A Ride In The Ambulance

This picture was taken at Jordan's birthday party two months ago, when my mom was feeling pretty good. The cancer doctor saw signs of remission, and her overall health seemed to be improving. That has changed in the past two weeks because of a small blood clot in her leg, and an injury to her back caused when she decided to move her bed without asking for help. (She tends to be a little stubborn and independent. If you know my mom, you aren't surprised by that statement.) Those things had caused a lot of pain, forcing her to use a walker at home and the wheelchair when away from home.
Yesterday morning when I checked on my mom, I found her struggling to breathe. Her blood pressure and pulse were high and she was quite weak. I decided she needed to go to the hospital and called for paramedics. When they evaluated her, they told her she should take a ride with them. I think paramedics must take "Compassion 101" in their training, because they were so kind and gentle with her.
At the hospital a very sweet nurse named Barb cared for Mama. After blood tests, EKG, chest x-ray and other testing, the diagnosis is "extensive pneumonia in both lungs." When I left her she was sleeping, her heart rate and blood pressure near normal and her breathing less labored.
After I visit her this morning, I will update again. Thank you for praying for her.

Mimi, guess what...

On Tuesday night our 8-year old grandson called to tell us that his mommy is going to have a baby. He was very excited. We walked to their house because, well,it seemed appropriate to hug everyone. When we walked in, the three younger kids were sitting side by side in the dining room waiting for us. The baby, Jordan, who is three, said, "I'm gonna be a big brother!! We gonna get a baby. I'm gonna be a big brother!"

We are just so delighted to be blessed with another grandchild, number six for us. God is truly the giver of life. Because our daughter miscarried about this time last year, we cannot help but think of that. We have committed this tiny little life, already known to God by name, into His keeping, and pray for safety and health.

Summer Doldrums

I didn't know it had been almost two months since my last posting. I think it's about time I get caught up.
My mom is definitely in remission. Her doctor told her last week that just looking at her blood tests, he wouldn't know she had anything wrong with her at all. I'm so grateful that God, through this doctor and cancer treatment center, has restored a good measure of health to her. She still continues treatment, but has more time off between chemo rounds than before. That gives a time of rest both to her and to me, the driver.

Our son continues to look for work. It is such a bad time to be unemployed, but at the same time, is exciting to watch how God will provide for him.

We had a wonderful family time for Independence Day. Todd and Jared, with help from friends, had the pool back up after the recent mishap and loss of water. So we swam, ate, swam some more, ate some more - you get the picture. I'm so thankful for the freedom to gather and celebrate with the people we love most.

Dan is better after the scare in church involving paramedics that happened three weeks ago. I pray God will be gracious and keep him here a very long time. We are monitoring his blood pressure, and I "nag" him to be careful as he works in the heat, to not overdo. My deep thanks for those of you who prayed for him, and who continue to pray for my mother.

My prayer is this: Lord, I want to make much of you in everything I do. So whether I'm rejoicing or disappointed, harried or calm, with others or alone, may I focus my heart on you and not on myself.

Remission???

We saw the cancer doctor on Monday of this week and he said again that he believes that my mother is in remission, that most people don't have the results she seems to be having until they have had 5 or 6 rounds of chemo. She just finished her second and the blood counts are very encouraging.

We skipped Spring in this part of Florida and have run head-long into full blown Summer. Boy, is it hot! And until this week we have had extremely dry weather. But the past two days it has rained here in our little corner of paradise, and we are so very grateful. God is faithful to provide our needs.

"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." Psalm 57:10-11

On Second Thought...

OK. I'm back. For now.

Today the doctor gave my mom a very encouraging report. Her blood counts were up to near normal range for the first time since she has been in treatment except for the platelet count - which IS in normal range. He was cautiously optimistic, saying that he will check her blood again in a week to make sure it isn't a fluke. But he believes that she is going into remission much earlier than he expected.

She still has no appetite and has to force herself to eat. (At this point I want to make it clear that this is not a problem that I share with her, although I wouldn't mind doing so for about, oh, twenty pounds!) So he wrote a prescription for a drug that will make her want to eat, and told her that it is "kind of expensive" and her insurance should cover it. Well, expensive is an understatement. The insurance company agreed to pay $321, which left her with a co-pay of - are you ready for this????? - $290 ADDITIONAL. I was dumbfounded! I don't know if she will have the pharmacist order it or not; that's up to her. That's just wrong!

This doctor told us that he is only the doctor, a tool used by God to help people. But God is the one who heals. I like this man.

So that's where we are today. Thank you again for praying for us.

Too Busy, Too Tired

I can't keep up with this blogging right now. If you have been following to keep up with my Mother's illness and care, you can email me and I'll update you.
mimiof48@hotmail.com

One Really Bad Week

After the blood transfusions on Monday, Mama's overall health went downhill. She has been put on oxygen at home because her oxygen levels were very low Tuesday when she saw her regular doctor. This shortness of breath, zero energy, weakness, no appetite went on all week. She spent more time in bed than out.

The doctor has determined that all this was a reaction to the injection she was given to boost white blood cell count, and he has switched her to something else. So far she seems to be tolerating that quite well.

It seems every day is the same as the one before - trip to the cancer center and/or the hospital for blood and/or platelet transfusion, followed by a long nap. She does seem to have more energy since that first drug was changed, but still has no stamina.

The journey is just beginning...count it all joy.