Hospice and Prayer Shawls

It's been a pretty busy day around here.

Mom's hospice nurses came over to bathe her and get her vitals measured. Missy should be here tomorrow.

We've had lots of visitors, and Mom's really enjoyed having all of her grandchildren here running and giggling.

Nancy from the church stopped by and brought each of us kids a prayer shawl. They're beautiful! Each one is hand crafted by someone at the church, and they are blessed by the congregation during service. Each one is to represent God and our community hugging us in hard times.

Angie, Joe and family stopped by with the new baby, so Mom got to meet the two newest additions to the Nielsen clann, Jett and Alaina.

Jean with Hospice stopped by to drop off pamphlets and booklets to help us through this difficult time, and also brought us some tools to help the kids understand what's going on with Grammi. We're really loving all the support they give.

We're hanging in there, and appreciate all the love and support.

Thank you,
A

Retraction... Thanks Nurse Shannon

So... There's a reason why Shannon should be blogging all the medical jargin...
- there's 1,000ml in 1 liter... so my math was a little off
- Mom had a pericardial window not a pericardium.
Lastly and probably most important...
- Mom was at SANford... not STANford...

Oye Vey...

any ways,
Mom's been resting a lot and trying to gain back some of her strength. She has a doctor's appointment with Dr. McHale today and we'll know more about where we go from here after she see's him. It's only been a week since her surgery (not even) and sleep is necessary for her recovery. Visitors are more than welcome; just give her a call, she would love to see you!
Thank you for your love, thoughts and prayers.
-A

Okay is OK

After speaking with Shannon and Kathy AND MOM yesterday - she's recovering remarkably well.

We can't thank you enough for your thoughts and prayers - the support from you all is what gets us through the scary parts.

All our Love,
A

That Darn Cold

And no, I'm not talking about the weather... Mom's caught a bug, she was feeling pretty crap-tastic at her Benefit, but wasn't goin to miss it for the world.

She visited her doctor this past week and got on some antibiotics and is working on fighting it off - she sounded kind of like a bull frog yesterday when we spoke, but she assured me she felt a little better than earlier this week.

Our grand total for the Benefit has passed our inital count of $27,300 and is now up to $28,350 (or something like that). Thank you again, each and every red cent is appreciated.

Mom texted me this morning and it looks like the head is getting shaved again this weekend with Tony. The Chemo that "works" on her also makes her lose her hair, and it's starting to go, so wig shopping is on the agenda.

Thanks for your love, support and prayers. -a

Prayers Surround Us

Mom got a visit from Nancy Brinkman from our church today. Nancy is the Welcome & Caring Ministries Coordinator.

She brought a prayer shawl for Mom and visited with her.

It's so wonderful to have the love and support of the people around us.

Surgery Scheduled

The Pulmonologist has decided to go in and put a "window" to help the fluid drain off of Mom's heart.

She will be going into her procedure tomorrow morning around 7am.

Good thoughts and wishes, and prayers please.

Thanks everyone
-a

Monday = No Fun Day

Mom went into the doctor this afternoon because she was feeling under the weather.

She's been fighting of Pneumonia (again) and she has a ton of fluid on her body (again) but mostly around her heart (Boo)!

So, Dr. Horn said the dreaded words ... and off to Sioux Falls Hospital we go!

So, Mom's on her way to spend the night in Sioux Falls - Dr. McHale was hoping that they'd get to work on her right away tonight if she got down there fast enough.

I haven't heard anything - So I'm assuming that she's there and all checked in.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers as she heads in for her 3rd stay in the hospital with this.

Also, Please put on your calendar April 3rd - there are plans for a Benefit to help Mom pay off some of the hospital bills. There will be details to come, but I wanted to start getting the word out there!
♥ abby

Lumpy

Mom's feeling okay, her lump on the left side of her neck is really bothering her. She's been trying muscle relaxers, and pain killers, and all sorts of ways to make it NOT bother her. She's looking forward to talking with her Doctors about it again.

Other than that? Sleepy, as usual, and chemo, as usual.

Werid to think how "Usual" has changed for her (and us) in the past year.

Thanks for the love, and prayers.
Abby

GO AWAY

It’s frustrating having to go back to the Doctor week after week. We were optimistic after the last visit with Dr. McHale, but this week Mom came down with Pneumonia. They didn’t hospitalize her, but she’s on antibiotics and strict instructions to stay home and rest.

Damn that Pneumonia.

But, here we go... Gunna kick this round's butt too! Right Momma?!

Say an extra prayer if you would :)

Mom says Don’t worry…

I got a text message this afternoon from her that started out “Don’t worry but…” Sorry Mom, too late.

Shannon and Tony are taking Mom down to the hospital in Sioux Falls to be admitted. She’s been fighting this cold, but it seems as if it’s taken over most of her left lung. She is going, not quite kicking and screaming, but she hates laying around the hospital “being lazy all day”.

Her Oncologist, and cardiologist are both based in Sioux Falls and since she accidentally missed her appointment with Dr.McHale (her Oncologist) the other day, she was looking forward to talking with him again, and talking with her cardiologist to see what they can do about the fluid around her heart.

Please place her in your thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Me.

Cold - Gone?

Mom's been feeling much better the past few days. Last night she slept from 6:30pm till 5:30am this morning.... she said it felt good.

Thanks for your thoughts / prayers.

♥ me

We Have a Plan

So many people have been asking "how's your Mom" ... and After the Mayo... "What's the treatment plan from here?"

Well, Mom's doing good. She's been sleepy but that's really nothing new - according to her.

She went to her doctor today and they've determine that they will do a dose of chemo once a week for three weeks, then a week off and repeat that cycle 4 times.

It will amount to about 4 months worth of chemo treatments, but ultimately it will hopefully stunt the growth of the cancer and prove to have less side effects than the last rounds she's endured.

The side effects will be minimal hair loss, loss of appetite and she will be lethargic (surprise). She figures it's nothing a good nap, a can of ensure and a wig can't cure!

We're all very happy that we have a plan to move forward with.

Thanks for your continued prayers and love,
Abby

Finding a Silver Lining

Mom has been taken back this morning to get the fluid drained off of her heart this morning.
The doctor who is doing the procedure today actually developed the procedure everyone else uses to drain fluid off of internal organs. So to say the least, she's in good hands!
There's that silver lining we were looking for.
Hopefully yours,
a

Nerves

Okay... So tomorrow is the PET scan after Mom's last round of Chemo. We've all got every appendage crossed for good news...

We won't get the results for another week, but Mom's nervous to go, and nervous for the results.

She's been experiencing some pain in her neck, which makes her even more nervous... but she's keeping strong.

Please keep her in your prayers and send her your strength and love!

Hugs,
A

Oil Change!

Mom went in for her post-chemo check up today and her hemoglobin was low (still). The Doctor decided to order her up some blood to help her get some of her energy back! Kind of like getting an oil change for the body... right?

She'll be receiving it tomorrow morning and she told me it's a lot like checking into an outpatient procedure at the hospital.

She will probably nap during a large portion of the transfusion!

Keep her in your thoughts, prayers and good vibes that it helps with the punky feelings she's been having!

Thank you for all your support!

-a

105!

Mom's feeling really crappy today. Yesterday while she was at the clinic they found she had an infection and put her on some antibiotics after getting her 105 degree temperature to drop. She's at home today and not feeling great. She thinks her Pneumonia came back. Hopefully the antibiotics they gave her will kick it in the but this time and she'll start feeling better!

Many thanks for prayers in advance :)
Love,
A

Back to the Grindstone!

Mom’s back at home, back at work, and back at Chemo. She starts her first of three ‘maintenance’ chemo treatments today, and I know she was NOT looking forward to it one bit. She says she’s sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Keep the prayers coming! We’re going to beat this yet!
love, Abby

Homeward Bound!

Mom’s headed home after a day of poking and prodding.
They found NO NEW CANCER GROWTH in neither her lung nor her lung fluid; which they drained the other day.
She’s on a strong antibiotic as they’re certain she has Pneumonia, which requires a lot of rest, and antibiotics.
She figures she has an Iron lung and that her right lung must be pretty strong to be dragging her left lung along for the ride.
The doctor (Cardiologist) will follow up with her in Sioux Falls on Friday to see how the fluid around her heart is doing, they feel it will dissolve itself.
So, Shannon is taking her back to Watertown, Nurse Shannon says after she eats they’ll start the discharge because she’s still a little groggy from the anesthesia, She’ll eat at 5:45pm and Mom says she’ll be running out the door and on the road by 6:05pm.
Glad to hear the pneumonia isn’t taking the spunk out of her! Great to end the week on a happy note; Thanks for all your prayers!
-a

In a Word...

Stable...

Synonyms :

*Steady

*Even

*Constant

*Firm

* Unwaivering

*Sure

*Secure

*Established

What a Blessing to hear the word Stable today.
The Cardiologist just left Mom's room, No changes, and her heart is stable.

They will probably do Lasix to get the fluid off her heart and will follow up with the cardiologist next week to see how she's doing.

They're going to go ahead with the Bronchoscopy tomorrow, as planned.

HOPEing for a release from the Hospital as well!

Thanks for checking in with the updates, I think this will be my last post for the day... :)

Thursday Morning!

I corresponded with Mom this morning Via Text. (My Mom Texts!!!)
She said the night went well, and she is feeling good.
They're going to try to remove the fluid around her heart today, neither of us want to think about how that procedure goes.

So, to quote my favorite movie...

Wizard of Oz: As for you, my galvanized friend, you want a heart. You don't know how lucky you are not to have one. Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.

Tin Woodsman: But I still want one.

Thanks for your continued prayers and good thoughts!
-a