Leslie LaCroce

Welcome to the CaringBridge website for Leslie LaCroce.  We are using it to keep family and friends informed of Leslie's condition and the help she needs.   

As you know, in addition to breast and bone cancer,  Leslie has advanced kidney disease.  She was discharged from Danbury Hospital on New Year's Day with nephrostomy tubes draining both Kidneys.  She is receiving home care from Western Connecticut Home Health (Nursing 1x per week, Occupational Therapy 2x's per week, Physical Therapy 2x's per week) and from Regional Hospice under the "Choices" program (Nursing 1x per week, a Social Worker 1x per week, and Home Health Aids 2-3x's per week).  The home health aids will bath and dress her on the days they visit, the nurses check her condition, her medications and change the bandages on the nephrostomy tubes, the PT gets her to exercise and the OT tries to give her ways to manage daily tasks.  

In addition, her cousin has been staying with her to provide "custodial care".  Basically that's all the things that Leslie now has difficulty doing for herself.  This includes help getting dressed, preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner and between meal snacks, housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, driving her to various doctors appointments, and staying overnight so she's not alone.  These are all  things that insurance doesn't cover, and Josette will be leaving on January 26th to return to her home in Idaho.  

Leslie's son, Christian, lives 10 hours away in northern Maine.  He is willing to take Family Leave to come and care for her, however, since that is leave without pay, Leslie would like to delay his having to do that for a long as possible.  We are wondering if she could get enough help from family and friends who live nearby to fill the gap.   If you are someone who may be available to help her once in a while or on a regular basis, please look under "Ways to Help" for a details on the help Leslie needs.   Please know, that Leslie understands that very few people will be available to help her.   She knows it's asking a lot, and she will appreciate whatever it is you can do.   

Leslie especially enjoys receiving the cards and letters so many of you have been sending.  It means so much to her to know what she's meant to you, what impact she may have had on your life, and to be reminded of some of the good times you've had together.  Please keep them coming, and whether you are available to help her in other ways or not -- please know that she appreciates you and thanks you for caring!