A Bump in the Night

Last night - actually early this morning - Mom fell when she got up to use the restroom. She had one of her dizzy spells, which usually occur during the day. She wasn't using her walker. When she fell, she hit the back of her head. She was okay at the time, but when it was time to wake up this morning, Corey and Evan had a hard time getting her up. She was disoriented and not making sense when she spoke.

Suzy took Mom to Northern Michigan Hospital, where they ran tests and a ct scan of her head and her chest. They discovered that she had a urinary tract infection and a fever of 102 degrees. Her white blood cell count was low, about 1200. The low count is a side effect of the chemo.
Mom doesn't have a concussion, but the hospital admitted her because of the fever. She will spend tonight in the hospital, and will go home Tuesday if her white cell count is on the way up. If it continues to decline they will keep her longer.

When I spoke with Suzy this evening she was still at the hospital. Mom is more herself than she was this morning. The disorientation was most likely due to her fever. Neither Mom nor Suzy had eaten since last night. For Mom, not eating for more than a couple of hours is significant as of late, no doubt due to the fever.

Pattie Darrow made calls for Suzy today to keep us informed. Thanks Pattie!

I'll do my best to get updates posted daily. I'm heading to Suzy's tomorrow after work, and the internet connection there is pretty slow. In the mean time, thanks for your prayers for Mom.

New Chemo Today

Today was Mom's first day to receive the new chemo. The new brain and spleen tumors were an indicator that the previous chemotherapy was no longer working. Her new chemo is Alimta, otherwise known as Pemetrexed. Alimta is supposed to be particularly good for treatment of lung cancer.
Typically, Mom's chemo appointments are an all day affair. Today, the actual chemo injection only took about 15 minutes, shortening the visit a bit. Suzy told me tonight that Mom was a little disappointed that she didn't get any Benadryl this visit because she wanted to take a nap. You know, when the morphine isn't available anymore you look forward to the soft core stuff like Benadryl.
Side effects with Alimta were a concern; fatigue and nausea are typical after administration. But so far Mom is feeling great. In fact, as I write this tonight Mom is out with the Wises eating appetizers at Applebee's - her idea.
Suzy reminded me tonight that I have a couple pictures in my cell phone of Mom's visit to Midland. Unfortunately, I have to have drivers to upload the pictures to my computer, and until I figure out how to get them - or find the software in the box my phone came in - I can't share the pictures. Unless you bump into me on the street and think to ask "Hey, how about those gamma knife photos of Rose Mary?" Unlikely. So I'll get the drivers.

Midland Adventure

Mom's gamma knife surgery began with a consultation appointment on Monday, November 5. Suzy took her down to Mid Michigan Medical Center in the morning and they were done around noon. They went to Bob Evans for lunch and shopped at Meijer afterward.

I didn't arrive at the Fairview Inn in Midland until a bit after 8:00 p.m. I took M-20 from Big Rapids, and just as I was leaving Big Rapids the sleet started. Then the snow fell. At times it was a complete white-out. Put an extra hour on the trip but it was worth it once I got there.

We went to Applebee's for dinner and feasted on the appetizers - they were half off. We ate and talked and laughed, and in the end Mom got a chocolate mousse dessert with extra chocolate.

You may be catching the theme by now - it's all about the food. Since Mom has been on steroids, food has risen in status from sustenance to favorite pastime.

pastime
noun
a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly); "sailing is her favorite pastime"; "his main pastime is gambling"; "he counts reading among his interests"; "they criticized the boy for his limited pursuits"
pastime. (n.d.). WordNet® 3.0. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pastime

Mom has gained a lot of weight very quickly on the steroids. She is bigger now than she has ever been in her life. Quite the change from her low weight last summer. She just loves to eat!

We talked and laughed a lot back at the hotel before we went to bed. We got up early for the 7:45 a.m. appointment for the surgery. Everyone at Mid Michigan was wonderful to us. They loved Mom. Her nurse Jennifer told Suzy and me at one point, "You have the sweetest Mom!" She's right, of course.

The appointment began in a very comfortable room with two chairs and a recliner for Mom. Jennifer briefed her on all the steps of the procedure, then took her to have her IV inserted for sedation. Once sedated, they took her to another room to have her frame put on her head. The gamma knife head frame is held to the head with four tiny pins that go through the skin and into the skull. The frame keeps the head still for the MRI and the surgery.

After having the frame placed on her head, Mom came back to the room to rest. The sedation only lasted about half an hour, but she drowsed off a lot afterward. Somewhere in that time, Suzy's friend Nancy Medford came from Shepherd to join us. We talked and I knitted while we waited for the next step.

Mom then went for her MRI. The MRI used prior to gamma knife is more precise than others; if there were any additional tumors found they could then treat those at the same time. The results came back negative for additional tumors, and then Mom went for her surgery.

Mom was laid on the table and her head frame was attached to the head of it. The table was then drawn into the gamma knife equipment. The procedure took only ten minutes or so. We watched from the room via closed circuit television. There wasn't much to watch, only Mom laying still with a halo of machinery around her head.

After the surgery, Mom came back to her room to rest and wait for discharge instructions. Suzy and Nancy brought her a broccoli chicken casserole and a chocolate dessert from the cafeteria, which she ate with great appreciation - especially because she could not have breakfast before the procedure. Another MRI is scheduled for January 8, 2008 to see the results of the surgery, but that appointment will be at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey.

I can't say enough about the marvelous service Mom received at Mid Michigan. The staff were professional and kind, and they seemed to genuinely care about Mom. The office had more of a spa feel to it than a medical treatment center. Before we left, Mom said, "I really enjoyed myself. Do I get to come back?" Jennifer smiled and told her she hoped not.

Suzy took lots of pictures of Mom's Midland adventure. I'll post some of them when we connect again. Mom's next chemo appointment is Tuesday, November 13. Thanks, as always, for your prayers.

Gamma Knife, Steroids and Chemo - Oh My!

Mom's brain tumor will be treated with Gamma Knife, not Cyberknife, at Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland, Michigan. Gamma Knife is the treatment her oncologist recommends for her brain tumor and it sounds very similar to Cyberknife. Midland is the closest of three locations in Michigan that have Gamma Knife. Her appointment is scheduled Monday, November 5, and Tuesday, November 6. Suzy will take Mom down on Monday and they'll spend the night in the hospital hotel. I plan to drive over from GR after work on Monday and to stay for the second part of her procedure on Tuesday. God only knows what adventures await us on a Monday night, in a hotel room, in a strange town...

At Mom's chemo appointment on October 16, she was informed that a new tumor was discovered on her spleen. As a result, her chemo formula will change; apparently, the cancer - which is aggressive - has adapted to the chemo she's been receiving since July. She gets her first shot of the new cocktail on November 13.

In the mean time, the steroids have had a great effect on Mom's alertness and on her appetite. She's gained several pounds since she began steroid medication on October 5. Steroids are amazing!

On October 18, Mom went to the ear, nose and throat doctor to discuss her dizziness. She was scheduled for balance therapy at her physical therapy office with the goal of giving her techniques to control her dizziness. The next step, if the balance therapy doesn't help, is to put tubes in her ears.

After the appointment with the doctor, Mom went to the audiologist to be fitted for hearing aids. This is a big step for Mom. She has postponed getting hearing aids for a long time. I know she'll feel they are worth the investment once she gets them.

Saturday, October 20, Bill and Pattie came with Cody, Jessy and Tyler, Tina and Mike came, Tami, Dan, Devon and Makayla came, Aunt Dorothy came, and cousin Roleen and her daughter Connie came. It was a nice visit with lots of conversation and lots of pictures.

Mom and Roleen

Mom with Bill and Pattie's family
Jessy and Jodi

Mom and Tami

Mom with Tina, Mike and Devon

I think she was saying cheese in that one. I could be wrong.

Mom and Dorothy

Friday, Suzy will take a bus load of teens to Lansing for a conference. Paul will hang out with Mom, and I'll get there late in the evening. Mom has been unmotivated in her crocheting, so I'll bring a little inspiration with me. Maybe we'll both get something done.

Cyberknife and Breakfast Tacos

Last Friday Mom received the results of the MRI she had on October 2. She has a new brain tumor, 7mm, near her right temple. There is swelling around the tumor, which may be causing some of her dizziness.

Mom also has mastoiditis. This also may be causing some of her dizziness.

There is a relatively new technology in radiation called Cyberknife surgery. Jan Darrow sent me information on it several months ago. Cyberknife focuses the radiation directly to the tumor without damaging surrounding tissue. There is Cyberknife equipment at St Joseph's Hospital in Ann Arbor, and I believe I read that Sparrow or some other hospital in southern Michigan just got the equipment. I've checked the Lacks Cancer Center website. Lacks is in Grand Rapids. It doesn't appear they have it yet, but I'm checking into it. Grand Rapids would be an ideal location for her treatment because I live within walking distance of two of our hospitals. In the mean time, Mom's oncologist will determine when it is safe for her to have radiation again.

Mom is taking a low dose of steroid for the swelling around the tumor, and she's on an antibiotic. She felt much better this weekend. She feels the steroid medication is really helping her. She's taking the news of the new tumor very well. She's just placing herself in the Lord's hands.

Mom had a good weekend. She slept in on Saturday, spent the early part of the day organizing her receipts and statements, then went with the family to Gaylord to shop. There was gorgeous fall color on the way there and back. We stopped at Walmart where she bought a new watch, a cereal bowl, and a big chocolate bar. She also bought yarn and a pattern book. She's going to try her hand at crocheting again.

On Sunday morning, Suzy made breakfast at the church before service - breakfast tacos. They were soooo good! Here's Mom just after breakfast with Olivia and Jodi.

Notice she's donning the panama hat again, accented by the airy shawl Suzy bought her Saturday night during our shopping pilgrimage to Gaylord.

Perception Is Everything

This post is going to be a little about Mom, a little about me, and a little about you.

Over the last few months I've made a lot of trips up north to spend time with Mom and with Suzy's family. I knew I wasn't pacing myself, but my determination to spend as much time with Mom as possible was stronger than my reasons to stay home. After going so far as to apply for a position in my field in the Boyne City area and not being chosen for the job, I took a long, deep breath and determined to work on balancing my life between Grand Rapids and Boyne.

One of the decisions I made was to get involved with our local Gilda's Club. My dear friend Janet who works for Gilda's Club told me about a class on chemo brain at Gilda's in September. I had never heard of chemo brain until I talked to Janet about my mother's healing process. This class was my first visit to Gilda's. I felt at home immediately.

I went to the class with several questions, and I left the class with two pages of notes and a folder full of information. Mom has always had a sharp, outspoken kind of humor. She's been known to say unusual things in mixed company that sometimes make us laugh and sometimes cause us to wonder...did she just say that? That's my Mom. However, for the last several months there have been times when her memory and concentration have been at a low ebb. I learned at this class that memory loss and lack of concentration are common symptoms of chemo brain. Other symptoms are fatigue, hyperfocus, impaired judgement.

This change in Mom isn't constant. But it does affect Mom, and it presents challenges when interacting with others who may not understand what is happening to her physiologically. The chemo is fighting the cancer, but it is also affecting her cognitive functioning.

Mom isn't very interested at this point in finding out anything about cancer and treatment symptoms. She has taken on the task of keeping a positive attitude which is best managed for her through knowing only what she needs to know - particularly God's power to heal and restore. There's nothing wrong with that. But for those of us who want more information, understanding that Mom's treatment produces side effects that may impact her perception of us and ours of her is important information to have.

There are some good articles online about chemo brain. I've found the articles below to be very helpful.
Seeking Solutions to Chemo Brain
The Fog & Fatigue of Chemo Brain
What is Chemo Brain?

Catch-Up

In the last episode our heroine was about to receive her ct scan results and her chemo. Her ct results were good - no liver damage. Also, her lung tumor shrunk a little more. Very good news. But there was a mix up regarding her chemo - they weren't planning to administer chemo until the 25th, and since it has to be ordered ahead they couldn't take care of it while she was there. So after another week Mom received dose number four.

Since she received the dose she has been very dizzy again. She doesn't like to, but she's been using her walker to get around, just in case she has a dizzy spell. Her concentration was a little off when I talked to her tonight on the phone. But she still has her sense of humor.

Tomorrow Mom is scheduled for another ct scan and an MRI. She gets a ct scan every six weeks, to coincide with every other dose of chemo, which is every three weeks. The last ct was to check the liver - not a routine scan. The MRI is to take a look at her brain again.

When I visited the weekend of 9/22 I hung up Mom's prayer quilt. Linda Darrow's church has a prayer quilt ministry and they made a lovely quilt for Mom last summer. It has been neatly folded in a corner for the last couple of months. We think it looks better on the wall.

On Sunday morning we went to church early for sweet rolls. Mom had a long john, her usual. That's the secret behind the smile, here with Jodi.