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Helen’s Story

Site created on April 15, 2024

Welcome to mom's CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place.
Mom (Helen) had lung cancer in 2019. She had surgery at St. Luke's in Duluth, and they were able to remove it all, and no radiation or chemo was needed. She has had numerous scans since then, and she was still "cancer free."
Beginning December of 2023, she passed out while doing laundry and hurt her knee. This was the first time I heard that she was having "episodes" off this nature. She told me she usually could feel it coming on, and she would just sit and rest, and it would pass. But, this time, she did not feel it coming on.
Mom had a Grand Mal seizure in 1998 and has been on anti-seizure med ever since
Every time they repeated an EEG, they found she was still having mini seizures, and they still saw a spark on the report.
She finally got in to see a great neurologist here in Gilbert and Dr. Rawson was concerned that she may have a blood flow issue. Dr. Rawson ordered 3 MRIs to have that checked out.
Monday, April 8th, was the date for the MRIs. After completing the tests, the radiologist read the images and advised Mom to go directly to the ER. Dr. Rawson called me and advised that Mom has multiple masses on her brain and significant brain swelling.
A week has passed now, and we have since learned that she has, at least, 3 tumors. They believe her lung cancer metastasized to her brain. These tumors have NOT been confirmed to be cancerous, but it is highly likely.
The largest one is almost 2 inches and can NOT be treated without removal. The 2nd one is a little over 1.5 inches and might be treatable with radiation if it is cancerous. The smallest of those 3 is in her frontal lobe above her right eye and should be treatable with radiation if it is cancerous.
She has been in hospital at Chandler Regional Medical Center since that day. Emotions have been a roller coaster for all of us. At first, she did not want surgery at all. She said, "I've lived my life and I'm ready if it's my time".

I will be updating everyone via this platform now during this difficult time, including her recovery and rehab.
We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Laura Perkins — May 4, 2024

Mom's radiation starts on 5/14/24. She will get 5 days of therapy and then in a few weeks she'll need to do more radiation on the site where the largest tumor was removed.
She's in good spirits and she's been busy going thru boxes of stuff that I keep bringing her from her house.
So much stuff that we now have 2 of. I donated a lot of kitchen items to a couple that just moved here and had nothing and some other items to my boyfriend.
Mom is spending a much time in her new lounge chair outside that Jason bought for her. She said, "I didn't come to Arizona to NOT get some sun!"

Read More of the journal titled "May 04, 2024"

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