susan

Mum has been out of hospital now for quite a few weeks. She came out very very weak and has lost a lot of weight.

Mum had a terrible chest infection which she has only just been given antibiotics for she is also now on steroids. Mum was very low, I haven’t seen her that low before, she is so fed up and wants to know when she will feel like her old self again. Mum has been on the steroids for 3 days, seems a little better and eating more.

She is so weak though, can just about get downstairs, she tried a shower yesterday but ended up really tired and was sick afterwards.

Small steps every day, hopefully mum will return to feeling a little better soon, it will take time. You can tell her muscles aren’t strong and I don’t know if this can be built up or not.

Everyday is precious, more than ever now, it was a shock at first to see how much mum had changed but we are getting there.

This is really a roller coaster of emotions, at one point I thought my mum was near the end of her life, now I hope we are on the right side of this set back.

Who know’s, I pray every night for her, I am not particularly religious and doubted at first if there was anything out there, but I still hope.

My daughter moves into her new house today, and I am hoping at some point mum will be fit enough to see her new home, I know that means a lot to my daughter.

Take care everyone, Susan

Mum is still in hospital, not quite sure why. She is eating well and drinking. I don’t doubt that the time is getting nearer, it is very scary. I can see mum is weaker, her stomach is swollen and her ankles slightly swollen also.

I watched a programme in England “how to have a good death” it was very good. A gentleman on that programme was dying, he’d had prostate cancer which had spread to his lungs. It was frightening to see his progress, one minute healthy and the next not.

They showed how the patient goes on a seemingly healthy path for a while and then it takes a very rapid down turn. I wish someone would tell us if we are on that down turn. I will try asking someone at the hospital either today or Monday. No one likes to commit themselve to a timeline, I understand why but desperate to know.

The programme also showed how we all should talk more about the end of life and what we want. I am glad to say that we have done this with our mum and know her wishes, hopefully we will get it right for her.

Hope you are all keeping sane and surviving this horrible experience. Susan

Thank you Caroline.

Just returned from the hospital as my mum collapsed this morning. They think it is an infection and are doing tests to see if the infection is coming from the gall bladder.

She will be put on antibiotics via IV and have a few tests done. Hopefully her temperature will come down and everything will settle back.

Just another little set back, we hope that is all it is, mum is doing so well at the moment but this disease is taking over her I know.

Thank you for reading this and my prayers are with everyone, Susan

Thanks Patricia, you are right I know I have to be careful for my own health as well. I have a very good husband who is there for me, but I feel I can’t let it all out yet, I have to be strong for mum. I do try and spend time for me, just reading a magazine or watching TV makes me relax.

I keep going, and try and put a smile on each day, as I know it is precious.

Thank you Caroline for your post and I am sorry to hear yet another personal story about cancer.

I am at the stage now where I don’t care what they think, my mum is everything to me and so precious.

I can see the progression in her, her personality has changed slightly also.

Some good may come out of all this awful situation. I too am re-evaluating my life and planning on attending a part time 10 week counselling course. I really would like to do some good with my time here, rather than pushing paper round all day. It has got to be more satisfying.

You take care and have quality time with people you care about, isn’t that what life is all about.

Good luck, Susan x