Cross Continental Bloggage

This update brought to you by San Francisco. I booked this trip back in June as a little birthday getaway with friends, and with Mom's blessing, I pulled the trigger and actually got on the plane this morning!

Gwennie is in charge, so expect some guest blog posts coming your way.

It's been a great week since my last post. Mom has dropped to a staggering 131 pounds, which is hard to believe considering the wealth of healthy, nutritious, and butter-(organic, duh)-sodden food we're feeding her. Otherwise, symptoms seem to be under control and her energy is fair. Our newest obstacle is lack of upper leg strength. Her quadriceps seem to have just stopped firing all together, so transitioning from sitting to standing requires some one's help, but once she is up, she is off and running. Thanks to the Loan Closet, we're acquired a seat that is supposed to help boost her up, and we're looking in to purchasing a lift chair, but for now we make due.

As you can imagine, this is a huge barrier psychologically, because it all but eliminates the little independence she had. Mom was able to get up ambulate with a walker on her own, and although we were never far from her side, she was still able to do it independently. Her frustration is evident, but in true fashion, she refuses to put any more energy in to negative thoughts, and is determined to stay positive.

A CT scan was done today of her chest, abdomen, and pelvis to check the status of the tumors we've been following since the spring, and to see if there is something causing this weakness. It is likely something neurological versus generalized muscle weakness, because no matter how much physical therapy she does, there's no change.

She also received intrathecal chemo yesterday, which went off without a hitch. Our meeting with Dr. Donadio was encouraging in that most of the uncomfortable symptoms Mom was experiencing before seem to have subsided, but she remains very cautious and calculated, reminding us that this is all to be taken one day at a time. Next stop- systemic chemo Monday and Tuesday of next week, at which point we should receive the CT scan results.

Days continue to be scattered with acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aids, visiting nurses, social workers, massage, meditation, etc. Mom remains nothing short of remarkable in her battle, determined to be the exception and get healthy.