Mom has been home from the hospital now for a couple of days. The visiting nurse was there yesterday. Her blood counts are down a bit, and that says that the chemo is still having it's effects on her body. We also found out through her that things with her were a bit worse in the hospital than we even were aware of. We are so glad for God's protection and care for her through it all.
She has been pretty down. Please pray that her spirits are lifted as her healing continues and that she starts to feel HOPE. Aunt Marilyn is still there helping and mom feels very comfort in that. She still seems to have good days and bad days - praying for more good in the near future. She has been eating well and her strenght continues to increase.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Warren Road Bound!
I am sorry that I have not written lately. Mom is still in Indiana Hospital, but is to be released today (Monday) to go HOME! Warren Road, home. There had been discussion on a nursing home and rehab, but she has been doing great, has no tubes, eating, walking the halls and her own bed and couch will be just fine.
She has been in the hospital 9 days! It has been a long road for sure. Dad and Aunt Marilyn had taken turns staying the night and Jeannie has been there during the day too.
Mom is no longer on the Morphine! Her blood counts are normal. Tissue is healing. She has been hungry! These are all amazing hurdles that she has overcome. With the type and location of her cancer, it has been hard to answer the simple question, "how is your mom doing?" This is my new blanket statement: "The prognosis of her cancer seems good, with a high percentage that this is curable. However, the side effects of the chemo, radiation and pain meds have been incredibly rough on her effecting her physically and mentally. Her scheduled chemo and radiation are over and we have a few more weeks to wait before further testing can be done to see how treatment worked on the tumor."
We are all ready for home care and everything that will bring.
I was there last week when a family friend stopped by. She said that it is hard for her to read this blog because she needs a lot of time and a box of tissues close by. I am sorry if anything I have said has been upsetting or stories too long. Please know that my intent has never been to make anyone sad. It is hard when you are going through this with a loved one to know what to say and what not to say. It is difficult when someone asks how things are going not to go into medicine names and lab numbers. I struggle with what I am to say and what not to say and to be sensitive to all. I pray that my words are used to God's Glory in everything I do, in my daily life and on this blog for my mom. It is not an easy thing to go through and we are so grateful for God's grace, sacrifice on the cross and hope for TOMORROW!
She has been in the hospital 9 days! It has been a long road for sure. Dad and Aunt Marilyn had taken turns staying the night and Jeannie has been there during the day too.
Mom is no longer on the Morphine! Her blood counts are normal. Tissue is healing. She has been hungry! These are all amazing hurdles that she has overcome. With the type and location of her cancer, it has been hard to answer the simple question, "how is your mom doing?" This is my new blanket statement: "The prognosis of her cancer seems good, with a high percentage that this is curable. However, the side effects of the chemo, radiation and pain meds have been incredibly rough on her effecting her physically and mentally. Her scheduled chemo and radiation are over and we have a few more weeks to wait before further testing can be done to see how treatment worked on the tumor."
We are all ready for home care and everything that will bring.
I was there last week when a family friend stopped by. She said that it is hard for her to read this blog because she needs a lot of time and a box of tissues close by. I am sorry if anything I have said has been upsetting or stories too long. Please know that my intent has never been to make anyone sad. It is hard when you are going through this with a loved one to know what to say and what not to say. It is difficult when someone asks how things are going not to go into medicine names and lab numbers. I struggle with what I am to say and what not to say and to be sensitive to all. I pray that my words are used to God's Glory in everything I do, in my daily life and on this blog for my mom. It is not an easy thing to go through and we are so grateful for God's grace, sacrifice on the cross and hope for TOMORROW!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Wednesday
Mom's WBC count is slowly coming up. It is up to 1. She still can't have visitors. Today she was given a NG tube (Nasogastric intubation). This will allow her to receive nutrition since she has not been eating well. She also will be taking her antibiotics orally now too. There is talk of sending her home in the next day or so. We have mixed emotions of that.
Please continue to pray that she becomes more alert, that her WBC count increases along with platelets, that her infections are healed, she regains her strength, that her appetite increases and that her body is restored to complete health. Please pray for our family, my dad, aunt and siblings that we are all able to remain strong and rested.
We love you and are thankful for the love, prayer and support you have showered on us. Thank you.
Please continue to pray that she becomes more alert, that her WBC count increases along with platelets, that her infections are healed, she regains her strength, that her appetite increases and that her body is restored to complete health. Please pray for our family, my dad, aunt and siblings that we are all able to remain strong and rested.
We love you and are thankful for the love, prayer and support you have showered on us. Thank you.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Courageous Kids
Recently, I changed the name of our junior youth group at church. 3rd - 5th graders met once per month for lessons and games and was called FW Friends. It stood for Faith Weaver Friends. FW Friends was the curriculum that was used for that group when started about 15 years ago, but with new kids and new leaders, they hadn't used that material for several years. So, this year, I decided to switch things up a bit. We now meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month and will go on one "outing" per year - not once a month. The kids really seem to love the change, breaking into small groups and having 3- 4 rotations. It works well. I also changed the name to Courageous Kids which seems more fun and appropriate.
I have to be honest in saying, I have been feeling sad lately about what is going on with my mom. I have been convicted about earlier posts that I had written myself on this blog. I do know that it is going to be ok, whatever that means for my mom, and I do know that God is in control of the situation. I am not fearful, it just really sucks right now. Yes, that is what I said. Yes, it is a word that I do not allow my kids to say, it is such a strong, harsh kind of vulgar word, but really does apply.
Mom is still in the hospital and is to have no visitors since her WBC is still very low. Saturday night she fell, and got 2 staples in her head. Yesterday I went to Indiana for the day. Dad had spent the night at the hospital. She wants to get out of bed, but she is too weak to walk, so someone needs to be there with her to make sure she is safe. Aunt Marilyn arrived from Illinois late afternoon. Early evening when we had woken her up to eat dinner, we noticed she was warm to the touch. Yes, she had a fever. Not cool! She started with diarrhea a bit later and it lasted all through the night. She had been given a Nupogen (sp?) shot to elevate the WBC count and was given 2 units of blood through the night to help the platelets & WBC to rebuild. Being careful to not give too many specific details, going to the bathroom, clean up, and then the ointments for the burns and blisters (from radiation) makes for a VERY long and painful night for her, the caretakers and nursing staff. It is just plain awful to watch. I can't imagine going through it.
The chemo's side effects and the Morphine make her really confused. It is interesting how the mind works, though. All her main life circumstances seem to be jumbled up in her and come out in crazy, mixed-up short comments. Babies, wedding, grand kids, puppies, medicines, nursing, cooking, friends, entertaining and properly placed bedding makes for an interesting hospital stay. It is kind of a game trying to put it all together!
As of this morning, Monday, March 11th, her WBC is only .4. It need to be above 3. She will now get the Nupogen daily. They did a stool sample and it was negative for Cdiff. They will grow that culture for a few days. (Glad I don't have that job!) She will get a CT scan of her abdomen because she has been complaining of feeling "full" when she really doesn't eat much at all. She has no fever today. Her oncologist will come back this afternoon to check on her.
Dad went home through the night to sleep and Aunt Marilyn stayed at the hospital. Jeannie relived Aunt Marilyn later this morning, so she could go back to mom and dad's house to get some rest.
This morning I wasn't feeling too "encouraged." Having a few short nights, probably hasn't helped, but that is just how that goes sometimes. One reason I like to listen to the radio station KLOVE is because they call themselves "Positive and Encouraging." Today I decided to look up on their website their "Encouraging Word." http://www.klove.com/ministry/encouraging-word/
Today's Bible Verse:
This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NLT
“A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:8
(Now I feel like my mom - with phrases, songs and movies of the past rolling around in my tiny little brain!) This is one of those verses that you hear used for lots of different reasons and situations, and of course I quickly start to quote what I think is scripture, or maybe it is from the movie Footloose, or that song from the Byrds, "Turn, Turn, Turn." (Better double check on this one!)
No, I can not get the italic print to turn off on here...grr...sorry.
Never-the-less, mom is a child of God! HE is with HER! He is with me. He wants, demand, me to be strong and courageous (check out the punctuation at the end of that scripture). ! He does not want me to be afraid or discouraged. He reminds me that this is all in HIS time - all of it - the good and the bad...(singing along, "turn, turn, turn...") He reminds me that he is with me. He wants me to be a Courageous Kid.
I have to be honest in saying, I have been feeling sad lately about what is going on with my mom. I have been convicted about earlier posts that I had written myself on this blog. I do know that it is going to be ok, whatever that means for my mom, and I do know that God is in control of the situation. I am not fearful, it just really sucks right now. Yes, that is what I said. Yes, it is a word that I do not allow my kids to say, it is such a strong, harsh kind of vulgar word, but really does apply.
Mom is still in the hospital and is to have no visitors since her WBC is still very low. Saturday night she fell, and got 2 staples in her head. Yesterday I went to Indiana for the day. Dad had spent the night at the hospital. She wants to get out of bed, but she is too weak to walk, so someone needs to be there with her to make sure she is safe. Aunt Marilyn arrived from Illinois late afternoon. Early evening when we had woken her up to eat dinner, we noticed she was warm to the touch. Yes, she had a fever. Not cool! She started with diarrhea a bit later and it lasted all through the night. She had been given a Nupogen (sp?) shot to elevate the WBC count and was given 2 units of blood through the night to help the platelets & WBC to rebuild. Being careful to not give too many specific details, going to the bathroom, clean up, and then the ointments for the burns and blisters (from radiation) makes for a VERY long and painful night for her, the caretakers and nursing staff. It is just plain awful to watch. I can't imagine going through it.
The chemo's side effects and the Morphine make her really confused. It is interesting how the mind works, though. All her main life circumstances seem to be jumbled up in her and come out in crazy, mixed-up short comments. Babies, wedding, grand kids, puppies, medicines, nursing, cooking, friends, entertaining and properly placed bedding makes for an interesting hospital stay. It is kind of a game trying to put it all together!
As of this morning, Monday, March 11th, her WBC is only .4. It need to be above 3. She will now get the Nupogen daily. They did a stool sample and it was negative for Cdiff. They will grow that culture for a few days. (Glad I don't have that job!) She will get a CT scan of her abdomen because she has been complaining of feeling "full" when she really doesn't eat much at all. She has no fever today. Her oncologist will come back this afternoon to check on her.
Dad went home through the night to sleep and Aunt Marilyn stayed at the hospital. Jeannie relived Aunt Marilyn later this morning, so she could go back to mom and dad's house to get some rest.
This morning I wasn't feeling too "encouraged." Having a few short nights, probably hasn't helped, but that is just how that goes sometimes. One reason I like to listen to the radio station KLOVE is because they call themselves "Positive and Encouraging." Today I decided to look up on their website their "Encouraging Word." http://www.klove.com/ministry/encouraging-word/
Today's Bible Verse:
This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NLT
Provided by: New Living Translation
I do sit down and read my bible. Not daily, which I know I need to do, but I do read it. For my job at church, of course, I use scripture for my lesson plans and how I develop and create my ministry. I did not go to seminary, and I am not a good memorizer, so I have to be very careful! I try to be sure I look things up carefully before I start to quote! One of my favorite tools to use is a website BibleGateway.com. I can search for a phrase or story and it will look it up for me exactly and if it isn't just the way I remember, I can search through different translations until I find just what I am looking for. It makes my job a lot easier! Just like my mom, I have a lot of life experiences and things in my head, so I have to work hard to "channel" the right thing at the right time when I am trying to quote (not a strength of mine...).
"...Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged!" After spending the day and evening with my mom an seeing all she is going through, I REALLY needed to hear THOSE words today. Yes, it was Positive and Encouraging to me today. I thought about those words and looked a little more at that webpage. A little lower on the page was "Previous Verses."
Ecclesiastes 3:8
(Now I feel like my mom - with phrases, songs and movies of the past rolling around in my tiny little brain!) This is one of those verses that you hear used for lots of different reasons and situations, and of course I quickly start to quote what I think is scripture, or maybe it is from the movie Footloose, or that song from the Byrds, "Turn, Turn, Turn." (Better double check on this one!)
No, I can not get the italic print to turn off on here...grr...sorry.
Never-the-less, mom is a child of God! HE is with HER! He is with me. He wants, demand, me to be strong and courageous (check out the punctuation at the end of that scripture). ! He does not want me to be afraid or discouraged. He reminds me that this is all in HIS time - all of it - the good and the bad...(singing along, "turn, turn, turn...") He reminds me that he is with me. He wants me to be a Courageous Kid.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Staples
Tonight, in the hospital, mom fell. Dad had stepped out to get some dinner and was only gone 20 minutes. Jeannie just happened to stop by to find mom laying on the floor. She hit her head. The CT scan and shoulder xrays came back clear. They gave her staples. Dad is going to stay the night with her. I will go in the morning. I was going to go to church with him in the morning - not sure if I will just go straight to the hospital now. I'm sure my dad feels awful.
Thanks again for your prayers.
Thanks again for your prayers.
In the Hospital
Last night, mom was admitted to the hospital. Her WBC is VERY low, .08. She also has a UTI. Any infection right now is very serious. She is getting IV antibiotics. They are doing their best to aid in her sores and blisters. Painful seems like too light of a word to describe things right now for her. The level of care that my dad has had to help with for my mom certainly falls into the worse part of "for better or for worse." The combination of morphine and pain that she is experiencing makes her again confused and now angry.
She of again is allowed no visitors.
Please pray that:
~ Total healing continues
~ Mom's pain is eased
~ WBC & platelets are quickly raised
~ Infections are healed
~ She is able to rest in the hospital
~ It would be awesome if she doesn't remember this phase
~ Strength & Rest for Dad
Thank you again for all your love and support.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-KM_zpwfr4
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, you're my hope and stay
She of again is allowed no visitors.
Please pray that:
~ Total healing continues
~ Mom's pain is eased
~ WBC & platelets are quickly raised
~ Infections are healed
~ She is able to rest in the hospital
~ It would be awesome if she doesn't remember this phase
~ Strength & Rest for Dad
Thank you again for all your love and support.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-KM_zpwfr4
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, you're my hope and stay
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Last Radiation
"Today was the last radiation treatment. Chemo ended last Friday. Now is the waiting time so that all tissues can heal and get back to normal . Gingie is suffering radiation burns. She takes break through medication for pain. We continue to value your prayer support for this healing time and that when we get to the place of treatment evaluation we will have excellent positive results. God's presence is real. He is our All in All. Praise to Him from whom ALL blessings flow.
Rodney"
Rodney"
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