I'm writing this journal entry on behalf of Aurora and her family to give everyone a update. Aurora was informed in March that the immunotherapy clinical trial that she was on at John Hopkins was not working on her gastric cancer. John Hopkins informed Aurora that it looked like the cancer had now spread to her liver. John Hopkins advised Aurora go back on chemotherapy at Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute. Aurora opted to go back on chemotherapy and she started chemotherapy again in May. Her chemotherapy regimen was 3 weeks of chemo and 1 week of rest. Aurora's pain kept increasing as the weeks went by on chemotherapy. Aurora ended up in the hospital on June 8th thru June 10th due to extreme pain and constipation. A cat scan showed no evidence of a bowel obstruction but did show some excess fluid around the kidneys and lungs which was likely causing the constipation and increased pain. The hospital was able to relieve the constipation. Once home Aurora's pain started to build again over the next few days and the medication was not touching the pain. 

Aurora ended up in the hospital again on June 16th with severe pain that felt like contractions that took her breath away. A cat scan showed there was now a bowel obstruction in the small intestine. The surgical team thought surgical intervention was too risky with Aurora's cancer diagnosis and advised on a NG tube placement into her stomach with suction to empty the stomach of its contents. The NG tube was not able to be placed and pain management then became the focus of care.

Aurora and her family decided that Hospice was the best option moving forward to help with comfort care and pain management, since surgery wasn't an option. Aurora was discharged home on Hospice care on June 20th and is spending quality time surrounded by her family.

Please keep Aurora and her family in your thoughts and prayers right now and during the days ahead. The family is very grateful for the love and support that has been shown to them during this time.