missyk
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Posts posted by missyk
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I talked to her last night for a while and she'd been back in to see her med. onc. who she's not seen for almost 6 months...when he patted her ont he shoulder and told her she had a couple weeks left to live.
He told her "You are AMAZING" which made her feel good, of course. The primary tumor in the lung is gone, the lungs show nothing but healthy tissue. Of course, there's the matter of her head and neck that we never seem to be able to clear out...so who knows.
Her main problem right now is SOB which they tell her must be from treatment because there's no infection and, as I said, no tumor growth. She's also started having moderately severe pain at the base of her skull and across her brow. They've doubled her fentynal, kept her ativan going, and have now added methadone.
Going along with how weird our senses of humor are I said to her, "Gee, Mom, that stuff's like gold on the street!!" She says, "Oh yeah?" (laughing) I said, "Yup, do you know how HARD it is to get methadone?? Man, you gotta be DYING to get it!!"
We both laughed a while and decided that was a good way to end talking for the evening.
I think we're heading up there to see her this weekend and show her the ultrasound pictures I have of the newest grandbaby...and she's going with me to my appointment next month where they'll do another one so she can see this critter moving around.
Much love and many prayers for everyone out there...
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I don't know WHY it is...but I do know that for the first time in her life, Mom's been cold. Basically since she started treatment she's been covered up.
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In the winter...68. But lately it's been in the single digits with wind chills in the double digits below zero, so I kicked it up to 70!
In the summer the A/C sits at 75-78.
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But, there are alot of those who do, many on this board, in fact. I know it might not be a majority of those diagnosed with stage IV or even IIIB...however...
My mom was told the typical 6 months to "one year on the very outside even with extremely aggressive treatment". We're 21 months since they told her that and she's still alive and kicking. She was "young" at 55 and relatively healthy, though overweight (that problem's taken care of now
). With all of this I'm trying to say: It's not over 'till it's over and no one but the Big Man Upstairs knows when that will be nor how it will happen.
Much love and many prayers...
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Frank...
Though it's not often I post a reply on your messages I've followed you closely since beginning our journey almost two years ago.
You continue to be an inspiration to all of us here and I just wanted to say that we're back here pulling for ya, too.
Mom spent a great deal of her life in PA (Graduated from Bucks Co Tech, actually) and I was born in Bristol...I'm pretty sure that makes us "from PA" too! LOL
God bless, Frank...And I'm looking forward to reading ALL the installments of this series...51 more to go, at least!
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Being in Iowa leaves me open to great weather disasters! LOL
We had an ice storm back when I was 13 or so that left us without power for almost 4 days. We lived in the country, so there was no going to the store for ANYTHING. We went down to the creek for water to flush with (and only if we HAD to), cooked our food on a propane camping stove and all snuggled up around the fireplace at night.
In '93 we had "the flood".
November of 05 I had the great pleasure of visiting my friend in Woodward at the very WRONG time. Weird late fall tornado wiped out her part of town...thankfully leaving her house standing...with us in the basement ready to kiss our a**es goodbye!
I figure I've been in one of each now and I should be done, right? RIGHT??
Such is the life out here in the sticks!
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Crap happens...deal with it and move on.
The only person you have with you for your entire life is yourself.
Sing like no one's listening, dance like no one's watching, and love like you've never been hurt.
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Thick, rich, creamy potato soup with bacon bits!!
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Is it bad that I've done that cutting up other people's food thing?
I buttered my father in law's bread this past weekend!! -
I absolutely love my job!!
I work in the self-contained behavior disorder room at the local jr high as an associate teacher...but co-teach a math class and a social skills class in the "regular" special ed classrooms, too. I started out working one-on-one with behavior disorder kids, then switched to a special ed classroom at a high school and loved each of them in different ways. I got to pull the best of both worlds together when the district here began the self-contained classrooms and the principal called me to see if I'd want the job. The only question now is if I stay as an associate or finish a degree and start teaching. Still not sure what I'm going to do with that one, I guess.
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As long as I was ALONE!!!! LOL (And that I knew everyone else was safe)
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Just my little blip about positive attitude...take it or leave it...I'm just thinking while typing! LOL
Could it be that those with a "positive attitude" tend to be even more proactive in their care giving the impression that the attitude is what is helping?
Again...this is a touchy subject because it's easy to jump from "positive attitude will help" to "you must not have been positive enough" and that's SO not what any of us want to say, I'm sure. I DO believe attitude is helpful but I can't say that it's any more helpful than the care that Mom's been getting from the doctors...or that this isn't just what was in the cards in the first place.
Either way...I want this darn disease wiped out!!
xoxoxo
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Ok..first I'm heading to Don for a massage!!! LOL
Geez...for being young I've sure tried my hands at alot of things!
1. Dishwasher (14)
2. Cleaning help for an elderly lady (14)
3. CNA in nursing home (16-20)
4. Night stock at Target (20)
5. Diesel fuel desk at a truck stop (20)
6. Waitress (Too long!)
7. Housekeeping at the "county farm"
8. More waitressing
9. Stay at home mommy/college student
10. Associate teacher in the self-contained behavior disorder room at the local jr. high (best job of my life...love it!!)
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Confined!
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*Licks finger* One...two...three...
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I had to giggle at the "lecture" by teresag...SOOO reminded me of my days in nursing school! Those were good memories, by the way!
Mom was diagnosed at 55 years old 20 months ago. When she had her first MRI that showed brain mets she was told that she'd be lucky to see a year statistically. When those mets that were treated grew substantially months later she was told a few days to a few weeks. That was months ago now. The dr's do their best to give (to those who want the information) an estimate of what the "average" person will face, and I know that in my heart. It DOES get disheartening to hear the numbers, yet it gives us an idea of just how far Mom's made it in her fight, also. I believe we'll start to see the new targeted treatments make a difference in statistics in the near future and it wouldn't surprise me to see it go from 6-12 months for stage IV to more like 12-24 months...and still won't cover everyone on both ends of the spectrum.
As someone's said before...set your sights on your goal and keep moving toward it. You'll make it!!
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Oh I'm so glad to see you post an update on Suki!!
And, of course, love hearing 'bout new babies on the way! LOL
I dreamed, last night, the name of the new baby I'm toting around...but for the life of me I couldn't remember it this morning when I woke!!!
Figures! Have you had any weird "baby dreams" going on? They make for great stories down the road, that's for sure! I'm SO happy and exicted for you and for Suki...the one-lung wonder grandma!!! -
I'm so glad they know what's going on...as you said...Now you can fight!
I know of a family in the Chicago area with both children in the home diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and I know that there are some exceptional Dr.s out there that specialize in treating them.
Prayers for the best!!
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It was "An Evening With Metallica"...no opening band! LOL
My sister and I got tickets when I was 16 (when Mom finally ok'd me going to a concert) and my brother, for whatever reason, didn't get tickets at the same time. He went to the window the night of the show and ended up with better seats than WE had!!
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Dang! Crap! (And a bunch of words I can't say) I'm so sad to read this.
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hahahaha...I've seen this same one supposedly from "Somewhere In Iowa" It's one of the best I've ever heard. I wonder how many people have decided to try it now??
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Secret Stuff
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Go, Joanie, Go!!
I'm glad to hear that you're done with WBR and sending many many prayers for GREAT results when ya get the scans done!!
Much love,
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A big, hearty AMEN to "You CAN beat this."
I believe it enough for all of you when your strength is down.
). 
Things not good - update on my husband - back to hospital
in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER
Posted
Grace
Prayers coming for you and Carlton and the girls. Hopefully he's resting easy (and you are too, as much as you can) and chemo makes a dent in this dip in the rollercoaster.