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!

[Smartass]

Psalm 23
for Zacs Mom

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul;
he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup Runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of
the Lord forever.


Deus vobiscum

 

[incredulous joe]

i do recall having bumped into ZM in the threads from time to time.

God bless her - may she rest in peace.

May you family be comforted by the many people who cared about your grandmother and the warm memories that you share.

[Soaring Feather]

So sorry to hear of ZACS MOM's passing. She was a fun lady.

[reagan_fanatic]

All of us, at some time in our existence, will face our own mortality and death. I only hope that when my time comes, I will face it with the grace and strength that ZM did.

She's with God now, and that's not such a bad place to be.

We're going to miss you down here, ZM.

[ConservativeStatement]

Thoughts and prayers are sent.

[defconw]

Comfort and peace to all who loved her. May Zacs Mom rest in His peace.

[darkwing104]

The Angels in Heaven has welcomed back one of their own.
Prayers.

[firewalk]

Thank you for the ping to the update

Prayers for the comfort of those left behind

[Boazo]

My prayers to the family

[franky]

The Lord be with her and your family

[Seadog Bytes]

O Master, Lord our God, Who in Thy wisdom
hast created man and woman,
and didst honor them with Thy Divine image,
and place in them the spirit of life,
and lead them into this world,
bestowing on them the hope of resurrection and life everlasting;
and even after theyhad violated Thy commandments,
Thou O Gracious lover of mankind,
didst descend to the earth that Thou mightest
renew again the creation of Thy hands.  

Therefore we pray Thee, O All-Holy Master
give rest to the soul of Thy servant, Zacs Mom,
in a place of brightness, a place of green pasture, a place of repose
and, in that she may  have sinned in word, or deed or thought,
we pray Thee forgive her:
For Thou art a good God and lovest mankind and
unto Thee do we ascribe Glory, together with Thy Father,
Who is from everlasting and Thine All-Holy and good,
and ever giving Spirit, now,
and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

[potlatch]

A lovely tribute using her beautiful Bluebells as a background. Phildragoo had also linked Joan's lovely picture.

[Basselope]

Joan did the Lord's work, unfailingly, even when things were rough for her. May her spirit live on in those whose lives she touched. May her loved ones feel the weight of her love and her grace all the days of their lives. And may God bless them and hold gently their aching hearts.

[Czar]

So sorry to hear this. Condolences to the family, and prayers up.

[A knight without armor]

I am so sorry.

[Cindy]

and Amen.

[Wandaroos]

My thoughts,prayers, and condolences for you and your family during this very hard time in your lives.

[Humidston]

Ohhh dear. The world is a little lonelier tonight. Sad, sad news. My prayers for all concerned.

[Terriergal]

I am so sorry to hear this, but glad she is no longer suffering. It has been a long hard road, and sounds like she walked it with as much courage and dignity as humanly possible (your grandfather too) One day we'll all be together again, no more tears or sadness. May the God of Peace give your family his peace.

[ntnychik]

Jason, we're so sorry for the loss of your grammy, Joan. She was a special voice/force here at FR, and will be greatly missed. Here's a post I sent her when she first became ill. She sent me a gracious note saying she loved it. I hope it will bring some comfort to you.
http://www.cryofthespirit.com/birdsing.html