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!

[Tribune7]

prayers continue

[Sally'sConcerns]

Oh no! This is the first I've heard about Zacs Mom being ill. I've been absent from FR all summer until I got back home the first part of October.

Prayers are on the way for her and for her family. She's a wonderful lady who touched my heart a while back. I had made a post and she read my profile. She posted the picture of the field of bluebonnets from her home page to me to help ease my homesickness.

[Syncro]

Zacs Mom rocks. Her creative creations are a boon to Free Republic.

More importantly, her health is very important to her and her family.

Let's pray for more hills and less valleys. And for her loving and concerned husband, Tom.

[flaglady47]

Hoping for a miraculous recovery. Hope the family can keep a stiff upper lip through all of this. It's good she has such caring relatives.

[GrandEagle]

thanks for the update! Prayers continue for Zacs Mom!

[Grammy]

May the Lord's presence keep you.

[MinuteGal]

I just posted a message to JulieRNR21 and hubby.....then clicked over here to read the update on Zac's mom, and then I was going to the Kattrack's prayer thread......and now I'm just losing it. A time of testing, indeed. Typing through blurry eyes.

"You restore my strength
You guide me along the right path for the sake of Your name."
--Psalm 23:3

Lord, restore the strength of your three servants, Zac's Mom, JulieRNR21's husband, Richard, and Kattracks. Take their hands and gently lead them along the path to restored health.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Amen, so be it.

Leni

[SouthTexas]

May the Lord hold you close and continue to comfort you and your family.

[MoochPooch]

Truly a miracle! Thank G-d!

[Billthedrill]

Many thanks for the update. Prayers up and God bless all here.

[B Knotts]

Prayer BUMP

[The Mayor]

Good Lord... Much needed Prayers....

[pissant]

May almighty God grant Zacs Mom & family peace, comfort and blessings now and for all eternity.

[beachn4fun]

God Bless Zacs Mom.

(thanks for the ping)

[LonePalm]

Prayers up again and again for Zac's Mom.

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)

[Darksheare]

Thanks for the ping(s), and the update(s).
Continued prayers.

[texastoo]

My prayers continue for ZM.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Continued prayers for all our FReeper friends in need.

[pandoraou812]

Prayers for all

[TAdams8591]

I am so sorry to hear this. Zacs mom will be in our prayers.