Sonja Downing

In January 2016 Mom was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment--essential early stage Alzheimer's.    We realized that it was time to move her to be with us sooner, rather than later, before her disease progressed.


As we all often do, she figured she had better get her annual testing done before she left California, so she had her mammogram done.   Much to everyone's surprise, she had breast cancer.    Since she had breast cancer 20 years ago, we figured she had "done" that--mammograms were viewed as just a formality.  Well, for her, in my mind, at least.


Well, there is always a silver lining, right?   At least her diagnoses of cancer coincided with her move so that she could start treatment once she got here. In June she had surgery--a lumpectomy.  She was stage 3A due to the size of her tumor and because the cancer had affected 7 out of 12 lymph nodes that were taken.    And--her cancer was triple negative.  That means that it's aggressive and can only be stopped (maybe) by chemo.


She hated it, but persisted with chemo.  She wanted to quit.  We didn't let her.  She made it through, then through 6 weeks of radiation.  She was so so happy when her radiation treatments were complete.


Again, that whole cancer thing was done.


I mean, she  was  battling the onset of dementia--that seemed like her "real" disease.  This cancer thing was just a diversion... for a spell...


In January 2017, we went to see her surgeron for a follow up and found that the cancer had metastisized to her liver, sternum and spine.  And so, Mom was officially in Stage IV.  There is no way to cure a person in Stage IV.  The disease has spreaad and just can't be stopped...


Which brings me to today, March 4, 2017.


We had our first meeting with hospice yesterday.  They are incredible.   By 5:30 we had delivery of a hospital bed and all of the equipment one needs to help make it easier to take care of her and for her to feel more comfortable.  


Over the last few days, her cognition has been declining dramatically.  I am not sure if it's the pain meds or her dementia really settling in...  


I will update more as I'm able and as things change.


If you'd like to talk to her, call.   If it's not a good time, I'll let you know, no worries.