Manly fuowned by Katie's blog: "Latest on mom"

******Last Update******

Mom was discharged from the hospital today, came home to me and the hospice nurse has been to see her and the rest of my family.  She is resting relatively well, but is now on morphine and another laundry list of meds.  The nurse seemed to think she has 2 weeks or less left.  When we visited with her yesterday, she told us the drs said there is no hope and she said it as though she has accepted that.  I have made peace with this and have told her I love her and that it is ok for her to leave this earth and join her brother, parents and the rest of her relatives in heaven.  She is solely my responsibility during the day and my brother, although sleeping at my house still has to go to work for now.  You all have been wonderful in your support of both my mother and me and I thank you profusely for all of your words of comfort. I will try to be on occasionally while she sleeps to tell all of you personally, but can't promise how much that will happen. May God bless her and keep her!!!

I haven't written a blog about my parents n quite a while, but I think I had better now.  My mom had been doing quite well and then on Monday, had to be taken to the hospital.  I went to see her yesterday and she really didn't look well at all.

As many of you know, she has been battling breast cancer for 12 years now and has fought quite the fight.  After exhaustive tests, CATSCAN, MRI, X-RAYS, etc., they have discovered that she now has tumors that have matasticized to her bones (again) and have found them in both lungs, her spleen and her liver.

Moreover, my brother just called to tell me she is in A-Fib. Her heart rate is anywhere from 150-180 bpm.  They are planning to move her to the ICU shortly, if they can't get it regulated. 

Only a few VERY close friends here knew about this because I didn't want my more "casual" friends to think I am whining or complaining about her situation as I know many of you have either faced or know people who have faced worse in their own lives.  But, I DID want all of you to know that I might or might not be here over the next few days and also know that I wasn't ignoring any of you.

I ask that you keep her in your thoughts and prayers and if God has a better plan, he put that plan into effect at His will.  I certainly do NOT want her to suffer more than she already has.  Thank you for reading my post.

Ed

****Update****

My brothers and I met with 3 doctors yesterday and sadly, we are now at the point of trying to make my mother comfortable for her last days.  The cancer has gotten to the point where it's beginning to overtake her body and her heart is not strong enough to handle anything more than palletable chemo and perhaps some radiation.

They took 1 liter of fluid from her right lung on Friday and now it seems as though it has returned.  Last night, she completely "lost it" on the nurses and doctors.  They think she is suffering from either what they called "hospital delerium" and/or dementia.  She has been somewhat delusional since she was admitted last Monday, but the bouts were VERY short-lived.

According to the doctors, her time will now be measured in days, weeks and/or months.  However, we were told that since it took her about 3 months to get to this point, we are probably looking at the same time frame until she leaves this Earth.

Your outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming to me.  At this point, she is in quite a lot of pain and knowing she is a fighter, I think she will not give up, no matter what.  So, know that I very much appreciate your thoughts and prayers, but knowing what she faces, and NOT to sound uncaring or morbid, perhaps the end should be sooner rather than later.

Thank you again for reading AND for all the love and support you have shown during this VERY trying time for my mother and my entire family.

Ed

********UPDATE #2********

The latest news on my mother is that the medical team at the hospital where she is now has basically said there is no more that can be done for her other than making her comfortable at home.  She's really not doing well and they drained a pint of fluid from one of her lungs today (second time since Sept. 23).  There is also a new ping-pong ball sized "growth" on the lower right side of her stomach that mysteriously appeared yesterday. 

Therefore, they are discharging her tomorrow and she will be staying with me for the next 2 weeks. As per my mom's request, my brothers and i have arranged for her to be seen by a dr. at Thomas Jefferson hospital in Philadelphia to see if there is anything else, short of chemo, that can be done. That appt. is set for Wednesday.  I am also trying to arrange for a dr. to see her regarding epigenome therapy. if those 2 options are unsuccessful, i think hospice will be called in in the very near future. Thank you ALL so VERY much for your prayers for mom!!!!  They mean more to me than any of you know.