Over the past week, we began to notice that my mom's memory was starting to get worse. Her confusion continued to increase. On Thursday night, we went to a special dinner to celebrate my parents 32nd wedding anniversary with a few close friends. It was a special occasion that we wanted to share together one last time. However, after the appetizers, my mom had a brain seizure, which immobilized her from the waist down.
This turn of events led us back to Scripps Encinitas where the doctors in the E.R. ran tests and took more scans, only to discover that the steroids that were keeping her symptoms at bay were no longer working. The tumor hadn't grown much, but because the steroids that were keep her highly functional were not effective, her symptoms were back and worse than before. In addition to this, the combination of these steroids and chemotherapy had taken their toll on her and made her diabetic. Her sugar levels were extremely high, and we have switched over to a diabetic diet. She was admitted into her own room on Friday and will stay there until tomorrow to give the doctors a chance to lower her levels and give us some time to consider options.
The combination of steroids, chemotherapy and radiation have done their job to slow down the tumor, but have done greater damage on my mom's body than we expected. We have made the decision to do what is best to give her a high quality of life for the time she has left.
After talking with her treatment doctors and our mom, Stephen and I have decided to do the following: Mom will stay in the hospital until tomorrow, at which point she will be transferred to a nursing home for rehabilitation and physical therapy. We are still discussing with doctors what treatments we should continue and will hopefully know more within the next few days. We anticipate that she will be in the facility for at least a week, and then we will be bringing her home.
For those of you who have signed up to bring meals and drive my mom to and from radiation appointments, know how appreciative we are. We will pause rides for the near future, and may resume them once she is home if treatment is still part of the plan.
Stephen and I know that this part of our mom's journey may prove to be the hardest, but we are listening to her wishes and are going to chose what's best for her. Thank you for your continued support and prayers. We love and thank you all.
Wow Beth. I feel like I am standing right beside you. You are an amazing writer and person. God is truly anointing you for this journey. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Cheryl, Steve and all of your family and friends. Your Mom is so special and we have always appreciated her support, love, faith and laughter. Stay strong and know that you are all loved.
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