Prayers for a very couragous woman
...God please hear our pleas and let her be healed
...if It be Thy Will.
God bless her family
as they go through the ordeal with her.
Posted on 09/23/2006 5:32:40 PM PDT by 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!
#117 New update..more prayers needed.
Thank you for the update and ping. I am sorry to hear this news as we have all prayed and had her in our thoughts for so long.
I will continue praying for her comfort and for her family.
Prayers offered up for Joan, Tom and the family.
Update at #117
I'm so sorry to hear that news. Prayers continue.
Thank you, Meg. Joan has been through a lot. May she rest comfortably and may the Good Lord bless her and her family.
Amen
Hi Heels reports:
"Unfortunately it appears that the radiation therapy was only a temporary window for Joan (ZM). I spoke with Tom today and he told me that she had about eight days of renewed health and spent that time with him and her grandchildren and children. After the eight days, the effects of the radiation faded. Her blood pressure is dropping, she is on morphine and her doctor has placed her in hospice. Tom has tried to get online to post something, but he just can't bring himself to leave her side right now. Please continue to pray for this wonderful woman and her loving family at this difficult time. Thanks."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I ping the PS list because we all admired the great creations she gave us but also we admired her thoughtfulness and passion.
Think fine thoughts and ask God to give her comfort and peace.
Prayer bump!
ask God to give her comfort and peace.
I am so sorry to hear the news...
She has been so brave, and was taking her illness with such optimism that she would beat it.
Prayers for ZM, her husband and family at this rough time.
sleuth
I am so sorry to hear this news. My prayers to Joan, Tom and their family.
Prayers for Joan and Tom and family.
Oh, how terribly, terribly sad.
Prayers for Joan and for her family too.
May God grant Joan (ZM) His Grace and Mercy.
Lord, we know You are with all of us, even unto the end of our days. Grant us peace.
Prayers for Zacs Mom and her family.
Prayers for Zacs Mom and her family.
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