The good and the bad...

Yesterday was a good day, and we were all feeling very encouraged by the doctor's hopes for my mom. She was feeling so well, she was ready to come home! Today was unfortunately just the opposite. My mom had a severe reaction to the chemotherapy drug, and was very ill all morning. It really frightened her as she said she couldn't breathe or see, and she was severely nauseous. They gave her an IV medicine to help the nausea, so when I arrived this afternoon she was feeling a bit better.

We were also discouraged by the potentcy of this chemo drug. I had to put gloves on before entering the room, and we were told that I could not hug her, or touch anything she had touched. All of her clothes must be washed seperately from the family's when she comes home, and the children are not to touch her skin due to any perspiration. We cannot handle her drinking glasses, etc...Toilets must be flushed twice, and she is only to use one that the rest of the family does not use. If one of the chemo pills breaks open, the family is instructed to leave the room and not inhale any of the dust from the powder. This is so serious, that she is doubting if she wants to continue on the chemo course as she does not want to risk our children's growth and development by being exposed to such a drug. She also wants to weigh her days in terms of "quality" time vs. "quantity." We will meet with the oncology doctor tomorrow morning to discuss all of her concerns.

Please keep us in your prayers, and especially my mom as she weighs all the pros and cons of this treatment. I have told her this is a decision she needs to make for herself, and we will stand by whatever course she wants to follow. Being the organized person she is, she is already thinking ahead to returning to Red Bluff. She told the nurses that she wants to be at her party in February, and wants to feel well enough to enjoy her time! I will keep you posted as to what the doctor says tomorrow, and what she decides to do. Thank you again for your continued love, hope, and support!

Latest Update

Hello friends and family, we unfortunately have some sad news to share. My mother, aka "Grandma" in the posts below, has suffered a stroke, and is currently admitted into our local hospital. We were very concerned for her, and how she progressively declined after her arrival here. We are waiting on more test results and evaluations from a neurologist, physical therapist, etc...before we can make any decisions about what her future holds. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, and I will update you as we know more. Thanks!