Thankful

We are so very grateful for all the prayers and support that you have given my mother and my family over the past few months. Just to catch you up, she is doing really well and getting so much stronger every day. She has finished chemo and her tumor marker numbers have dropped significantly. For that we are thankful! She loves visitors and is really starting to get out and enjoy life again, so please feel free to call her and have a good visit. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hitting the Home Stretch

My mom continues to improve. She is now trying to live on her own again and is doing wonderfully. While she would like some occasional company she sometimes doesn't feel up for entertaining. Anyone who visits might find her quieter and more contemplative than in the past. So if you would like to visit, maybe just stop by for lunch or a quick visit. We suggest calling ahead to ensure that the nurse isn't due to come or that she isn't too tired that day. Most of all, please make sure you are well. With the chemo, she can get very ill from a small cold. Phone calls are always appreciated!

Her tumor marker numbers continue to drop. This next round of chemo might be her last in this series. The doctor thinks that all the cancer cells that can be killed have been killed. We are discussing some other options for her continuing treatment but don't have any set plan yet. Mostly, we are excited that she is doing well and getting stronger every day. We are thankful that she is so much better. Hope you have a happy October!

Up and About

My mom is feeling better and is ready for some visitors. She loves the company but gets overwhelmed with too many visitors so please call ahead.

She seemed to come through this round of chemo a little stronger to us but she kept saying she wasn't ready for visitors and she is the boss. She enjoyed her birthday even though it was right after chemo and she didn't feel her best. She spent this last Saturday over at JeanAnn's house visiting and resting and she liked the change in scenery. She is doing great! Still very frail and fragile looking but I'm impressed with her drive. Several times I've found her sitting on the floor next to Connor just visiting with him. She is one amazing lady!

Round Three - Good News

Yesterday was my mom's third chemo treatment. She came through it with no problems. We had lots of good news - her tumor markers are dropping. One has dropped dramatically and the other is on a downward slide, so the chemo is working. Her doctor was very pleased by her progress. She will have to eat a bit more since she has lost some weight but other than that the news was all good.

This weekend won't be a good time to visit or call as the few days after chemo are always rough for her. She will probably be ready for phone calls again on Tuesday, September 15, and limited visitors Thursday, September 17. I'll update the blog with better details about visitors and phone calls later but my mom and all of us wanted to share the good news!

Week Three

Happy Labor Day! OK so it is a little late but oh well. It has been a good weekend for my mom. She went for a drive up Clear Creek Canyon in Mary Beth's new car and stopped off to see Andy and I. That's the first time she has been out of the house except for doctors' appointments and lab draws since she came home from the hospital. She was very tired but seemed to enjoy it! She has been doing her exercises and getting stronger - I sometimes catch her walking without her walker. When Connor and I were at her house on Thursday, he was being a little fussy in his car seat while I was trying to work and my mom got down on the floor and entertained him for a bit. Then when I was feeding him and my work phone was bonging letting me know I was getting urgent messages, my mom went across the room without her walker to bring the phone to me so I didn't interrupt his feeding - I think she watched me struggle to get him to eat too often in the hospital to want anything to interfere with it now. Anyway, she and I made a good team and between us both kept Connor happy. Tonight Connor and my mom cuddled on the couch together. Mary Beth took a picture but it hasn't come through to my phone yet but let me tell you it was very cute. JeanAnn will be taking care of Connor tomorrow and visiting my mom so maybe we'll get a picture then. She is getting ready for the next chemo treatment Thursday so get your visits and phone calls in now!

Week Two

My mom is really starting to feel better and she is ready for some visitors. She has been working hard to regain her strength. This week there is some lab work ordered but basically it is just a week to rest, recover, and regain strength for the next round - but that is next week and we want to enjoy this week. We are very pleased by her progress but she is a little hard on herself and is impatient to be back to her old self. Who can blame her? Have a great week!

After Chemo

My mom is starting to feel better after her second chemo treatment. She is still weak and tires easily so she isn't ready for visits yet but if you would like to call her I'm sure she would appreciate a few phone calls. During her visit to the oncologist, we found out there was a mix up on her lab work and we didn't get her tumor marker numbers before this treatment so we don't know how well the chemo is working. However, anyone who comes to visit her can see that it is working by observing how much easier her breathing is now. When I drove her home from the chemo treatment, she was stronger than she has been and was telling me how to simplify my life. It was nice to see her strong and smiling that day and ready to fight the cancer. Last Friday night, Maddie came over and shaved my mom's head. My mom was tired of seeing her hair fall out. While it was difficult for my mom, she is trying to focus on the positive sign that the chemo is moving through her body fighting the cancer. She was discouraged Saturday and Sunday because she was so weak and tired but now that she is starting to feel better we are starting to see the glimmers of the fighter my mom is again. We are thankful for the upward trend and are looking forward to it continuing this week. Have a wonderful day!

Getting Ready for Round 2

Things have settled for my mom at home. She is getting stronger and looking better everyday. Between the occupational therapist, the physical therapist, the visiting nurse, the oxygen deliveries, visits, phone calls, etc., her days remain busy. She is preparing for her second chemo treatment tomorrow. The treatment takes almost the whole day and really wipes her out.

She has really enjoyed her visitors and phone calls. Thank you! This coming weekend won't be very good for visits from her friends or family due to the chemo treatment. The days following a treatment are usually rough on her and she just likes to rest. However starting Wednesday of next week she might be up for visitors again. I'll update the blog and let you know for sure.

Home Sweet Home

My mother is at home! Just to keep us on our toes, the doctor came in today (Thursday) and announced that he was going to work with the discharge coordinator and send my mom to the rehab center. She promptly announced to him that she wasn't going to the rehab center, she was going home. We are all glad that she is out of the hospital and in her own home. She would love to hear from you but please remember that short visits or phone calls are best as she doesn't have a lot of energy. We'll celebrate the moment and count our many blessings! Have a wonderful day!

Changing Directions

So just when you think you know the plan, things change. We were all set to discharge my mom from the hospital today and transfer her to the rehab center. As you can probably guess, that didn't happen. Her magnesium levels and her white blood count were too low to send her to the rehab center today and she needed to stay in the hospital one more day. Furthermore, the doctor and the patient advocate decided that she shouldn't enter the rehab center at all since she would be so susceptible to infection. The new plan is to discharge her to her own home. That has made a busy day for all of us while we switch gears to make sure all the resources are in place for her to go home. We are hopeful that she is going home Thursday. She is disappointed that she is stuck in the hospital one more day and that the plans have changed, but she also is looking on the bright side that she won't be sharing a room. She is eating much better and went for two long walks today. She is getting stronger everyday and her mood is definitely improving. We'll keep you posted.

Changes

I meant to get this updated last night but my son had other ideas on how I should prioritize my time.

Anyway, my mom had her fluid removed from her abdomen yesterday. It was 2 liters so it should make her more comfortable. She is moving to the rehab center tomorrow around noon. The best news is that she is starting to feel better. Between the sodium levels stabilizing and the fluids being removed from her abdomen and lungs, she is feeling stronger and better everyday. She still isn't her old self, but she is much better than last week. Which is good news.

Monday's News

Today we thought my mom was going to be discharged from the hospital and going to the rehab center. However, there wasn't a bed and the doctors decided to remove some of the fluid from her abdominal cavity to make her more comfortable. Since it is late in the day, it is doubtful that they will get the procedure done today so it will probably be tomorrow. Her discharge will be dependent on how well she does with the procedure and when they perform it. So it sounds like Tuesday afternoon at the earliest but more than likely Wednesday.

She is stronger today and her spirits seem a little better. She is feeling so much better that she is back to bossing her kids around. It is nice to see. Thanks for all your prayers!

Update

Unfortunately, my mother's cancer has returned. A recent biopsy confirmed that it is once again growing in the fluid in her lungs. The CT scan shows no significant change other than pleural and abdominal fluid. Her tumor markers are the true indicator that the cancer has returned. While one has grown a little, the other tumor marker number has had a big jump. She has already gone for her first chemo treatment so we are moving quickly. After her first chemo treatment, my mom didn't do so well and ended up in the hospital. Her sodium levels were low and she felt really horribly. She believes that it would be best if she entered a rehab center after discharge from the hospital so she can regain her strength. Unlike last time, she would love some visitors as long as there aren't too many on one day. Her energy is low and she needs to focus on getting well but friendly faces and cards would provide some distraction during the long days ahead. We'll keep you posted and please keep her in your prayers.