apparently told Diane, when he awoke this morning, "I've got to go".
Just two weeks ago, Donald Grant DeMan was diagnosed with liver cancer. He was hospitalized very briefly. When it was discovered nothing could be done Don was moved to an apartment supplied by his friend Larry, as the DeMan's had just begun renovations at their own place.
Messages may be sent to Diane at their regular Email address, at their regular snail mail address, or to their temporary snail mail address. If there is further information, we will post it here in The Inditer.
Two days ago, June 15th, I had been given the DeMan's new telephone number so I could call Diane. I phoned Diane. As fortune would have it, Diane and Don had just arrived at their temporary dwelling moments before. Diane allowed me to speak to Don for a few moments.
Don asked me to use this page to tell all who have been writing to him to say, "thanks for a cards and the letters. I love you all."
June 15, 2001
Donald Grant DeMan has left hospital and is staying at an apartment in Comox supplied by a friend. This apartment is near their home at Royston, BC, Canada. Don and Diane had just started renovations to their own place when Don became ill, so they have taken up temporary residence in the new place. For now, the new Snail Mail address for Don is:
Donald Grant DeMan,
c/o Larry Turney,
126 Coteau,
Comox, BC,
Canada, V9M 2P8
Early this afternoon, (PST), I telephoned Diane at the new apartment. To my delight, Don was at the apartment, having just returned from hospital, and I was given the opportunity to speak with him very briefly. Don is extremely weak so our conversation was kept short.
I have asked permission of Diane to publish the phone number at the new place so other friends of Dons will be able to telephone him. That permission has not yet been given and may not be given. However, I do have permission to telephone Don now and then. If there is any further news it will be passed along right here.
Please send Don a card or short letter by snail mail to the above address. I know he will be delighted to hear from you.
June 14, 2001
Yesterday, June 13th, Don had a reasonably good day. He was returned to his hospital at Comox, and is resting comfortably. Diane, Don's wife, tells us the CT scan told us nothing....or lat least, as Diane puts it "The CT Scan tells us nothing can be done"
From what we understand, Diane says "Don will likely be 'sprung' on Friday. That would normally mean that he would be going home. But, because Don and Diane had just embarked upon extensive home renovations just before Don became ill, he will be taken to a friends home.....near to his own home, and near to his home hospital. Yesterday, Don accepted a phone call from Britain and was visited by his favourite pastor.
We expect to hear more from Diane DeMan sometime today.....if not, certainly by tomorrow and will post any new inmformation we receive right here and as soon as possible. Stay tuned. Our very best wishes to Don and Diane DeMan.
June 13, 2001 - - -
This morning, Diane DeMan was in touch with your editor. Don was in the Hospital at Comox, Vancouver Island, BC, near is home at Royston. Yesterday, (Tuesday) he was taken my ambulance to a larger hospital at Campbell River in order to get a CT Scan. He had the scan and is now back to the Comox Hospital, where he is resting. Diane tells us there is a chance that Don may be discharged and permitted to go home either Thursday or Friday. She also said the trip to the hospital at Campbell River, although just 30 miles or so, was very hard on Don.
Any mail that was sent to Donald at the hospitals, either at Comox or Campbell River will be forwarded to Don, if he is permitted to go home this weekend. Whatever the event, snail mail sent will all reach Don no matter where is was sent. If you have a wish to send Don DeMan a letter or card by snail mail, from now on, please use the following address:
Don & Diane DeMan,
3983 Royston Rd,
Royston, BC, Canada, V0R 2V0
It is our sincere wish that our Friend, Donald Grant DeMan will feel much better very soon, and that he will be able to join Diane at their home in Royston.
Just as soon as we have further information, we will post it on this page.
An Update on the condition of Donald Grant DeMan, posted June 11, 2001. We now know that Don was stricken with liver cancer and is very ill and partially under the care of the Hospice Society at Comox, BC, Canada, just a short distance from his home at Royston, BC, on Vancouver Island.
Don is very ill and would like to hear from Inditer.com readers and contributors.
Please send snail-mail cards and letters to:
D. Grant DeMan,
St. Joseph's Hospital, Room 208,
2137 Comox Avenue,
Comox, BC, Canada, V9M 1P2
Please click here to send e-mail to Don & Diane DeMan, (deman30@home.com)
or snail mail to;
Don & Diane DeMan,
3983 Royston Rd,
Royston, BC, Canada, V0R 2V0
email Diane DeMan - deman30@home.com - she will see that Don gets the message.....and as a special request and favour....please send a Snail Mail Letter (if you remember how to do that) to Don:
D. Grant DeMan,
St. Joseph's Hospital, Room 208,
2137 Comox Avenue,
Comox, BC, Canada, V9M 1P2
'Vox Populi', get started! Send in your comments and critique on Inditer dot Com writers. Inditer.com is a community of like minded writers. Each wants and deserves the help of the other. Do it! It won't cost a dime! You'll be glad you helped!
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