prayformymama

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  • May 15, 2017 at 7:45 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93444
    prayformymama
    Member

    FINAL UPDATE

    To all of you at the foundation and on this discussion board we are forever grateful for your outpouring support over the last 6-7 months. My mother spent 2 nights in Journey Care in Barrington which was an absolute blessing and gift. We spent Mother’s Day with her bedside, shared stories, cried, laughed and smiled. My mother Deborah Jean Lutz took her step into her next life this morning at 10am only seconds after we completed a prayer alongside her. This road has been the most difficult I’ve ever experienced, never did I think I would lose my mother at the age of 33. This road wasn’t always easy but I never felt alone and this discussion board and all of you are very much the reason for that. Thank you from the bottom of mine, our family and most especially my mother’s heart.

    This experience has taught me a lot and will continue to reveal many hidden gems I’m sure but I wanted to make the time now for all of you and all the health care professionals that put my mother and our needs first to know that it was never taken for granted.
    God bless you all!
    Joe

    May 3, 2017 at 1:32 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93440
    prayformymama
    Member

    UPDATE:

    We’ve enlisted hospice who have been on board for almost a week and a drain has been installed in my mother’s abdomen. I’ve personally been able to drain her to relieve her of pressure and pain and we’ve started her on morphine for pain. I now leave work early in the afternoon to make/have dinner with her and have started working remotely on Fridays to have a longer weekend with her. I’ve never felt so numb in my life before and I truly have no idea where the last 6 months have gone. I can’t thank you all enough for your continued thoughts and prayers for my mother Debbie and our family. This discussion board has truly been light for a mostly dim lit situation. This disease is truly awful and it pains me to read all of those who are suffering from it and I commend every single one of you for your love and compassion and pray that one day we’ll find better treatment and maybe even a cure for this disease.

    Thank you
    Joe and His Mom Debbie

    April 18, 2017 at 11:08 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93436
    prayformymama
    Member

    UPDATE:

    I can’t believe it….today the doctors finally brought up hospice and said they weren’t going to even consider any more blood work or treatments given how poor her blood levels have continued to be. The reality for my mother and our family has hit us hard and it only felt like yesterday that I even started using this discussion board….I BEG OF ANY and ALL OF YOU if you have any last ditch ideas to help my mother please feel free to write me. She doesn’t want to give up and made it clear that she wasn’t ready to die. As her son I have to withhold that wish of hers and exercise any and all options that may be left. I asked the doctor about a liver transplant thinking that could prolong her life for another couple months but the doctor said no. I’m throwing out all ideas at this point. I don’t want to be the one to tell her that there are truly no other options…she’ll be getting a catheter put in to drain on her own to avoid her having to be at the hospital everyday…..I’m so numb at all of this I’m so lost. I’m going to lose my mother at the age of 61. This can’t happen
    Joe

    April 16, 2017 at 4:07 am in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93430
    prayformymama
    Member

    Thanks as always!

    UPDATE:

    Doctor visit on Friday was that of more depressing news. Platelets were still at 27 after she was infused with two bags of platelets the prior day and they removed 2 liters of fluid from my mother’s abdomen…..I didn’t have to do too much research on my own to figure out what is happening…I’m the most fearful yet and I’m trying my best to keep on happy, positive face but I’m starting to feel the weight of all of this. The doctor has said given the fluid that they would statistically say she has about 4-6 weeks remaining…..

    What I can be grateful for is that Easter is tomorrow and the family will be together with her on this special day. Just hope the day never ends.

    As always thank you all for your support….I honestly feel like the worst son ever and feel more helpless than ever before. The last thing a son wants to do is let his mother down and I feel like I am. I’m sorry
    Joe

    April 8, 2017 at 7:47 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93426
    prayformymama
    Member

    Daria, Gavin and Lainy,

    Thanks for your feedback. We’ve gotten 2nd and 3rd opinions prior to starting the first round of treatment. Are you suggesting to move forward with the same exercise now that we’ve tried two treatments without luck? If so I agree. I’m starting to lose faith in her facility and tired of getting attitude from her nurses when I talk about palliative care. They talk to me like I’m crazy yet I’m the one working on my mother making sure she isn’t bloated and stuffed up with all the narcotics she’s on which in turn is making her the most uncomfortable. The tough thing will be getting my mom in the mind set to do this. Fingers crossed.
    Thanks
    Joe

    April 7, 2017 at 1:14 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93423
    prayformymama
    Member

    UPDATE:

    Yesterday my mother received 2 bags of blood during a transfusion and we’re hopeful it boosts her levels so we can get her back on treatment. Personally I’ve officially come un-glued….

    I don’t trust the treatment, the doctors or anything right now…I feel like my mother’s body can’t handle any chemo and that we should be looking into other options. Given we were never trying to cure and that it was all for pain management would it make sense to just hit the larger tumors with radiation for pain relief? I feel like we need to use a weapon that she can actually handle…

    Thoughts?
    Thanks as always for all your support
    Joe

    April 1, 2017 at 6:55 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93421
    prayformymama
    Member

    Thanks Gavin! Your kind words and prayers mean the world to my mom and I!
    Joe

    April 1, 2017 at 4:38 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93419
    prayformymama
    Member

    They haven’t given her any transfusions yet this time around. Not sure why since before when her levels were this low they did. I think the only real problem still is the platelets and they want her body to naturally make them…..

    UPDATE:
    Friday was another check of blood levels and were at 31…..not much improvement but improvement nonetheless…and of course leading up to this weekend I got sick and can’t see her in fear of getting her sick…..

    Keep your prayers coming.
    Joe

    March 30, 2017 at 5:49 am in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93356
    prayformymama
    Member

    Thanks Daria, I sure hope so too!

    UPDATE:

    My mother’s platelets on Monday were down to 20 and checked again today. Luckily today they were on the way up being marked at 23 so we’re hopeful they continue to go up since she was suppose to receive treatment this week. Really don’t want to miss any treatments at the moment in hope that this FOLFOX is the answer to our prayers.

    As always thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.
    Joe

    March 25, 2017 at 12:53 am in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93417
    prayformymama
    Member

    UPDATE:

    Mother had blood work done today and unfortunately her platelets are the topic of discussion as they’ve gone down to 31…..we were afraid of this and hope she can get to a better place by middle of next week so she can stay on her chemo regiment. Side effects are minimal at the moment other than her being tired….it seems like her pain has gotten worse which scares me that the chemo isn’t working….but we’re doing our best to stay positive….on top of all that we found out this week that her doctor is resigning from the practice….as if things couldn’t get any harder. It was a shock to all of us and left my mother in tears. She deserves someone who is dedicated and every week I feel like quitting my job to become a full time researcher in medicine to find her a solution to relieve her of all her pain and suffering.

    Hoping to a better week next week. Thanks as always for all your love and support.
    Joe

    March 18, 2017 at 10:22 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93413
    prayformymama
    Member

    UPDATE:

    Mom had blood work done yesterday and her platelets were actually up to 83!! Made us all so happy to hear. So far she hasn’t experienced any real side effects just yet, just a little diarrhea but other than that so far so good. Hoping this FOLFOX does its job and gives her some pain relief that she needs. Thanks as always for all your love and thoughts.
    Joe

    March 15, 2017 at 6:22 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93410
    prayformymama
    Member

    UPDATE:

    So blood work today showed still platelets at 60 which brought my mother to tears as she really wants to battle this. The doctor still agreed to move forward with her second round of the FOLFOX given the aggressive nature of the cancer which is making my mother happy but it can come with hospitalization again which we’re hoping won’t be the case.

    Thanks as always for all your thoughts and prayers.
    Joe

    March 11, 2017 at 11:49 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93408
    prayformymama
    Member

    UPDATE:

    My Mom’s platelets are still at 66 and they are pushing chemo to next week…I feel like this is the same drill as before and I’m starting to lose hope that this treatment is the answer as her body/blood levels don’t seem to be taking it well enough in order for it to do its job…..I’m really at a lose and becoming very depressed about it all. Is it time to start discussing clinical trials now? I truly don’t know what to do as it is so hard to see my mother like this. I feel so helpless.
    Joe

    March 7, 2017 at 3:56 am in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93406
    prayformymama
    Member

    Thank you all for the notes.

    UPDATE:

    My mom went to the DR today for blood work and her platelets have gone down to 66 so they won’t be doing chemo this week and have scheduled her for the 15th of next week. Hoping that this doesn’t set her back too much with this new treatment. She gets more blood work done Friday of this week.

    Thanks as always for all the love and support!
    Joe

    March 3, 2017 at 4:25 pm in reply to: Treatment Has Begun // Week 1 #93403
    prayformymama
    Member

    UPDATE:

    My mother is 4 days in on the FOLFOX and so far so good. She is more tired than usual but no major side effects at the moment. She’s still experiencing some major pain in her abdomen and back which I sure hope starts to subside with the palliative chemo FOLFOX.

    Next DR apt is set for Monday for blood work and next round of chemo Wednesday.

    Thanks as always for your continued love and support!
    Joe

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