Dear Family and Friends,
We have some heavy news to share with all who know and love our dear mother. As many of you know, she has been battling uterine cancer for 4 years. As a brief history, a year or so after a hysterectomy in 2014 to remove the cancer, it had metastasized into her liver and intestines. However, with many treatments, the cancer had shrunk and she regained some quality health back. Fast forward to this past May 2017, and follow up treatments showed the cancer was growing again. Mom had another surgery in August, where beads were placed into her liver to cut off blood supply to the tumor. After a few weeks, all looked well, like it was shrinking or dying off, but the spot on her intestines was growing. So she went through two harsh rounds of chemotherapy to deal with that, but could not complete the third prescribed round because she was in a lot of pain and weak. Scans and MRI's were finally ordered, as the pain was becoming too much. More could be said about the timeline, but suffice it to say, the cancer did not recede.
As of Wednesday (Dec. 13, 2017), the doctor explained to us all with Mom that the cancer in her liver is quite advanced. She did have the option to do a chemo once a month to give it one last shot, otherwise they would offer to prepare her for hospice. Our mother, being the fighter that she is, opted for the chemo, and did it that Wednesday night. The doctor did pull us all out of the room after my mom chose the chemo, to prepare us and give her honest, professional advice, since she thinks the cancer is extremely aggressive. Although doctors can always be wrong, the doctor believes she may only have weeks left to live. As you can imagine, we were/are overwhelmed, as we did not realize it was this bad, or that we could lose her potentially so soon. But, of course, only the Lord knows.
As it currently stands, she will be coming home today from Brigham and Women's (Dana Farber) in Boston, and, along with a visiting nurse, we will be keeping her comfortable, as either the chemo extends her life (and of course we hope for a miracle) or things continue to decline. We are hoping for the best and preparing for everything. Our faithful pastor is also intimately involved in caring spiritually for Mom and us in these days and weeks ahead.
Prayer warriors, we need you now to pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" more than ever. We, of course, want a miracle, but if it is God's will to call her to eternal rest in Jesus soon, we pray for peace and comfort. This is in God's hands, and my mom and all of us know and have comfort in that. We pray for the peace which surpasses all understanding, that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Many people have been updated already and have been reaching out to see how they can help. We have been so appreciative and accepting of people's offerings. My Aunt Rachel has set up a "Take Them A Meal" online signup site, where you can make or even order and send a meal to our family while we keep vigil with Mom. Directions and all the information, dietary and otherwise, are provided once you click on the link below. Aside from Dave, mom's loving husband and our caring stepfather, we have my sisters that have moved into the house, while I will be going back and forth daily.
We have set up this Caring Bridge site to make it easier to update everyone on my mother's status. We will try to update everyone on any new happenings, and if things/needs arise, we will put them here on this site. Please check in and feel free to leave comments and share with any friends and family that do not have facebook so they, too, may receive the updates.
www.TakeThemAMeal.com/DPYY1591 (
http://mailurl.takethemameal.com/wf/click?upn=OnZ0-2BaF-2FodoLLBx-2FqY-2FC-2B8JWxGv87u8fSrhKzzOkVJeW0eCpbm1g6wE9gklIg7OT_sIa7Q5-2FgrNzkifrAA7aPd4XSDMPlOksgTZWvEeMA-2B-2BdHnKtOXjQv5gQLjWyBVHYLM2abl9VQSmofyv7AHUme3yR05Ws24PhH6n6Rgi6FNoMh3BcDkqSrC7OzLsmdKlPcM8LL-2Fcj9bCZpUk3dG5-2BvdV9hSdRHNf-2F3RVPDD-2BO0hD1VrW-2F5D9eesGhwhFd-2BK6WXP2KEoY0QInQJxMDHU-2FTNLtOZy5KYCbkzHVKXfkUirtdjvnkbGGMZdXtrZyGLrNkLJcCwS-2BxLrmRDlz4q8235cg-3D-3D)
