HOME!!

We had another long day at the hospital today.  Mom's appointment was at 11:00, but of course she wasn't seen until after noon.  The surgeon said her incisions look great and she was able to get her bothersome drains out!  While we were in town, the doctor suggested that we go ahead and visit with the oncologist who determines follow-up treatment.  So we waited another couple of hours so they could work us in to save another trip.  Mom was very relieved to meet with her--she credits the oncologist with saving her life 11 years ago and truly values her opinion.  The doctor was very hopeful and even said mom was a candidate for a new clinical trial in which chemo may not even be necessary because her tumor was highly estrogen positive meaning she could take oral anti-estrogen drugs.  The doctor will do more research to determine if mom is a candidate because her previous cancer diagnosis may exclude her.  Either way, if she does have to have chemotherapy, the doctor doesn't feel it will be as involved this time.  4 treatments instead of 6 and the drug cocktail would consist of 2 instead of 3 drugs, leaving out the very aggressive drug responsible for nausea and hair loss.  Mom was very relieved to know she may not lose her hair this time.  We still have to take one day at a time.  If you think about everything at once, it is truly overwhelming.  It is so weird to know one minute you are fine and the next facing a major surgery and possibly several months off work for recovery and follow-up treatment.  

We got home around 6:00 tonight.   Mom was insistent on going home, so Patrick and I got her all set up in her apartment.  Her friend, Liz, brought over dinner and more things for her freezer.  I will go over tomorrow morning and do some laundry and make sure she showers safely.  Remarkably, she is getting around and feeling good.  Her only real limitation is arm mobility--reaching for dishes in the cabinet, brushing her hair, shampooing her hair, etc.  My grandfather is doing well. His only complaint is still no appetite.  

My animals were so happy to see me tonight.  Corkie, at 16 years old, ran laps around me for at least 5 minutes straight.  She hasn't left my side tonight.  Patrick was happy, too.  He did a good job of cleaning while I was gone.  No major catastrophes (that I know of at least).

Day Six Update

We had some disappointing news today. The doctor called with the pathology report--the tumor was worse than originally thought to be, the size of it was over 5 centimeters and more aggressive which means chemotherapy. Instead of stage 1, the doctor now classifies the cancer as stage 1-2. The good news is no lymph nodes were involved so hopefully it has been contained, but because of the size, chemo is necessary. Mom had a very rough time with chemo 10 years ago and is very bummed with the news. All indications prior to the surgery was no follow-up treatment would be needed, and that was her mindset until this morning. Chemotherapy has changed a lot in 10 years, so hopefully the side effects will be minimal. We will take it one day at a time. The follow-up appointment is still scheduled for tomorrow at 11:00 and then we will head back home. We are both anxious to be back! Despite the news, Mom had a good day today. I was getting ready to go get us some lunch, when she emerged from the door "I think I'll go with you." She put on regular clothes and makeup and actually felt like coming inside the sandwich shop. She said it was nice to be in public. Two of her best friends visited this afternoon so she didn't even have time for a nap. My grandfather is doing well today. Home health came to help with bathing and bandage changing. Thanks again for everyone's concern.

Day Five Update

The updates are getting shorter & shorter, which is a good thing. Pop-Pop was discharged this afternoon and is VERY happy to be home. He will receive home health services beginning tomorrow but is doing remarkably well. My grandmother has a full-time job trying to keep him still so he can fully recover. He is already talking about mowing the grass this upcoming weekend despite his two large wounds from his invasive lung surgery. Mom is doing well. She requested Mexican food tonight, which is her favorite--so I got to-go fajitas and cheese dip. She took a long nap this afternoon while I visited with my grandparents before they left the hospital. This morning I did laundry and some cleaning and helped her take a shower. She is gaining more strength and independence daily. Thanks to everyone for their calls and e-mails. Honestly, even Mom admits that this has been easier than everyone expected. The anxiety of the unknown is always worse than the reality of what it turns out to be. Mom is very brave and a true inspiration.

Day Four Update

Not too much to report today. Mom spent a quiet day at "home". She took a nice nap this afternoon. She is feeling well, not too much discomfort. She has a slight temp which we are monitoring. We have to drain her tubes 4 times a day which is kind of gross! But we are getting used to it. We have to measure the blood to make sure it is an acceptable amount. Hopefully, she will have them removed Thursday at the clinic. She is wearing the new pjs I bought her--cute green and white striped polyester with crop pants and button down top because she can't raise her hands. Her biggest decision in the morning is which pair to put on! She is catching up on reading and enjoying talking to her friends who have been so wonderful to call and check in. Pop-Pop is doing great!! All of his IVs and chest tubes and morphine pump were removed today, and he is hoping to d/c tomorrow from the hospital. He is as spunky as ever. The nurses cannot believe he is almost 85. He loves a captive audience, and enjoys telling them WWII and State Police stories from the good ole days. I am doing well. I actually slept until 9:00 a.m.! It was great. I am a little homesick though. I am quite the homebody and terribly miss my two babies and hubby. Patrick and I are together a lot so it is hard to be apart. If we got through the 6 weeks apart (3 months into our marriage) for his job training in Maryland, I think we can make it until Thursday!!

Day Three Update

Much better day today. Mom was discharged after a rough night at the hospital. She was ready to leave! We are settled into her friend, Lydia's house which is not far from the hospital. It gives her peace of mind to be close just in case anything is needed. She had her first shower tonight, and washed her hair! She is eating her favorites--chocolate candy, ice cream, and popsicles and feeling good. She thinks she could make the 3 hour trip back home, but I think we will stay in town until her follow-up appointment on Thursday. Patrick is holding down the fort at home. He went over to check on Mom's place today and hooked up her DVD player so that when she returns she will be able to watch movies. Once I got Mom settled in at Lydia's around noon today, I headed off to Wal-Mart and Walgreens to get her prescriptions filled and get some groceries. I then took a much needed nap and headed off to the hospital around 4:00 to visit with my grandfather. He is doing much better today. He is spunky for sure--he is on a no added salt diet following his surgery but snuck in a salt shaker and poured it all over is supper tonight despite my advice. Mi-Mi and I went to Dixie Cafe and had a nice dinner tonight. She is settled in the hotel, and I will check on them again tomorrow. If they get to go home Tuesday, I will make the 1 hour drive south and help them get settled at home. I will be off work all week! I have worked every holiday this year and have only taken 2 sick days when I had the flu, so I am ready for a little R & R (although taking care of 2 patients is not exactly a vacation), but honestly I am glad I am able to. I am a nurse at heart and enjoy it. I will keep you posted again tomorrow. I am going to actually sleep past 6:00 a.m.!!!!!!!!

Day Two Update

What a long day, but both patients are doing well. My grandfather has been moved from ICU to the regular pulmonary floor of the hospital. He is in a private room and waking up a bit. He was pretty groggy this a.m. from the anesthesia but is much more alert tonight. He has a fairly good appetite and is only in pain from the chest surgery when he coughs. He is expected to go home around Wednesday with home health. My grandmother is staying at a hotel near the hospital and is completely worn out. We were able to have lunch together today and spend some time making fun of Pop-Pop's craziness caused by his drug stupor. Mom had a good morning but a crummy afternoon and night. The nurses have not been very attentive. In fact, Mom had to call the hospital operator twice and tell them she is a patient and needed a nurse because she was left in her recliner without a call light. When going to the bathroom this afternoon, a nurse's aide grabbed her from underneath her arms to lift her, and for the first time she was in excruciating pain (her lymph nodes from under the arms were removed so it is very sore). Then she began noticing her arm was very swollen and red and painful to the touch where her IV line was. She eventually had to have it removed and the IV placed in her foot. To make matters worse, she began having floaters in her eyes. She was very concerned due to her previous history of 2 detached retinas and surgery risk for blood clots. The ophthalmologist was paged, and came to her room for a complete visual exam. Floaters were present but not believed to be dangerous or of any concern. Because of all the stress, her blood pressure was very high, and on top of all of this her nursing unit was being shut down for the night requiring a move to another floor at 8:30 tonight. But she is settled into her new room and feeling much better. Her surgeon, who is one of a kind, made rounds this a.m. and is expected to discharge her tomorrow. The doctor actually was leaving the parking deck as I was coming this a.m. around 8:00. She recognized me, parked her car and talked to me several minutes. WOW! My whole family loves her (she has treated my mom, grandmother, and myself). She actually gave mom her cell phone number (which we have already used tonight). Hopefully tomorrow will be a great day...hoping to leave and get settled into our temporary home. Mom wants to stay close to the hospital for a few days, at least until her follow-up clinic appointment on Thursday, and then we will make the 3 hour trip back home. I'll keep everyone updated.

Surgery Update

Here is the scoop. What a long day! Well, really two. I worked half a day yesterday, and mom and I drove down to make the 3:00 anethesia appointment (which didn't begin until 4:30) followed by labwork and an EKG. Then this morning, mom and I checked in at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. Surgery began at 8:00 and was over by 10:30. No problems. The cancer was removed, and inital pathology is negative for lymph node involvement (the cancer appears to be contained). She has eaten supper tonight, including cheesecake, and is in good spirits. Her only complaint thus far is a sore throat from the breathing tube used during surgery. She is expected to d/c Sunday a.m. Meanwhile, in a totally different part of the hospital, my grandfather's surgery began around 11:30 and lasted until 2:00ish (the time is blurring together). The doctor told us going in, it was 95% chance of lung cancer. After the surgery, we got wonderful news...no cancer, just an infection, likely fungal, which can be treated with oral mediciation. Because of his age (84) and past history of blood clots, he is in the ICU for the next couple of days. He did have a lot of internal bleeding from having 3 sections of his lung removed, so he is being closely monitored. We did not get to see him tonight. He was in recovery for over 5 hours. My grandmother is doing well. She has been so stressed dealing with her husband and daugther's diagnoses. She is so relieved of their good news. My aunts Jean and Martha and mom's friend, Lydia, were such help today as I was torn in two different directions, running back and forth between the two patients. Thank goodness for cell phones! Well, I am off to bed. My nervous stomach began acting up around 1:00 a.m. so I only got about 3 hours of sleep last night. Hopefully my anxiety is lifted, and I can sleep tonight. I will update my blog daily to keep everyone posted. Thanks for your prayers!