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!
I worked hospice in Alaska for several years. Ton's of prayers for all of them...
May Joan know peace and comfort as she takes her journey home to our Father in heaven. May Tom know peace and comfort too and feel the Fathers loving arms holding him tightly as he helps Joan on her way home.
None of them are doing this alone. Prayers will continue from here.
VH&W
Prayers along for Zacs Mom..............God Bless
Prayers Up
Thannks.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Joan and for her family. We ask that You pour healing and strength into Joan, and please give great sustenance to all of them.
Be with them each moment and help them to know Your love and mercy always.
Thank You for Your great love.
In Jesus' Name, amen.
Prayers up!
Prayers will continue.
BTTT
BTTT
Prayers for comfort and strength continue for her and her family.
Carolyn
Prayers continuing.
Prayers up!
This is heartwarming news, and proof positive that Dr. Jesus has everything under control.
They don't call Him the 'Great Physician' for nothing! :)
Prayers of comfort, peace and a miracle intervention by His hand.
Continued prayers for all in need.
Thanks for the reminder, darkwing. More prayers for Zac's Mom!
Very sorry to hear of this setback. I offer my prayers for her peace and comfort.
Please add FReeper
mariabush
and her husband, Bert, to your prayers.
She tells us that they have been married for 48 years, and he has stage 4 Melanoma on his kidneys, which is very rare.
He has been sick for less than 2 months and the Dr.s are hoping to slow down the cancer growth to give him some more time.
"The only way that we can bear the pain in our hearts is through faith in God and His peace."
prayer bump
Thanks bitt
maria...I am so sorry to hear about your husband...I will pray for him and for you .
Please God put your healing hand on Bert and bring comfort to maria at this very hard time.
Prayers up
sleuth
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