My prayers go out to Zacs Moms family. I has some nice posts about flowers with Joan; may she rest in peace.
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!
Prayers of comfort and peace for your family and for overwhelming joy for Joan in her Savior's presence.
I'm very sorry. Prayers continue.
Prayers going out to you all. God offers comfort for all who mourn. He helps us through.
Thank you, what a blessing to hear the words. There is nothing on this earth that can replace the loving arms of Jesus. Only He can comfort. Only He can understand. Blessed are those who find His comfort.
My thoughts and prayers
My prayers go out to Zacs Moms family. I has some nice posts about flowers with Joan; may she rest in peace.
Prayers for your eternal rest, and for the comfort and consolation of your friends and family.
Prayers for ZM's family.
Prayers for her family and friends...
Jason, thanks for the update. As you have seen, your grandmother was cherished here, as she obviously was in her family. That is a wonderful legacy for any of us to leave to our children and grandchildren. Your family has been richly blessed. We pray your family finds comfort in the memories of your lives with your grammy and the knowledge that she is now in the loving hands of Our Lord.
Prayers Up,,,
GOD Bless...
Thank God for your grammy! I join with the others here praying for you, your grandfather and all the loved ones - God's peace, blessing and guidance as you deal with your grammy's homegoing.
Thank you Hi Heels for the update.
Joan went to be with the Lord.
To all of Joan's family and friends, may God comfort you and give you the peace that only He can give.
In Jesus' Holy name.
Amen.
Tears for Joan and prayers for her family.
My prayers for the family...she is now pain free and at peace.
Another great lady has gone to be with Our Lord in Heaven, Jason. We all have loved your Grammy almost as much as you, and we'll miss her, too.
I have a feeling that if you need to, you can always come back here and talk to the folks who've been posting on this thread. We're kinda like a huge extended family here.
Wherever love is, there Joan will also be. In her love of you all, she lives on eternally - from God, of God, and now with God. May you see her in the sunrise, and look to God in love for this greatest of all gifts; she was here, she loved you, and now she is forever Loved...
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