Merrilyn Gronau

As many of you know, Mom (or Mimi, as she's most commonly known at our house!) received a new cancer diagnosis this summer.  It's her 4th cancer diagnosis she has faced.  She just finished beating breast cancer for the second time in 2015.  She knew this year that she wasn't feeling well, losing energy, having some pain.  After turning 80 in March of this year, having beat cancer 3 times already, she really was not deserving of a 4th battle with cancer.  This time we were told  it is stage 4 endometrial (uterine) cancer.  


We arrived to see her on Tuesday, August 8 so I could take her to her follow up appointment with the gynecological oncologist in Indianapolis the next morning.  We received the news from the doctor at that appointment.  We returned to her house, enjoyed some lunch on the front porch, and she went in to have a rest before we would follow up that afternoon with her general oncologist in Greensburg.  When I went to rub her leg to help alleviate some discomfort that she thought was from a charley horse, I noticed signs of what turned out to be a large blood clot in her leg.   Long story short, she was admitted to the hospital that day, stayed for 5 days, and has been in a care facility in Greensburg since her release from the hospital (about 2 months).  


Together with Mom, we have come to the decision to move her up to Chicago with us to be in our home, as part of our family, where we can be with her and care for her.  


The support of her family and friends (for both Mom and for us) has been a valuable gift over the years and during this recent new journey.  As she will be geographically farther away from many of her family and friends as she makes the move up with us, we hope this caring site will help you all stay connected to her, to her journey, and for her to receive love and support from you.