Rural Aging: A fall separates Bob and Jane Faller
An accident takes Jane Faller away from her rural Ferry County home as cancer continues to wear down her husband, Bob. This is part of a series on aging in rural Washington. View first installment of Rural Resilience: Bob and Jane Faller
Section:Picture story
Bob Faller places his hand next to the wedding ring doctors had to clip from his wife’s finger after she fell on their Republic, Wash., property and suffered dramatic swelling a week earlier on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, at their home in Republic, Wash.
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Jane Faller has her blood drawn by Kenyon Fields for testing on Sept. 18, at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. During a later Skype session, Jane joked with Bob: “You know that doctor said ‘Maybe Bob shouldn’t see your face.’ ” In separation and crisis, the Fallers’ love is playful. “That’s a pretty handsome guy you’re talking to, huh?” Bob said, sticking out his tongue. Jane laughed and stuck out her tongue
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Hospice nurse DiAnne Lundgren places her hand on Bob Faller while he suffers from a headache as she talks to Jane Faller after she returned from the hospital to their Republic, Wash., home. Lundgren told Jane that Bob’s health had declined since the last time she had visited them. “Bob and I just sleep. More medication, more pills,” Jane said about how they spend their days.
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Bob Faller places his hand on Jane’s bandage after she returned from the hospital on Sept. 21. “Last week was such a downer,” Bob said about being separated for a week from Jane. “I wish it was for something.” In her always optimistic way, Jane replied. “You never know, Bob.”
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Bob and Jane Faller pause near one of their pear trees on Sept. 21, when they discovered their fruit had fallen from the tree during Jane’s time in the hospital and Bob’s stay in hospice care.
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Bob Faller pauses while trying to help his wife cook breakfast on Sept. 21 in their Republic, Wash., home.
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