Spa Day

Thursday, June 30

My mom keeps getting stronger and stronger.  Oxygen levels keep improving.  Infections under control.  Starting to actually feel "a little better".  Thank you April and Sherisse for pampering my mom today!  Hair done, nails done!  Just what the doctor ordered.  Chest x-ray tomorrow.  Fingers crossed, prayers said, verdict will be: "improving".

Third Chemo Treatment

Wednesday, June 29
Third chemo treatment.  My mom and dad went to the new cancer treatment facility this time.  First time out of the hospital in 18 days.  Seem to be handling it fairly well.  Oxygen level is improving.  Starting to eat better, getting some strength back.  Actually starting to feel "a little better".  Dr. Ben-Jacob told her that she was going to be the "poster child" for recovery.  She truly is a superhero!!!  It is a day to day battle, gotta keep "fighting like a girl".

Transitional Care Unit

Thursday, June 23
Moved into Transitional Care Unit (TCU).  Another milestone.  One step closer to going home.  Starting to feel slight improvements.  Sick and tired of being in the hospital.  More x-rays reveal "stable", some doctors even argue that they look better--What we all needed to hear!

2nd Chemo Treatment

Wednesday, June 23
Second chemo treatment.  Similar to the first.  She seems to be handling it fairly well.  Waiting.

Medical Unit

Tuesday, June 21
Moving from ICU to the medical unit.  One milestone reached.  Nurses in ICU were amazing.  The medical unit nurses have a lot to live up too.  Still holding stable.  At least not getting worse.

Stable

Friday, June 17
Another x-ray to determine if chemo has done anything.  Radiologist confirms, "Stable, no change."  Good that it hasn't progressed anymore.  Frustrated, waiting for results.  When will she start feeling better?  Still in ICU.  Learning this will be a day by day journey.  Reminded by Dr. Ben-Jacob that it will take some time, need to be patient.  With endometrial cancer sometimes the chemo takes a while to "kick in".  Fingers crossed, prayers said, that the chemo starts "doing its job".

1st Day of Chemo

Wednesday, June 15
Let it begin.  First day of chemo.  Anxious, nervous, ready to fight.  Turns out to be not as bad as anticipated.  She actually slept through the chemo.  All right chemo, do your thing!

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Tuesday, June 14
Oncologist--Dr. Ben-Jacob coming in later today (has been out of town over the weekend).  Our plan as of last week-Fight.  Today the hospitalist in the ICU talked to my mom and dad about everything that has transpired since June 3.  A new chest x-ray revealed that the lesions in her lungs had increased in that short amount of time, WHAT?  Diagnosis:  "Too numerous to count".  He doesn't know if her lungs will hold out long enough for the chemo to kick in or what will happen.  Possibly too many "what ifs".  

Option 1: go home with hospice and be as comfortable as possible for the next few weeks.  Is that even an option?  Family gathers in hospital room.  Kids say fight.  Hospitalist comes back into room.

Option 2:  He called Huntsman was told about "experimental treatments--not as severe".  Think out loud as a family. My mom says, "All I want is someone smarter than me to tell me what to do."  Hospitalist comes back into the room.  

Option 3: He just got off the phone with three specialists at Hunstman who were reviewing her case.  All three of them concur:  She is 56, she can beat this, keep her there, start the chemo.  She needs to Fight!  Fight!  Fight!  An answer to her/our prayers.  They agree with everything Dr. Ben-Jacob originally suggested.  Let the fight begin!

Another Detour

Sunday, June 12
Mom not feeling good at all.  Mentally, emotionally, physically drained.  Getting harder to breathe.  Feeling tired, drained, anxious.  Bone scan scheduled for tomorrow to determine if cancer has spread to her bones. We're told not likely, but the doctor is taking every precaution.  As the day goes she is feeling worse.  My dad called Dave.  He came to check on her.  He said:  "Time to go to the Emergency Room."  Doctors orders, she went.  They ran more tests.  Found out she had an infection.  Admitted to the ICU.  Everything is happening so fast!
(Later learned that she probably wouldn't have made it through the night if she hadn't gone to the hospital--thankful for earthly angels!!!)

Angels Among Us

As a family we are blessed to have loving family and friends.  Throughout this ordeal many angels among us have been revealed.  One such angel:  Dave Reese (good family friend and ER doctor).  He has volunteered to go to doctor appointments with my mom and dad.  I don't think he will ever truly understand what this has meant to our family.   At a time when everything is uncertain, and confusing, he has been a shoulder to lean on for advise, comfort, and reassurance.  Thank you doesn't seem adequate enough to express our sincere heartfelt gratitude towards you Dave.  Thank you also for numerous angels in our lives.  We love you!   We are so blessed!

Blessed

Friday, June 10
Hard to believe that it has been a week.  In one week (7 days; 168 hours; 10,080 minutes) our world has changed.  A major detour placed before us.  Life happens.  So blessed and grateful for the outpouring of love, support, faith, hope, friendship, and genuine concern given to us throughout this past week.  We are truly blessed.  Thank You!

Testing Begins

Monday, June 6
Testing begins.  Have to wait until 4:45 P.M.  Doctors decided to do a thyroid scan first to rule out thyroid cancer.  Results show thyroid and adjacent lymph nodes look clear.  Good news.
 
Tuesday, June 7
Day 2 of testing.  Uterine biopsy.  Also decide to do a thyroid biopsy to be "safe".  Doctors put a rush on the samples.  Waiting for results.

Wednesday, June 8
Results are in.  Thyroid biopsy clear.  Uterine biopsy reveals cancer.  Worst fears confirmed.  Diagnosis:  Endometrial Cancer.  More tests tomorrow.

Thursday, June 9
Body scan.  She gagged down the banana flavored drink.  Waiting to see where else cancer has spread.  Scan shows that cancer has metastasized to lungs and uterus.  Other organs and lymph nodes look clear.  "Good News" .  Mind set:  Start Fighting!!!

June 3: The Beginning

Today started out like any other day!  The first official day of summer vacation.  Who would have thought, waking up in the morning what a drastic change life was about to take.  My mom went in for an x-ray to figure out why she couldn't get rid of a RECENT cough.  At 5:00 P.M. the doctor called and told her she had the results from her x-ray.  She was told to bring support--not a good sign.  My dad was at work.  Jace and I went with her.  The results revealed numerous lesions in her lungs.  Possible cancer, didn't know the source.  For a minute the world stopped.  What next?  Of course it was the weekend, had to wait til Monday for further testing.  Longest weekend ever!  Mind wandering:  When? Where?  Why?  How?  She had done ALL the screenings you are "supposed" to do.  All came back clear.  What is going on!!