Amy and I left Butler yesterday and headed back to Philadelphia and Detroit. Collectively this was the most time the two of us have been in Butler together with our family since the Summer between my Freshman and Sophomore years at Penn State. Mom said that she wishes we weren't there because of her sickness. We both agree. I suppose one benefit of cancer is bringing family together.
And we've saw more of our family members this week than we have in a long time. We saw my grandparents every day, my aunt and uncles a few times. My cousins even made it up to see Mom though unfortunately Amy and I both missed them.
And Mom has received wonderful support from her former colleagues and her friends. She needs it. Every bit of encouragement, positive words, prayers and hope gives her strength.
We left Mom on a really good note. She came through her abdominal resection surgery very well. The surgery itself and post-op care have gone really well.
Mom would have been home while we were there if it weren't for a couple of issues...
Mom would have been home while we were there if it weren't for a couple of issues...
The body's reaction to having a major surgical procedure can sometimes create a temporary heart issue called atrial fibrillation (A-Fib). The day after mom's surgery a routine heart check showed this, and as I noted previously, Mom was moved to a room where they could monitor her heart. This showed that the minor A-Fib appears to be an on-going problem - not one that would put her in immediate danger, but one that the hospital and her doctors want to resolve before she leaves. That means tinkering with her medications to get the ratios just right to keep her heart and blood pumping correctly 24/7.
Without getting into too many details, knowing what we know about A-Fib now, although it has been difficult to see mom in the hospital for this long, we are really thankful that this issue is being taken care of. Because of the holiday, we didn't get to talk to the head cardiologist, Amy and I are hoping that when he/she talks to Dad today, he can have the doctor talk to us to explain exactly what their plan is for Mom and all of those details.
One thing I've learned (we've learned) through this experience is how important it is to know what medicines you've been prescribed, know exactly WHY you're taking them, and how important they are - can you go a day without it, or will you suffer unwanted consequences. It seems like a no-brainer, but pharmaceuticals can be really confusing, especially when there are multiples of them and they all seem to cover the same things. While in the hospital there were a couple of meds mom regularly takes that for whatever reason the hospital decided not to give her, then after we asked, they started them up and mom's condition dramatically improved.
The last few days mom has been doing really great. She's getting stronger, walking, doing all the things she needs to do. And while she's eating again, she's gone for so long without really eating that getting back into it has been a rough road for her stomach. The result is some serious heartburn. Today, the doctors did an endoscope that revealed some ulcers at the base of her esophagus / top of her stomach. While we aren't happy that mom has ulcers, we are thankful for this news as the condition is treatable and Mom should be able to continue to eat more and get stronger. There is even a chance she may be released today, definitely by tomorrow.
So for now, every day has been better... we are hopeful that trend will continue. As is common in cancer stories - day by day... good days and bad days. Celebrate the good and push through the bad.
Please pray for as many good days as possible and keep sending good thoughts and words of encouragement. Mom and my family truly appreciate it. And do that for the people you love too, those closest to you.
" Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people..." Galatians 6:9-10
Without getting into too many details, knowing what we know about A-Fib now, although it has been difficult to see mom in the hospital for this long, we are really thankful that this issue is being taken care of. Because of the holiday, we didn't get to talk to the head cardiologist, Amy and I are hoping that when he/she talks to Dad today, he can have the doctor talk to us to explain exactly what their plan is for Mom and all of those details.
One thing I've learned (we've learned) through this experience is how important it is to know what medicines you've been prescribed, know exactly WHY you're taking them, and how important they are - can you go a day without it, or will you suffer unwanted consequences. It seems like a no-brainer, but pharmaceuticals can be really confusing, especially when there are multiples of them and they all seem to cover the same things. While in the hospital there were a couple of meds mom regularly takes that for whatever reason the hospital decided not to give her, then after we asked, they started them up and mom's condition dramatically improved.
The last few days mom has been doing really great. She's getting stronger, walking, doing all the things she needs to do. And while she's eating again, she's gone for so long without really eating that getting back into it has been a rough road for her stomach. The result is some serious heartburn. Today, the doctors did an endoscope that revealed some ulcers at the base of her esophagus / top of her stomach. While we aren't happy that mom has ulcers, we are thankful for this news as the condition is treatable and Mom should be able to continue to eat more and get stronger. There is even a chance she may be released today, definitely by tomorrow.
So for now, every day has been better... we are hopeful that trend will continue. As is common in cancer stories - day by day... good days and bad days. Celebrate the good and push through the bad.
Please pray for as many good days as possible and keep sending good thoughts and words of encouragement. Mom and my family truly appreciate it. And do that for the people you love too, those closest to you.
" Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people..." Galatians 6:9-10
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