Pray For My Mother

Not the best of news, but much, much better than the worst. At this point, I'd say the prognosis is looking up a good bit. Will keep her (and all your family) in our prayers. Now, you need to start breathing again.

They're going to start the chemotherapy treatments Wednesday or Thursday. They're going to start out on an inpatient basis so they can see how she reacts to it and adjust as necessary.

Mike, I know she will need your support right now that you are capable of giving her. Your such a good son.
Hopefully the treatment will cure all and she will be fine. It's a bumpy road and so hard on everyone but try and keep the spirit and know my prayers are with all of you.

Thats a great website your sister put up.

Big Hugs to you!

Good to hear that they are getting started quickly. Hopefully, they will knock this out soon. Chemo is not fun, but your mother should make it without too much trouble with such a supportive family.

Nice that your sister set up the Caring Bridge site too. I think your mom will really enjoy and appreciate the messages and wishes -- there's more to treating these things than just the medical procedures, and it sounds like she has a lot of support and concern from family and friends.

I recommend a good cup of hot cocoa and a listen to some CelticMoon, for you.

Keep your chin up, good buddy -- we're all thinking of you.

Updates are on the Caring Bridge site -- there seems to be some improvement and some careful optimism there, and I am glad to see it. Hang in there, Mike. Take care of yourself.

What my sister didn't mention on the CaringBridge page is that the kind of chemo they want to give her doesn't make her hair fall out. Unfortunately, my mom also has kidney disease, so they're consulting with a renal specialist to see if this treatment will damage her kidneys any further.

Hopefully, the chemo won't bother her kidneys. Still remembering all of you.

Same from me Mike. Best wishes for your mother's recovery!

My mom was transferred today to the University of Chicago Hospital. It was for insurance purposes. Her insurance wouldn't cover Northwestern Memorial Hospital 100%, but they would do so for U of C. It is a lateral move as far as I'm concerned. University of Chicago Hospital is another one of Chicago's top notch hospitals.

My sister and brother-in-law are vacationing at Disney World with his brother and sisters. They'd already paid for the vacation rental home and it was non-refundable. They're going to talk to his brother, who is a lawyer, about possible litigation. I think we have a good malpractice claim. Several weeks before she went into the hospital, my mom went in for an MRI. They dismissed the spots on her brain as age-related and wouldn't even consider anything else.

Mike, tell the lawyers to burn a new you-know-what in the folks who mis-read the MRI.

The husband of my wife's best friend went to the doctor for months and was told he had allergies. He finally went to another doctor who found inoperable stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to his brain. His brother died from lung cancer a few years before; they had both been exposed to agent orange in Viet Nam and the doctors said the kind of cancer they have came from that. He is in remission for now, but they say it is only a matter of time. Had the first doctor found it when he first had symptoms, it might have been a different story. I think they should go after the first doctor, but they don't want to sue.

My thoughts and prayers are for your mom Mike and I wish you courage and I know that you'll be strong throughout this ordeal.


Take good care,

LOA

My mom was readmitted to the hospital, after spending the last week in a nursing home, for chemo treatment. Last night, she started having seizures. The doctors don't know what's causing it. It could be a reaction to the chemo, it could be an infection. We will know more later.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ruthfangman/journal

I'm so sorry to hear about the setback, but hang in there. My prayers are with you and yours.

Your Mum and all her family are in my thoughts and prayers Mike. I am a strong believer in prayer, I pray for a healthy recovery for your mum, and for you and the family I pray hat you will all stay strong for her and each other.

God Bless you all.