Recovering at home was pretty much uneventful, with one exception.
During the night my mom had gotten up to go to the little girl’s room and lost her balance. Now, keep in mind we are just a few days out, post-op. When something like this happens, you get a little panicked. You’re not sure if you ripped some stitches or shook up something on the inside, so all modesty goes out the window.
My parents called my brother, who conveniently lives near by as well, who in turned called the fire department – much to my mom’s displeasure.
We wanted to make sure that she was okay and decided to let the professionals handle it. If you think she hates having family take care of her, you can imagine how it is when you have to call the professionals! :)
We are blessed to have some pretty cool fire department personnel who handled my mom with kid gloves and a liberal helping of compassion. Once they looked her over, they declared that she was okay; it’s just a bump on the head.
By the way, I could have told them my mom was fine – the woman did comment about the hot firemen in her bedroom! I told you she was a spunky hambone!
Thanks to TCFD for being there when we needed you!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Home, James
After our consultation with her doctor, we took my mom home for some much needed R&R. Let’s face it, when you are sick and feeling puny, there is nothing better than being in your own bed, surrounded by your stuff.
We said good-bye to those wonderful souls on the Angel floor and loaded my mom into the car for the ride home. My husband, James (it’s so cool to get on the car and say “Home, James) was designated driver and he did a wonderful job of getting my mom home in one piece – avoiding all the potholes and bumps in the round.
Once we got her through that threshold on Middleton Circle, she put on her jim-jams and melted into a nice, warm bed.
It’s true what Dorothy says – “There’s no place like home!”
We said good-bye to those wonderful souls on the Angel floor and loaded my mom into the car for the ride home. My husband, James (it’s so cool to get on the car and say “Home, James) was designated driver and he did a wonderful job of getting my mom home in one piece – avoiding all the potholes and bumps in the round.
Once we got her through that threshold on Middleton Circle, she put on her jim-jams and melted into a nice, warm bed.
It’s true what Dorothy says – “There’s no place like home!”
Taking the Stage
My mom’s doctor wanted to give her some time to recover and get her strength back before he discussed the treatment option.
So on the day we were scheduled to take her home, we sat down to discuss the findings.My mom’s doctor started the conversation with “I was surprised with what I found.” Even though the lymph nodes were clear, the cancer had metastasized to the bowel. A finding he did not expect to see, but diagnosed as Stage 4 endometrial uterine sarcoma.
Not what we were praying and hoping for, but what are you going to do? His course of treatment was a sandwich approach. Once she recovered enough from surgery, we would commence with chemo, radiation and another chemo.
Now even though my mom is a spunky, vibrant woman for her years, chemo is not for sissies!
We were familiar with radiation, but chemo was a whole new frontier and required certain considerations. It really does a number on one’s system.
Now, I am sure that most people would have questioned my mom’s decision to put herself through chemo. But the woman has a lot of years ahead and at least another grandchild in her future.
So once again, the family will close ranks and face this challenge like we always do – together …win, lose or draw.
So on the day we were scheduled to take her home, we sat down to discuss the findings.My mom’s doctor started the conversation with “I was surprised with what I found.” Even though the lymph nodes were clear, the cancer had metastasized to the bowel. A finding he did not expect to see, but diagnosed as Stage 4 endometrial uterine sarcoma.
Not what we were praying and hoping for, but what are you going to do? His course of treatment was a sandwich approach. Once she recovered enough from surgery, we would commence with chemo, radiation and another chemo.
Now even though my mom is a spunky, vibrant woman for her years, chemo is not for sissies!
We were familiar with radiation, but chemo was a whole new frontier and required certain considerations. It really does a number on one’s system.
Now, I am sure that most people would have questioned my mom’s decision to put herself through chemo. But the woman has a lot of years ahead and at least another grandchild in her future.
So once again, the family will close ranks and face this challenge like we always do – together …win, lose or draw.
It Was No Big Deal
While I am by no means bashful, I take my mom’s gratitude for being there for her in stride. I cringe when I hear here tell family and friends what a little Angel I am because I don’t think I did anything extraordinary – except dealing with the drainage tube.
Think back to a previous post when I said that I was not the same daughter that cancer knew back in 1998. Not only was cancer probably astounded, but so was my mom (come to think of it, so was I.)
When someone goes through major surgery, there are certain things that need to be done in order to facilitate recovery. Once again, everyone that knows me will tell you that I am no Florence Nightingale, except …perhaps my mom.
I am one of those people that happen to be a sympathetic puker and I would categorize myself under the “squeamish” heading. But something remarkable happened during this second round of dealing with cancer. I have no idea where it came from, but I am guessing the Good Lord had something to do with it - I became Superman…able to change dressings in a single bound!
Seriously, there were some things that were not pleasant, but they needed to be done. One would be amazed at how fast the autopilot kicks in. You are able to do things without thinking or cringing – which are pretty cool.
Now, it’s pretty hard for someone like my mom to rely on others to do for her. She’s a spunky little Italian who is the backbone of our family. I know it was difficult for her to be incapacitated and allow others to take care of her for a change, but I don’t think that what I did was a big deal.
A few times she had some crazy idea that she was a burden. But let me tell you how I looked at it. I didn’t feel obligated to do those things. I did them for all those years she took care of me with such love and unselfishness.
Consider it a return on your initial investment, mom!
Helpful Hint:
Trust me when I saw that there will be days that you will have no idea what or how you are going to help. There will be days when you will doubt if you can even do it or deal with it. But you will be amazed on the amount of inner strength and faith that you can muster up, at times without much effort, to do what needs to be done.
Hang in there, it will come and you will be able to get through it.
Think back to a previous post when I said that I was not the same daughter that cancer knew back in 1998. Not only was cancer probably astounded, but so was my mom (come to think of it, so was I.)
When someone goes through major surgery, there are certain things that need to be done in order to facilitate recovery. Once again, everyone that knows me will tell you that I am no Florence Nightingale, except …perhaps my mom.
I am one of those people that happen to be a sympathetic puker and I would categorize myself under the “squeamish” heading. But something remarkable happened during this second round of dealing with cancer. I have no idea where it came from, but I am guessing the Good Lord had something to do with it - I became Superman…able to change dressings in a single bound!
Seriously, there were some things that were not pleasant, but they needed to be done. One would be amazed at how fast the autopilot kicks in. You are able to do things without thinking or cringing – which are pretty cool.
Now, it’s pretty hard for someone like my mom to rely on others to do for her. She’s a spunky little Italian who is the backbone of our family. I know it was difficult for her to be incapacitated and allow others to take care of her for a change, but I don’t think that what I did was a big deal.
A few times she had some crazy idea that she was a burden. But let me tell you how I looked at it. I didn’t feel obligated to do those things. I did them for all those years she took care of me with such love and unselfishness.
Consider it a return on your initial investment, mom!
Helpful Hint:
Trust me when I saw that there will be days that you will have no idea what or how you are going to help. There will be days when you will doubt if you can even do it or deal with it. But you will be amazed on the amount of inner strength and faith that you can muster up, at times without much effort, to do what needs to be done.
Hang in there, it will come and you will be able to get through it.
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