It's All Good

Mom was seen very promptly in the ER, her labs were fine and chest x-ray clear. The urinalysis showed she has a UTI (urinary tract infection), at which point she said to me, "well I have been peeing a lot more and it is sort of cloudy." AHHH! Textbook symptoms, but somehow they didn't raise a red flag. So she was discharged from the ER at 10pm with a prescription for cipro and that antibiotic should start making her feel better in less than 24 hours.

Teaching Opportunity! But just because her antibiotics might make her feel better before she's taken the full course, does not mean she can stop taking them. Resistance to antibiotics happens for two reasons: the being they're over prescribed to begin with, and the second is because people are non-compliant and don't take the full course of drugs. If you don't dose your body properly the first time, the next time you really need an antibiotic, it might not work because your body learned how to fight it off.

So repeat after me: I ______, swear to always take my full course of antibiotics, even if it's for something little, and to never stop earlier than prescribed because I'm feeling better.

"I Have Cancer & A Fever"

This is what I made my mom practice saying as she drove to the Emergency Department at good 'ole St. Frannie's. She returned home yesterday from 10 lovely days in Florida with her father, looking so forward to a big dinner with all her Helping Hands friends, but surprise! Fever!

She's been feeling really under the weather today, and when she called me at 4pm, she hadn't thought to check her temperature, which she promptly did, and is running a 102 degree fever. One phone call to Judy later, and she's on the way to the hospital.

No reason to get concerned, but they'll definitely draw some blood to check her red and white blood cells, as well as get a chest x-ray. If anything seems suspect, she might have to stay a night or two for some intravenous antibiotics.

Fortunately, I'm not working tomorrow, so if she needs some support, I'm a quick drive away. I'll blog as soon as I have an update!

That's a Wrap

YEE HAW! Mom completed her four cycles, 8 treatments, 12 weeks, today- and with flying colors! She sent me this picture from her phone of her with our beloved Judy, whom we couldn't have done this without. She fielded every question and phone call with respect, empathy, and a prompt response. She did have to giggle a bit when Mom called concerned at how cold her nose was two weeks ago, but we'll call it even for the "Christmas gift" we gave her. If you missed that...you'll just have to back-read for yourself.

Tomorrow Mom flies to Florida for 10 days of relaxation with her father, who spent a month at the house following Mom's surgery. I'm so thrilled for both of them that they'll be able to really spend some quality time together.

In three months she'll have a CAT scan and some blood work to monitor her progress, but as of now, she is free and clear of appointments.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I don't know how we'll begin to thank everyone for their support. Mom has talked about volunteering some time for other patients diagnosed with cancer, and maybe that's the only way we'll ever be able to repay the generosity we've received; by paying it forward.

We're not out of the woods yet, but it's hard not to feel positive that we've beat this!