Thursday, August 29, 2013
Thursday
Hi everyone, it's Thursday and I've been hanging out with my mom for the last couple of days. Since I've been here, she's still been fighting the fevers. These fevers have just taken a lot of energy out of her, have brought on lots of naps and also some aches and pains in her joints and bones. She's kept on the "diet" of Tylenol and other meds to help, but we are really praying these fevers away! Again, it's just all too important these fevers stop so that she has all the strength and all the energy to be able to start the chemo treatment the doctors have decided on.
I just wish it were easier to explain all of what I want to explain to you all. It doesn't look like there is much to report, but it seems like everyday...every minute...someone is coming in to tell us something. It would be so hard to keep up with it all on here ;) Things change around here a lot...which reminds me and I hope I can someway relay the importance of reminding you too, that God IS in control. I am needing to hear this, so maybe you all do too :) WE HAVE to rest in that because it's always something they are looking into and something the team of doctors needs to talk about - and they come and tell us that they are thinking and talking, so it's easy to get ahead of ourselves and it's easy to start thinking and talking ourselves. But, we don't need to worry...or be anxious...or try and guess what's going on. The doctors have to, but WE, we need to Trust. We need to Pray..and we need to Believe.
Today was a full day..and my poor momma - endured a bone marrow biopsy, her PICC line put in and the teams of doctors (the infectious disease doctors, the lung doctors, the oncology doctors coming in and checking in) and they are all trying to hear her, understand her, help her and solve what's going on inside of her right now (and we very much appreciate it!) but it's not so fun while fighting a fever, full of pain meds from the biopsy and all she wants to do is sleep!! :)
Keep praying friends & family! We know we have our "Miracle-Mary" as it is and we are soooooo thankful and have loved every minute of the precious time we get with our Mom (& Grammy). We say she makes cancer look easy but it's still tough! And it's tough watching her. Pray for us while we are here - Satan tries to attack our thoughts & us anyway he can...and she needs us!
Saw this and wanted to share:
What Cancer Cannot Do:
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.
I just wish it were easier to explain all of what I want to explain to you all. It doesn't look like there is much to report, but it seems like everyday...every minute...someone is coming in to tell us something. It would be so hard to keep up with it all on here ;) Things change around here a lot...which reminds me and I hope I can someway relay the importance of reminding you too, that God IS in control. I am needing to hear this, so maybe you all do too :) WE HAVE to rest in that because it's always something they are looking into and something the team of doctors needs to talk about - and they come and tell us that they are thinking and talking, so it's easy to get ahead of ourselves and it's easy to start thinking and talking ourselves. But, we don't need to worry...or be anxious...or try and guess what's going on. The doctors have to, but WE, we need to Trust. We need to Pray..and we need to Believe.
Today was a full day..and my poor momma - endured a bone marrow biopsy, her PICC line put in and the teams of doctors (the infectious disease doctors, the lung doctors, the oncology doctors coming in and checking in) and they are all trying to hear her, understand her, help her and solve what's going on inside of her right now (and we very much appreciate it!) but it's not so fun while fighting a fever, full of pain meds from the biopsy and all she wants to do is sleep!! :)
Keep praying friends & family! We know we have our "Miracle-Mary" as it is and we are soooooo thankful and have loved every minute of the precious time we get with our Mom (& Grammy). We say she makes cancer look easy but it's still tough! And it's tough watching her. Pray for us while we are here - Satan tries to attack our thoughts & us anyway he can...and she needs us!
Saw this and wanted to share:
What Cancer Cannot Do:
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Sunday
So it's been a more difficult last few days. Mom was not feeling well on Friday with an ear infection and chills. We took her temp that evening and it was pretty high so we decided it was time to take her to Northwestern. She checked in and got settled in her room with antibiotics and fluids. They determined she has the flu which also caused some pneumonia. Her temp today has been much better and she's feeling ok. My dad spent the last 2 nights with her and now her sister, Sue, is with her.
She was really trying to avoid going into the hospital but we knew it was necessary for her to be taken care of properly. We aren't sure when she'll be home but we're hoping her doctor stops in in the next day or 2. They haven't given her a treatment plan because they're still waiting on the same blood work results. We will update when we know more.
Please keep Mom in your prayers as she's felt like her body isn't as strong as she wants it to be. Obviously we have encountered issues like these in the past episodes of cancer but it still feels difficult to get through each twist and turn this journey brings.
We are choosing to trust and feel the "peace of God"...
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4
Friday, August 23, 2013
Friday Update
Hi there. Just wanted to write a quick update as I'm sure some of you are wondering what's been going on this week. Mom is still home and is feeling some of the effects of the medicine they have her on. She's ok though and still doing things as she want to. She had her blood checked yesterday in Morris and the levels are still ok. When she has cancer and is on chemo her platelet and hemoglobin counts go down so that she needs transfusions at the hospital. Her counts are currently ok that she doesn't need a transfusion at this time.
In the coming days we expect to hear a plan of what the doctors would like Mom to do. They're still waiting on some information from her blood work. There are plenty of good options for Mom and we are praying that whatever they decide will get rid of this disease forever.
Thank you all for your loving support and your prayers. Mom is so thankful for each one of you in her life and for each of the comments you leave her.
In the coming days we expect to hear a plan of what the doctors would like Mom to do. They're still waiting on some information from her blood work. There are plenty of good options for Mom and we are praying that whatever they decide will get rid of this disease forever.
Thank you all for your loving support and your prayers. Mom is so thankful for each one of you in her life and for each of the comments you leave her.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Prayer Needed
Well, we really thought Mom had this thing beat. It's been a few months since our last update and we are sad to let all of you know that, once again, the cancer has returned. Mom received a call from her nurse on Friday afternoon saying that there is something not right with her counts. Her platelets are down and her white count has gone up. We have memories of these calls in the past, as this is Mom's 4th time hearing this news. There is no way to prepare for a call like this...one that stops all of your plans, twists your stomach in knots, and makes you want to scream.
Mom had an appointment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital this morning and met with Dr. Olga. Dr. Jessica is gone this week and works very closely with Dr. Olga. Mom's counts are still showing signs of cancer but aren't dropping too fast so they did not have to admit her today. We are thankful for that. There are a few treatment options they discussed, but we won't have a clear plan until they receive more results from the blood work they took today.
We are thankful for God in our hearts who gives us hope and an eternity with Him if we believe, that no matter what life throws at us, we find JOY in Him. He doesn't want this battle for our Mom any more than we do. He wants her to be well and happy and full of His Spirit. We are all going to go up against something in our lives, a battle that tears us down, but what matters most is having Christ to trust in. He gives us hope. He gives us peace. And He wants us to turn to Him in good times and bad, to love Him deeper each day.
Mom knows she can beat this again. She is strong in body and in spirit and has more support than anyone could ask for. She's already a miracle and we are SO thankful for each day we have with her but we will also be praying for a miracle to take this sickness away forever! Please pray with us.
Mom had an appointment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital this morning and met with Dr. Olga. Dr. Jessica is gone this week and works very closely with Dr. Olga. Mom's counts are still showing signs of cancer but aren't dropping too fast so they did not have to admit her today. We are thankful for that. There are a few treatment options they discussed, but we won't have a clear plan until they receive more results from the blood work they took today.
We are thankful for God in our hearts who gives us hope and an eternity with Him if we believe, that no matter what life throws at us, we find JOY in Him. He doesn't want this battle for our Mom any more than we do. He wants her to be well and happy and full of His Spirit. We are all going to go up against something in our lives, a battle that tears us down, but what matters most is having Christ to trust in. He gives us hope. He gives us peace. And He wants us to turn to Him in good times and bad, to love Him deeper each day.
Mom knows she can beat this again. She is strong in body and in spirit and has more support than anyone could ask for. She's already a miracle and we are SO thankful for each day we have with her but we will also be praying for a miracle to take this sickness away forever! Please pray with us.
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