Tuesday, March 5 - The past week has been a rough one for my Mom. She was extremely fatigued and short of breath. Oh yes, she continued to work each day as if nothing was wrong! Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 to 6:00 she pushed on through. I stopped in to visit her on Saturday evening before closing just to check. I knew something was really wrong when I told her that Brandy and I were thinking about coming down on Sunday only to have her say that she didn't think she could cook anything. She said she was thinking about staying in bed all day long! I have never in my lifetime heard those things from my Mom. I knew something was really wrong.
Sunday morning Brandy and I headed down to her house anyway. She looked so worn out and weak and her coloring was gray. When she stood up she almost blacked out and had to grab on to her chair. Walking across the kitchen made her gasp and she had to stop every 10 feet or so. I called my sister for reinforcements. Brandy, Payton, Debra and I left Mammy with no choice! We took her to the emergency room Sunday evening under great protest. She insisted that she was fine! Mom's sodium and magnesium were extremely low and she needed IV's because she was so dehydrated. The doctor decided to give her a blood transfusion while she was there because of low hemoglobin levels. Mom had a fever that persisted throughout the evening. She was admitted and spent the night in the hospital.
Cancer takes away all pride. My Mom is not a prideful person but cancer leaves you with nothing. I fear at times that it will also break her spirit. Mom looses control of her bladder and colon at times. She is humiliated by this as anyone would be. She tries to make jokes about it just to make light of the situation. Always better to laugh through the pain!
The new regimen of chemotherapy was set to begin today but the doctor didn't feel that Mom was well enough to get it. Therefore, it will begin next Tuesday. Luckily next week is spring break at school so I can drive Mom to her appointment and not have to miss work. She will then continue the new regimen one time every three weeks. If all goes well the four doses will end about May 14th. I have learned not to take dates literally since there are so many variables between then and now. However, if all goes well that is the end date. The chemo will be followed by a double mastectomy and radiation. Hopefully all of those things will take place during summer vacation so that Chandelar, Payton, Brandy, and I can all be available to help with daily chores, driving, etc.... Wish us luck!
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