There is not much new news to report, I am afraid. Mom continues to hang in there, although I believe I have noticed a very slight deterioration over the past several weeks.
Hospice continues to look after her. The aids come five times per week and the nurse comes once per week or whenever dad or I feel like she needs to come. This happened at the end of last week when Mom had a bit of a symptom change involving how she was holding her head as she rested in bed. My dad was concerned, so we got the nurse over there and checked everything out. According to the nurse, and this makes perfect sense, Mom was just trying to get comfortable. No harm, no foul. But it did demonstrate how well and responsive the hospice agency is to any concerns that my dad has.
It's more and more difficult to communicate with Mom and most of the time she won't talk back to me or respond other than to sometimes smile. I know she hears what is said and probably likes hearing it, but there is no feedback anymore. So, I tell her anyway. :-)
If you're still reading this and keeping up with Mom, then thanks. I know she appreciates the thoughts and comments directed her way.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
It's been a while since I updated everyone on Mom's situation. Nothing much has changed over the past couple of weeks. She is enrolled in hospice care and they are taking good care of her.
This past week, she was taken to the hospice's in-patient facility downtown. She was taken there because my Dad had to go to the hospital himself. His situation turned out to be a kidney stone. He is out of the hospital now.
All this is happening while I am in Tokyo (where I am now, coming home Saturday). Beth has been managing all of it and doing a fantastic job.
The hospice company is doing a good job and I believe that Mom is getting a good level of care from them.
Mom's cognitive abilities have gone downhill a bit over the past couple of weeks. It's very difficult for her to communicate, but she still laughs at the TV and will appear to recognize friends and family.
We appreciate everyone's thoughts and all the help that has been provided.
This past week, she was taken to the hospice's in-patient facility downtown. She was taken there because my Dad had to go to the hospital himself. His situation turned out to be a kidney stone. He is out of the hospital now.
All this is happening while I am in Tokyo (where I am now, coming home Saturday). Beth has been managing all of it and doing a fantastic job.
The hospice company is doing a good job and I believe that Mom is getting a good level of care from them.
Mom's cognitive abilities have gone downhill a bit over the past couple of weeks. It's very difficult for her to communicate, but she still laughs at the TV and will appear to recognize friends and family.
We appreciate everyone's thoughts and all the help that has been provided.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Hospice
This afternoon we registered Mom with a hospice agency called Vitas.
Mom, Dad, and I (well, mostly Dad and I) had a good meeting with their RN and went over all of their services and ways of support. They are very thorough and comprehensive in their direction of care.
Mom will be cared for in the home and will not be leaving unless it becomes necessary to do so.
Even though this was a difficult step, it was a necessary step and will provide Mom with the care she needs as she takes those final steps.
I hope that this also provides some comfort to my Dad as he deals with the inevitability of what is coming. I know it is giving me some small peace of mind knowing that Mom will be cared for in the best way possible, given the circumstances.
Mom, Dad, and I (well, mostly Dad and I) had a good meeting with their RN and went over all of their services and ways of support. They are very thorough and comprehensive in their direction of care.
Mom will be cared for in the home and will not be leaving unless it becomes necessary to do so.
Even though this was a difficult step, it was a necessary step and will provide Mom with the care she needs as she takes those final steps.
I hope that this also provides some comfort to my Dad as he deals with the inevitability of what is coming. I know it is giving me some small peace of mind knowing that Mom will be cared for in the best way possible, given the circumstances.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Results
We took Mom to see Dr. Aurora today and get the results of the MRI and to discuss future treatment options.
Dr. Aurora told us that the MRI showed that the cancer had worsened. There were more spots on the brain, and there was increased cancer on the spine.
Based on this, and the fact that she's had two complete rounds of chemotherapy with two different compounds, plus radiation, she decided that it was time to stop.
So, we are discontinuing treatment. While this news was not unexpected, it was still difficult to hear. But the impact that chemotherapy was having on Mom was not worth the results that she was getting. It just came down to that.
Dr. Aurora said he did not know how much time was left, but that he wanted whatever time that was to be as comfortable as possible.
We will be meeting with a hospice organization this week and more than likely begin that aspect of this journey.
I wish the news was better. But sometimes, it just isn't.
Again, thanks to everyone for their thoughts and good wishes. They are appreciated, as is everything that everyone has done to help Mom and Dad.
Dr. Aurora told us that the MRI showed that the cancer had worsened. There were more spots on the brain, and there was increased cancer on the spine.
Based on this, and the fact that she's had two complete rounds of chemotherapy with two different compounds, plus radiation, she decided that it was time to stop.
So, we are discontinuing treatment. While this news was not unexpected, it was still difficult to hear. But the impact that chemotherapy was having on Mom was not worth the results that she was getting. It just came down to that.
Dr. Aurora said he did not know how much time was left, but that he wanted whatever time that was to be as comfortable as possible.
We will be meeting with a hospice organization this week and more than likely begin that aspect of this journey.
I wish the news was better. But sometimes, it just isn't.
Again, thanks to everyone for their thoughts and good wishes. They are appreciated, as is everything that everyone has done to help Mom and Dad.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Last Friday, Mom went for an MRI. Let me tell you, I was very proud of how well she did with it. The doctor has asked for four scans to be conducted, in sequence. With each scan lasting about 45 minutes, she on the MRI table for about 2 1/2 hours. That is hard enough for healthy people to do.
She did great, though, and stuck it out so that all the scans could be completed. We are waiting on the results, though Dr. Aurora said if anything serious was seen, he would contact us quickly. So far, no contact, so I am hopeful that the scans showed what was expected.
We now have a home-health organization providing care for Mom twice a week (for now). Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions on companies. I hope that Dad will eventually become comfortable enough with having them around that he will get some rest, but if not, he'll just have to deal with it. I'm most concerned about making sure Mom has some help.
Next on the agenda is to get a ramp built at the front of their house. Does anyone know of any companies that specialize in ADA-compliant ramps for elderly people? If so, drop me a note.
Mom is doing about the same as she has been for the past month or so. She is still spending lots of time in bed sleeping. One thing that is different is that there really is no established routine anymore. Some days, she will be up by 10 AM, other days she won't get up until 2:30 PM or 3:00. It's driving my dad crazy. Well, crazier.
Our next appointment with Dr. Aurora is June 28th. We will talk again about whether or not we should resume chemotherapy treatments.
She did great, though, and stuck it out so that all the scans could be completed. We are waiting on the results, though Dr. Aurora said if anything serious was seen, he would contact us quickly. So far, no contact, so I am hopeful that the scans showed what was expected.
We now have a home-health organization providing care for Mom twice a week (for now). Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions on companies. I hope that Dad will eventually become comfortable enough with having them around that he will get some rest, but if not, he'll just have to deal with it. I'm most concerned about making sure Mom has some help.
Next on the agenda is to get a ramp built at the front of their house. Does anyone know of any companies that specialize in ADA-compliant ramps for elderly people? If so, drop me a note.
Mom is doing about the same as she has been for the past month or so. She is still spending lots of time in bed sleeping. One thing that is different is that there really is no established routine anymore. Some days, she will be up by 10 AM, other days she won't get up until 2:30 PM or 3:00. It's driving my dad crazy. Well, crazier.
Our next appointment with Dr. Aurora is June 28th. We will talk again about whether or not we should resume chemotherapy treatments.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Update
Dad and I took Mom to the doctor today for a regularly scheduled appointment. She had lab work done and we met with Dr. Aurora.
Getting her to the doctor was not as bad as my Dad had feared. In fact, it went about like it has gone for the past several months, so that's a load off my mind. I was expecting, based on some of Dad's input, for it to be a pretty difficult experience. Luckily, that wasn't the case.
Her lab work went well and her results were good. Her weight was stable as well. Both good signs.
We then saw Dr. Aurora, and after his examination and assessment, we discussed taking a somewhat extended break from chemotherapy treatment. The premise is simple: There is a concern that Mom will be further weakened by more chemotherapy and be unable to bounce back, therefore leaving her in worse condition than we started. Dr. Aurora advised that since she has had such a large amount of chemotherapy over the past six months, she wouldn't be hurting anything by taking a break. She will use this time to hopefully regain some strength and stamina.
We will see Dr. Aurora again on the 28th of June to reassess. If her strength has returned to a good level, she may start chemotherapy again. If not, then we will discuss a more long-term strategy regarding her treatment options. Although the options are simple: Either have chemotherapy or do not. We will just have to see how the next several weeks transpire.
Mom is feeling okay, but she is very weak and tires easily. She spends many hours a day in bed asleep. Her cognitive abilities are about the same, and it is hard for anyone to really get a good answer from her about something. If you ask her a question, you are very likely to get a completely different answer five minutes later. In addition, she continues to have very little short-term memory. Her mother, sister, and brother-in-law were here Saturday and Sunday, and she doesn't remember that they came. Such is the way things are.
For everyone who has continued to help, we certainly appreciate it. Everyone has gone above and beyond what most people would have and it has made a huge difference. Thank you.
Getting her to the doctor was not as bad as my Dad had feared. In fact, it went about like it has gone for the past several months, so that's a load off my mind. I was expecting, based on some of Dad's input, for it to be a pretty difficult experience. Luckily, that wasn't the case.
Her lab work went well and her results were good. Her weight was stable as well. Both good signs.
We then saw Dr. Aurora, and after his examination and assessment, we discussed taking a somewhat extended break from chemotherapy treatment. The premise is simple: There is a concern that Mom will be further weakened by more chemotherapy and be unable to bounce back, therefore leaving her in worse condition than we started. Dr. Aurora advised that since she has had such a large amount of chemotherapy over the past six months, she wouldn't be hurting anything by taking a break. She will use this time to hopefully regain some strength and stamina.
We will see Dr. Aurora again on the 28th of June to reassess. If her strength has returned to a good level, she may start chemotherapy again. If not, then we will discuss a more long-term strategy regarding her treatment options. Although the options are simple: Either have chemotherapy or do not. We will just have to see how the next several weeks transpire.
Mom is feeling okay, but she is very weak and tires easily. She spends many hours a day in bed asleep. Her cognitive abilities are about the same, and it is hard for anyone to really get a good answer from her about something. If you ask her a question, you are very likely to get a completely different answer five minutes later. In addition, she continues to have very little short-term memory. Her mother, sister, and brother-in-law were here Saturday and Sunday, and she doesn't remember that they came. Such is the way things are.
For everyone who has continued to help, we certainly appreciate it. Everyone has gone above and beyond what most people would have and it has made a huge difference. Thank you.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Just back from a trip to Mom and Dad's house. Mom was in bed resting and reported to me that she wasn't feeling very well. She couldn't go into much more detail than that, however.
She's spent a good bit of time in bed this past week and does appear to not be bouncing back as we had hoped she would by taking this week off from chemotherapy treatment. It's unclear right now whether or not she will get her treatment as scheduled on Tuesday afternoon.
Dr. Aurora did say that delaying two weeks would not make any difference in the effectiveness and it seemed to me that his contention was that if Mom didn't appear to bounce back this week, that we should delay one more to give her a chance to regain some strength.
When she does get up, she is pretty weak and has trouble getting from one part of the house to another. I say "trouble", but I guess I mean it is a struggle and it tires her out.
It's now been six months + ten days since her initial hospitalization and diagnosis.
For everyone who has been thinking of Mom, thank you. For those who have been helping out, in whatever way, be it food, cards, poems, thoughts, yard mowing, or simply saying hello, it is appreciated.
She's spent a good bit of time in bed this past week and does appear to not be bouncing back as we had hoped she would by taking this week off from chemotherapy treatment. It's unclear right now whether or not she will get her treatment as scheduled on Tuesday afternoon.
Dr. Aurora did say that delaying two weeks would not make any difference in the effectiveness and it seemed to me that his contention was that if Mom didn't appear to bounce back this week, that we should delay one more to give her a chance to regain some strength.
When she does get up, she is pretty weak and has trouble getting from one part of the house to another. I say "trouble", but I guess I mean it is a struggle and it tires her out.
It's now been six months + ten days since her initial hospitalization and diagnosis.
For everyone who has been thinking of Mom, thank you. For those who have been helping out, in whatever way, be it food, cards, poems, thoughts, yard mowing, or simply saying hello, it is appreciated.
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