2004…44 Years Old – Part A
Gregg and I went to PA for Christmas. In January, Mom moved in with us. We later emptied her house, storing most items in our garage, and she sold her Deltona home. Grandma and Grandpa built that house when they retired; it was full of family history, love, and memories.
In mid-January, my Dad had a brain hemorrhage. To be honest, I don’t have specific memories about it, which saddens and reminds me that our relationship was not as close as my daughter-heart wished we could have been. It also reminds me of how very, very thankful I am (we are) for Gladys and her constant love and care for Dad. Dad dodged that bullet and recovered well.
On January 26, Katie Wilkerson, an angel disguised as a Nurse Practitioner, gently shared bad news with us. Mom’s post op scans showed her cancer had become aggressive; the cancer was now in her lungs and adrenal gland, as well as having increased in her bones. Katie cried with us and reassured us that we would all be reunited with Jesus. She told us that if this was her mother, she would not “put her through” chemo. That was a hard pill to swallow, yet it opened the door for Mom to consider all her options.
In early February, a representative came to share information about Hospice. She explained that once you enter Hospice, you discontinue any life-extending treatments. After the representative left, I was taken aback when, uncharacteristically, Mom was livid saying, “she just wants me to die!” Her will to live was aroused, providing the motivation to take chemotherapy again. Mom had eight grandchildren to live for; she yearned to see them grow up.
On March 2, Mom started chemo treatments of Taxol, Carboplatin, and Herceptin. Two days later, she was admitted into the hospital for two weeks with blood clots in her legs and lungs. Thus, began a blur of doctor appointments, bloodwork, treatments, and scans, usually two or more times a week. Our traditional reward after an appointment was Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup and an I.C. Mocha.
We enjoyed visitors who returned as often as possible, including Mardi, Drajeskes, Davis’, Aunt Evelyn, and our Jacksonville friends. What a blessing!
