Cancer Articles: Re: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER New here / Need prayers

Lesley I am so sorry, that sounds like a very scary situation and a lot to take in at once. You and your family are definitely in my prayers!
Tiffany

--- On Thu, 9/4/08, Lesley <downboyrecords@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Lesley <downboyrecords@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER New here / Need prayers
To: daughtersofmomswithbreastcancer@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, September 4, 2008, 7:18 PM

Thanks, Eliza. It was good to see mom resting today, and no CNN...she doesn't even watch TV, not to mention TV news. It provided a very non-relaxing atmosphere, in addition to all the people. She hasn't had internet in the room, so I've been suggesting people send cards.

And......

Prayers and such are most welcome right now, I haven't wanted to ask for anything since I haven't felt like I can give back at the moment, but.. .this is the situation. Mom went in at 4pm for a risky operation to repair the operation they did last week. The cancer on her spine devoured the disc that they fused last week, in less than a week. If she makes it through this operation, and I have to believe she will, she will go in tomorrow morning for the operation to cement the back of her spine so that at least her spinal cord will not be under so much pressure when discs fail. The surgeon was very clear that she may not make it through. If she does, the prognosis is 6-12 months. He has been pushing chemo, she refuses, but today said he didn't think chemo would get her more than a couple of months at the most. My dad is devastated and I've seen him cry only a couple of times in my life, today he got choked up several times. Of
course, we are all devastated but she is his high school sweetheart and they've been married 49 years. Tomorrow is her 68th birthday. He broke down while trying to tell her the prognosis, which is stupid since the oncologist should have been honest with her to begin with. Since I had a very sad day yesterday, somehow I took over and explained very clearly what the options were, the risks, and the reality of the future and what she had to do. If she makes it through all of this, she will at least have a chance of regaining use of her arms, and it will make the paralysis aspect less likely. If she can handle radiation, it will slow the growth.

I'll probably never get the image of her face out of my mind, when she stared straight ahead and without expression, listening. I know she is sad, and depressed, but she would never admit it, and she would never let herself cry.

So....if everyone could keep Patty & Jerry in your prayers tonight and tomorrow, I'd appreciate it. I'd like to have even a couple of months more....

Lesley

"A soul ought to have something to say to the universe if it's going to be immortal."
Sheri S. Tepper

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

--- On Tue, 9/2/08, Eliza <molinare13@yahoo. com> wrote:

From: Eliza <molinare13@yahoo. com>
Subject: Re: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER New here
To: daughtersofmomswith breastcancer@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 10:35 AM

Hey Lesley. I know how the visitors thing can be. It's hard to tell people to stay away when everyone wants to do well wishing. We had to do that, I felt like my mom was in so much pain, and every second of rest made a difference, especially when they are coming in your room all the time to take my mom from one procedure to the next. It made it easier to tell them when my mom asked me to tell them she would prefer no visitors until she is feeling a little more up to it. I think the hardest part was keeping my daughter away, her only grandchild. It was hard but I know it was for the best. I eventually brought her to say hi two days before we were discharged.

Even with all of the internet age...letters and cards are what cheered my mom up the most, she could read them at her leisure when she felt up to it, and read them again and again. Pictures made it even better.

Keep me updated, always here for ya.
Eliza

--- On Mon, 9/1/08, Lesley <downboyrecords@ yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Lesley <downboyrecords@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER New here
To: daughtersofmomswith breastcancer@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Monday, September 1, 2008, 10:01 AM

I'm so glad your mom is at home, and surrounded by love. That makes a huge difference. My mom got so tired yesterday, both her brothers and their wives came by, plus my nephew and his fiance, then my sister and I and my dad. We were all there at the same time for about 15 minutes, but her family stayed for 4 hrs or so and mom got really, really tired. I know she will look better today, but then again, her grandaughter brought down her kid, I'm not sure anyone knew she was coming but she got into town about 3:30 this morning. I am going to let mom rest today, even though I'd like to see her great-grandaughter, maybe they will take pictures. She's only 2 days out of ICU, and if she gets better soon, will have the second operation this week....

Thoughts, prayers and hugs your way....

Lesley

"A soul ought to have something to say to the universe if it's going to be immortal."
Sheri S. Tepper

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

--- On Fri, 8/29/08, Eliza <molinare13@ yahoo. com> wrote:

From: Eliza <molinare13@ yahoo. com>
Subject: Re: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER New here
To: daughtersofmomswith breastcancer@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Friday, August 29, 2008, 12:02 AM

Thank you so much!! My mom's cancer has been diagnosed as stage IV, basically what they have told us is that it is not cureable, but can be controlled. We actually just came home today (Yay!!) from a week and a half hospital stay. She went in for being jaudiced and ended up having a stent to help her liver do the job that it needed to do, because a tumor was blocking it. I can't say how thankful I am to have her home!! She actually came to stay with my husband, my 18mo old daughter and myself. My hubby is actually a stay at home dad and was open hearted and ready to go when I asked him if he would mind if she stayed with us, because between the two of us she would have 24 hour care. I about burst into tears when I asked him if he would, fearful that he would say no...they actually have a wonderful relationship, but I know it's alot to ask, doing personal things for someone that you never thought you would be doing those things for. He has
been so wonderful through all of this.
It has been hard. I'm sure like many we all have to work. I work full time, am expecting another baby early december, have my toddler at home and also have a father who has parkinson's. My life is a whirlwind right now, but I can only imagine how my mother feels. She cried when we brought her inside the door to our house. I thought it was because the wheelchair was bumpy, but it was because she was so happy and so humbled to be home. A whole new view on being walked across the threshold so to speak. Thank you so much for your kind words. I know being in the hospital can be exhausting. Love and prayers to you and your mommy.

--- On Thu, 8/28/08, Lesley <downboyrecords@ yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Lesley <downboyrecords@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER New here
To: daughtersofmomswith breastcancer@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Thursday, August 28, 2008, 8:02 PM

Hi Eliza-

Just wanted to let you know that I know what you are going through. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer that spread to her bones in Jan. 07. She had surgery to reconstruct her spine where the cancer had destroyed a disc back in June. Yesterday, the surgeon went back in to redo the fuse, the cancer has destroyed the disc that the plate was fused into. She is still in ICU today, because there was a lot of scar tissue from the first surgery. Next week, he will do another surgery to try and remove more of the cancer and stabilize her spine from the other side. After 16 hours in hospital yesterday, I could not even go up there today. So...bumpy is something I understand very well at the moment. All I can say is try to take care of yourself and your loved ones, alone you may not feel strong, but together you can make it.

Prayers and hugs,

Lesley

--- On Tue, 8/26/08, Tiffany Sierra <sierragirls3@ sbcglobal. net> wrote:

From: Tiffany Sierra <sierragirls3@ sbcglobal. net>
Subject: Re: Daughtersofmoms withBREASTCANCER New here
To: daughtersofmomswith breastcancer@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 7:18 AM

Good morning Eliza, I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I will pray for her. My mom went 9 years cancer free until last year when she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer that had spread to her liver. She underwent chemo for about a year and is currently in remission. Don't give up hope! Be there for her as much as you can and enjoy all the time that you have whether it is days or years. (((hugs)))
Tiffany

SABRINA LANCE <sabydl@yahoo. com> wrote:
Hi Eliza
I am sorry to hear about your news... keep your chin
up and be very strong and please dont give up as long
as there is life there is hope. Be positive for your
mother and and enjoy every moment with her. I know
what you mean about it being rough we all do and that
is why we are here for each other to share experiences
or just to vent..If you need to talk to me you can
email me anytime.
Sabrina
--- Eliza <molinare13@ yahoo. com> wrote:

> Hi. My name is Eliza and my mother was diagnosed
> with breast cancer
> about 2 years ago. We thought we were smooth
> sailing, chemo was
> through surgery done and radiation complete. Then
> in July we found out
> that it had returned and has spread to numerous
> places in her body.
> Right now she has been hospitalized, is doing
> better, but the road is
> bumpy.
>
> Just wanted to join to meet others who understand
> what I'm going
> through, and just to vent.
>
>
>
>