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!
We Ask for Mercies, for Thy Comfort and Thy Love, to Enfold and Surround Thy Faithful and Dear Servant. Grant her Thy Nearness, Thy Presence, O Loving King. Place in her Heart the 'Peace that Passes Knowledge;' Fill her Spirit with Thy Holy Spirit of Love. Impart Every Compassion and Healing to her, Sustaining Your Child with Your Strengthening, Sweetest Grace. Overflow her Soul with Every Blessing, Resting her in Thy Tender, Fatherly Arms. Be with Tom in a Special Way, and Hold Joan Close to Thy Heart, as we Pray in Thy Name, Amen.
Have Mercy Upon me, O Lord, as is Your Way with those who Love You. (Ps.119:132)
Praying your Heaven-Sent Prayer with you, Dear King's Servant.
Prayers continuing here. We love ya ZM.
Praying with you,Kitty Mittens. Amen
Even though the update is not very good news, we will pray now for an October miracle. God bless and continue to keep Zac's Mom comfortable in her fight against this disease. May she rest peacefully without pain.
We praise You for who You are---our God of grace and mercy. We acknowledge that You are sovereign and we bow before Your Holy Throne. Father, we come to request a miracle for Joan, asking for the power of Your restoration and healing to flow through her. Lord, nothing is too difficult for You! We exalt You and glorify Your Name, for You are the answer to every need. Make haste to help Joan, O Lord, that she may again praise You with her life. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I just love you.
This will get double duty.
((((Pegita))))
You want to see something beautiful, Kimmers?
Lord knows, we could use some beauty these days.
ZacsMom is ALWAYS good for beauty ;*)
Post #160.
Hear our prayer, O Lord ...
Hear our prayer, O Lord ...
Incline thine ear to us
And grant us thy peace. Amen ...
Amen, Kimmers, AMEN.
Thank you, Pegita.
Hello, Misses Mittens and Meg.............long time no see.
Miraculous! God bless Zak's mom and God bless Hi Heels for being a great FRiend...
prayer bump
Prayers for ZM and all her family and friends.
Sad prayers from Texas.
see #128
our friend Zac's Mom needs some special thoughts - and you two are always there....
bitt
Is there any update anywhere that I can call people to?
Prayer Ping!
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Prayer Ping List.
Please post your prayers to Zacs Mom; bitt;
You and your family are in my prayers. May the peace of the Holy Spirit comfort you.
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