I wish I had better news. As anyone who has been down this road knows, cancer just sucks. Over the past few weeks, our mom has had several setbacks. It is disappointing because she was on such a hot streak and then pneumonia hit, along with sepsis... and some other words I can’t even remember or spell or attempt to google at this hour. 

Mom is in the hospital and she is undergoing several tests. When she was brought into the ER this morning, she was disoriented and dealing with a lot of pain. Even though these are all things that can be expected with late stage pancreatic cancer, it still feels shocking. She has a fever and her blood pressure is low. Over the past several hours, things seem to be moving in a better direction with her oxygen levels, etc. A visit from her sisters might have helped with that! She is getting some much needed rest at the moment. She has been admitted to a nice room with an attentive staff. 

Prior to this hospitalization, Debbie began stereotactic radiosurgery treatment, which is targeted radiation. She is expected to continue the therapy at this point. We are hoping that the treatments work to break down the tumor on her liver that has grown recently.  

We appreciate all the prayers, and have some specific requests:

•  For comfort and rest

•  To fight the infections 

•  That the targeted radiation has a positive outcome 

•  For decisions and peace regarding hospice care, meeting will take place tomorrow 

We continue to be thankful for the few “bonus” months in which we were able to enjoy the holidays and mom’s birthday. Looking back on the past year, it is so evident that God has been with us along the way and has answered so many of our prayers. We remain hopeful that she can pull through this and get back home as soon as possible.

Humor for the day, because we need to laugh or we will cry (even more): 

• Mom recently got her first tattoo - not because it was on her bucket list but because they needed to mark her for targeted radiation therapy. Before they started, she requested a flower or butterfly design! 

• At the hospital, mom was asked the routine question, “Have you recently travelled outside of the country?” She hasn’t, so you can imagine my surprise when she replied, “Only to China” Well, that’s one way to get a private room. She is always relevant, on top of current events, and a little bit naughty - no matter how she feels.
  
  We don't update often, but we are grateful to be covered in prayer and loved by those around us.