Phyllis Long

Hey Phyllsie's peeps.  Starting this page to keep you all updated on Mom.  She started this journey 10 years ago when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She fought and beat it for a wonderful 8 years.  Almost 2 years ago we found out it was back and had metastasized to her liver.  In the last year it has spread beyond the liver.  Mom has fought hard this entire time but she's tired now and has made the decision to forgo anymore treatment and concentrate on comfort care.  After a short stint in the hospital last weekend with pneumonia we brought her home on Tuesday, May 4th and she was enrolled in Hospice Care on Wednesday. 

Brent, who is a paramedic, has been amazing coordinating all of her meds and care and showing the rest of us what needs to be done.  Karla and Brent have tag teamed the last few days with one taking night shift and the other the day shift.  Sheila and Curt are also here right now and I and the kids come down as much as we can as well.  Dee and Don are convalescing outside of the home with Covid and we pray they start to feel better soon and can get back home as well.  Char will be here next Tuesday after she gets Maran off on her trip. 

Mom is very alert and tries to sit up in her chair in her room for as long as she can but does doze off every now and again.  She usually wakes up around 6 or 7AM and takes morning meds then lays back down until 10:30 or 11AM.  She takes her afternoon meds and usually will try a little bite to eat and then visits, dozes off or watches TV until around 4 when she lays back down for a little nap.  She gets up for the evening around 5:30 or 6PM has some more meds and another little bite and is usually up until around 9-10PM when we get her ready for bed.     

Her pain and nausea seem to be somewhat under control at this point.  She is still able to get herself to the restroom and back into her room in either her chair or her bed with a little assistance.  She is still very capable of instructing her 7 children and letting us know if we are doing it wrong.  LOL Doesn't matter how old we are she will always be our Momma.  She is such a trooper.  Never complains and if you ask what her pain is it's always a "2 or a 3" even if we know it's much higher.  She never wants to bother anyone and got after us kids when she was in the hospital if we asked the nurses to do anything before their rounds.  They fell in love with her!! 

While it's really hard watching her go through this, she isn't alone.  We will make sure she is physically cared for in the best way possible and support her emotionally as best we can.  She is surrounded by the love of her children and grandchildren but most importantly she is surrounded with the love of our Lord.  Mom has always had a rock solid faith in our Lord and in eternal salvation and has no doubt that he will always have her in his arms.  She has been such an inspiration in her faith, through all of the hard times and trials she has had to persevere, she has never lost her trust in God or questioned why me. 

We will keep you all updated as best we can through this site.  We will share each and every comment you post here with her so please leave her messages of love and encouragement.  We do ask that you try to not text or call in the mornings until after about 11AM or after about 8PM at night.  We are only asking this so whoever is taking the night shift or has been on the day shift can get their rest as well not by any means because we don't want to hear from you or include any of you in this journey.  We know you all love her as much as we do and just want her to feel that love. 

Thank you so much for the love and support already shown to her and our family and for all that I know will come.  We have an awesome family and community and are so appreciative for each and every one of you.