Guess who got to come home? That's right - my mom! Well, home being the travel trailer at the RV park, but it beats being at the hospital. We've been there since midnight Saturday, and it's good to see the sunshine and hear the birds sing.
Mom is doing a little better. She is still swollen, but we finally got a good explanation from the chemo doctor as to why she's so swollen and why it'll take time (a couple of weeks probably) for the swelling to go down completely. See, the treatments deplete quite a bit of nutrition, etc. from the body. Mom's protein is quite low not only because of the treatments, but also because for a week or two she could hardly eat. Then there was the vomiting and 'd.' The doctor said that what she needs to do right now is eat, eat, eat. Yes, she needs protein, but more than that she just needs to eat high calorie foods. Her diet is still limited because of the diarrhea. She can't eat much fiber or milk products. The milk products part is bad because those are the easier ways for her to get protein. Yogurt had been one of our best friends, but she has to limit that for now.
She's on some pretty potent medicine for the pain and also to control the diarrhea. Too many BM's mean dehydration but not enough is constipation. Of course, the medications all have their side effects so we're trying to manage that as well. It's all a huge balancing act.
We're thankful that the mouth sores are almost completely healed. That means Mom will have an easier time eating. That's awesome! The swelling is SLOWLY but surely going down. It'll be a a while still for her to come back down to normal, but little by little we think it's getting better. It's funny - my mom is almost my size now. She's so tiny normally that seeing her this way (as long as she doesn't feel bad) is almost kinda cute. For the first time ever, she has some hips. We're thinking she weighs about 110 or more. The bad thing about this swelling is that the swelling does hurt sometimes. In fact, last night her back was hurting from it pretty bad. This morning, we walked outside for a few minutes (enjoying the Houston weather before it hits 85).
Mom is still eating better and better every day. She had a plain junior cheeseburger last night. Hey, fast food right now is a-okay since we're trying to bring up her calorie count. Oh, another awesome thing - twice this week my mom was actually hungry. She hasn't actually been hungry since November or so. She eats because she has to, but she's just never hungry. Well, twice this week she was, and that's AMAZING news. Thank you, God!
How to pray:
-appetite - pray that Mom's appetite grow more and more
-swelling - pray that this continue to go down QUICKLY. Again, it'll take care of so many things, and she'll actually be able to eat a big bowl of fruit - something she's been craving for a while
-pain - that this contine to ease. She hasn't asked for as many meds for that today, so that's a good sign.
That's it for now. I thank God every day for all of you who are praying for my mom. Your prayers really work when we are just worn and drained. THANK YOU!
1 comment:
Dear Susy,
Jim and I are so thankful that you are back at the RV!!! Like you said it's just good to hear the birds sing and feel the sunshine. We just continue to thank God for how He has helped you thru this horrible time of one thing after another, and thankful for every little way that things are looking up for you. God has faithfully continued to put not only concern in our hearts for you and your mom's well being, but also a deep compassion for your mom as she goes thru this trial. I will be glad to see and hug you both!!! And probably cry as well. I get tears just thinking about that. I will be so glad when this is over. Yet, I'll continue to specifically pray for the things you blog about. I think your specifics about what to pray has had a tremendous effect to how specifically prayers have been answered. You have been such a soldier and advocate for your mom in this way as well as everything else, Susy.
Lately I came across this scripture and have turned to it again and again for strength:
For though the Lord is high, yet has He respect to the lowly, but the proud He knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble,YOU WILL revive me, YOU WILL stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand shall save me.
Psa.138:6,7
He gives grace to the humble, and a broken and contrite heart He will not despise (or turn away from ; in my words). He remembers we are but dust. And He will help us. His compassions for us are new every morning. Thank you Lord.
Much love to you and your mom, Susy. Aleda
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