PRAYER REQUEST for ZACS MOM - (Update at post #490 - sadly, she has passed away)

[Hi Heels]

From Tom, ZM's husband:

Sorry for the long silence.... It has been quite a ride.

On Monday 8/28 we met with ZM's oncologist to learn the results of the chest and abdomen CT scans. As I told you in my last update, all the news was good and we decided to switch to the chemo pill since ZMs veins were shrinking. We had great fun for the rest of the week planning how to use the time we would be getting back since she would not be sitting in the infusion room for 4 hours every Friday.

Over the labor day weekend (Sept 3,4) ZM began to have problems moving her left side and she become quiet and hard to communicate with. On Tuesday morning (Sept 5) she slipped into a near comma state and was taken to the hospital via 911 services. In the ER they ordered a brain scan and delivered the news that the cancer had spread to her brain and she had multiple tumors causing lesions in the right side of her brain, some as large as 5 centimeters. These were also causing swelling in her brain and increased pain. ZM's oncologist ordered more test and then told us that the tumors causing the lesions were inoperable. We were told that our options were to (1) simply give up and go home with hospice care or (2) try some radiation of the brain. The radiation may result in some temporary improvement or at least make ZM more comfortable.

So on Thursday (9/07) we moved ZM to a hospital in Plano, TX where she could receive radiation treatments as an inpatient. By now ZM was basically in a coma and could not move her left arm o r leg and could not even force her eyes to look to the left. That afternoon, they developed a treatment mask for her and did the first radiation treatment. After a 3 hour sleep ZM woke up able to move her left arm and leg some. A combination of steroids was prescribed to shrink the swelling in her brain. On Friday afternoon she received a 5 minute radiation treatment and following an hours sleep she woke with full use of her body, sat up in bed and pronounced herself hungry for the first time in weeks. Radiation is only done Monday thru Friday, so we hung around in the hospital over the weekend with ZM improving by the hour. The Doctors have all said they are astonished with her recovery/progress. They are now referring to her as their September miracle.

Following radiation on Monday (9/11) she was released from the hospital and I brought her home. She is 100% off the oxygen now and has had no pain medication since Thursday (9/07). She requires a walker to get around, but is getting stronger each day. We return to the hospital in Plano (30 miles each way) for radiation treatments and she continues to take the steroid to reduce the swelling. All this activity has left her with a bit of confusion, but today she tried to get on line and read some of her email.(Since she hasn't looked at email in well over a month you can imagine the stack of mail she has.)

We will continue the daily radiation treatments on Monday and Tuesday (9/26). After that she'll continue on the steroids but will return to her regular daily activities. ZM and I believe that -- Thanks to the prays and good thoughts - this is a permanent fix. However, she'll be returning to the doctors for blood work and check-ups on 10/10. Hopefully she'll get a clean bill of health at that time.

Thanks so much to everyone for the cards, emails and keeping her in your prayers.

See? OUr "treatment" is working. PLEASE keep this wonderful FRiend in your thoughts and prayers! God bless!

[La Enchiladita]

Thank you, I was fond of your grandmother Joan although I barely knew her. She brought light, joy and love to our forum discussions.

Many hugs to you, Jason, on the loss of your dear Grammy. She has left you many wonderful memories to cherish and, yes, she will always be with you.

Here are the purple pansies that she loved so much when I posted them to her when she first felt unwell...

[armymarinemom]

I am so sorry for your loss. The world lost a wonderful person and her absence will be felt by many people. Prayers are coming to you and your family.

[paulat]

Thoughts and prayers with you and your family.

[LonePalm]

Prayers up again for Joan and Family.

Notre père, qui êtes aux cieux!
Que votre nom soit sanctificié. Que votre règne vienne.
Que votre volonté soit faite, sur la terre comme au ciel.
Donnez-nous aujourd'hui notre poindre ce jour.
Pardonnez-nous nos offenses, comme nous pardonnons aussi a ceux, qui nous ont offensés,
et ne nous soumetez pas à la tentation, mais délivrez-nous du mal.
Car c'est à toi qu'appartiènne, le régne, la puissance et la gloire, pour les siècles des siècles.
Amen.

Je vous salue, Marie, pleine de grâces,
le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes,
et Jésus le fruit de vos entrailles est béni.
Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs,
maintenant, et à l'heure de notre mort. Ainsi-soit-il.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[devolve]

My prayers are with you all

ZacsMom was a very special lady

[Krodg]

Such sad news. Prayers of comfort for her family.

[ntnychik]

So sad to hear of Joan's passing. She will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to her family and friends.

[La Enchiladita]

We give them back to thee, dear Lord, who gavest them to us;
Yet as thou dost not lose them in giving, so we have not lost them by their return.
Not as the world giveth, givest thou, O Lover of Souls.
What thou gavest, thou takest not away, For what is thine is ours also if we are thine.
And Life is eternal and Love is immortal, and death is only an horizon,
and an horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.
Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further;
Cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly;
Draw us closer to thyself so that we may know ourselves to be nearer to our loved ones who are with thee.
And while thou dost prepare a place for us, prepare us also for that happy place,
that where thou art we may be also for evermore.

Prayer used by Fr Bede Jarrett, O.P.
prayer written by William Penn

[trussell]

RIP Prayer ping update. See post 485 posted on 01/12/2007 9:01:03 AM MST by 0OooMAPESooO0 {click the number}

Please post your replies to 0OooMAPESooO0

Rest in Peace
 Joan (Zacs Mom)

0OooMAPESooO0, My prayers go up for all who now mourn the passing of Joan.  

We've lost a very special lady, and heaven has gained a beautiful angel.

Blessings,
trussell

If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Oh Hi Heels....may this dear lady rest now, in peace, in her Lord's arms.

My sincere condolences to her family and friends.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Sweetheart, we're here for you and your family, OK?

[AZamericonnie]

Dear Jason....My sincerest condolences to you & your family for the loss of this lovely lady.

My prayers to you, your Grandfather & all your family for comfort.

Heaven has another angel....

[Jim Robinson]

I'm so sorry about your Grammy's passing, may her soul rest in peace. Prayers for you and your grandfather and family.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Rest in peace, Zacs Mom.

Abide With Me

[Lead Moderator]

Very sad news. Our condolences to the family.

[MountainFlower]

May you feel the peace and comfort that only God can give!

[Billthedrill]

Sad news indeed. But where she is now there is no pain, and it is my hope that it is now she who is praying for us. It would be in character, would it not? BTT.

[Allegra]

God bless you and all of Joan's loved ones.

I'm so sorry to hear this news. She will be greatly missed by many of us.

Prayers up for you all.

[I got the rope]

My condolences. Prayers going out.