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That is a fantastic idea with having the kids help with mom and setting up an email chain. I try to lessen my mom’s stress b/c I need her healthy to be able to take care of my sister.
Lainy wrote:Dear Mel (is the Mel for Melanie? If so my sister is Melanie) welcome and I am so very sorry about your Sister, Meredith. It is like she has a horrible Domino effect, one thing after another. The best thing you can do is try to take one day at a time as each day seems to present something different. NEVER apologize for what you write as it is a very cathartic thing to do and we get to know you and your family better. For your Mom, perhaps she can start accepting some help from family and friends to life some weight off her shoulders. Maybe some one could do laundry, friends could make a few dinners and go shopping for her. We can’t have anyone wearing down as this can be a long journey. Know that Meredith is in good hands at JHH! We all understand that this is like getting slugged in the stomach with a bat but I can tell you that once a game plan is in place and begins your fright will turn to fight and you must try to be strong for your Sister. We are here for you and feel free to rant anytime. You are not alone in this and YES we all understand. Please keep us posted on Meredith. Sending you mammoth hugs!It is actually short for Melissa but since my two older sisters both have M names, I actually answer to pretty much any M, female name. Melanie…. Michelle… Megan…. Thank you for the hugs. It’s very difficult with some of my friends because they are there for support, but it’s hard when I hear/see about my sister and her struggles every day.
THank you all for your kind words and encouragement. I talked with my mom and I am going to be in charge of getting some people that have offered their help, into the house to help. it’s a little daunting, since I am 2 hours away from them, but basically, my mom lets me know what she needs help with. laundry or food or cleaning or taking care of my sister’s kids (homework/clothes/tumbling….). I just set up a simple email chain.
The update is my sister had to get a wire mesh stent at Hopkins, which is good b/c her bile ducts were just clogging. She is home and had her chemo consultation/class today and she is starting tomorrow! I am so happy that she is finally starting chemo. She got her diag on 12/6. She was released and is home but now she is having problems where whenever she eats, she is in a ton of pain and she gets bloated so badly that it looks like she is pregnant again.
I am driving up to Pennsylvania on Friday with a wig from my friend that went through chemo for breast cancer, but since it was the summer, she really didnt’ want to wear a wig. I am also going to be with my two nieces (10 and 13) and I’m going to talk with them to let them know that their mom is going to be really tired and that she will lose her hair and that I will be there for them. My oldest nice actually just went to a counselor yesterday. Hopefully that will help because she is really very sensitive and emotional.
We were told that basically, she is not able to be cured. Not that this comes as a surprise but I feel more breakdowns coming.
