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melindasue37

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Posts posted by melindasue37

    Fatigue as a family member

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    Hi Andrea,

    I have been feeling this extreme fatigue lately too. In fact, after my sons football game yesterday I came home and slept for hours. I have never been one to take a nap, but I just wanted to sleep. At work, I find myself falling asleep at my computer. I have been going to sleep so early lately, sometimes as early as 8 pm. I'm pretty confident that this is just from the stress of losing my Mom. The roller coaster continues. I don't think things will ever be "normal" again.

    You aren't whining, Andrea. I know exactly how you feel.

    Hang in there!!!

    Warm Hugs,

    Melinda

    husband now on hospice

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    I'm so sorry that you are going through this.

    If you can, please let hospice guide you. They are trained professionals and will make things so much easier for you.

    One of the most important things we learned from my Moms hospice nurse was that when my Mom got really aggitated and restless her body was in pain/stress. It was so hard to give in to the medication because my Mom never liked to take anything. But, as soon as she was comfortable, it made things easier for all of us.

    Praying for you and your family.

    Warm Hugs,

    Melinda

    My mama is with our Lord

    in GRIEF

    Posted

    Oh Lori,

    I'm so very sorry to read this. I haven't been keeping up with what has been happening here lately and I had no idea.

    I know how painful this time is. I'm here for you....still trying to make sense of all of this too. Maybe we can fumble through this terrible part of losing our Moms together.

    Praying for all of you right now.

    Warm Hugs,

    Melinda

    my loving mother, Donna Lou Worden

    in GRIEF

    Posted

    Donna Lou Worden 69, of 26 Essex Court, Mackinaw, IL, died at 5:15 AM Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006 at her home.

    She was born May 21, 1937 in Peoria, IL to Earl and Ethel Schmutz Cox. She married Gerald Worden on May 5, 1983 in Peoria and he survives.

    Other survivors include two sons, Mark (Tammy) Bartholomew of Chillicothe, IL and Scott (Steffany) Bartholomew of Cape Coral, FL; three daughters, Deborah (Claude) Richardson of St. Louis, MO, Melinda Masterson of Elgin, IL and Michelle(Charles) Graves of Iowa City, IA; and one step daughter Christine Worden of Kewanee, IL; ten grandchildren, Nichole, Brittany, Lauren, Courtney, Colin, Kaitlin, Cody, Abby, Lindsey, and Heather; one step grandson, Matthew; and her beloved dog, Buttons.

    She was preceded in death by her parents.

    Donna and her husband formerly owned and operated J&D Trailer Sales in Tremont for many years. She was an avid bowler and enjoyed fishing, boating, and traveling.

    Her funeral will be at 10:00 AM. Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at Davis Mortuary, Trement. Pastor Arvil Bass will officiate.

    Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM. Monday, September 11, at the mortuary.

    Burial will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria, IL.

    Another piece of my heart

    in GRIEF

    Posted

    Oh Pat,

    I can't even imagine how difficult it was for you to part with something that was such a big piece of Brian.

    It is so nice to see you here.

    I think of you so often....I hope those grandchildren are bringing a smile to your face and that each day is getting a little easier for you.

    Warm Hugs,

    Melinda

    MelindaSue 37

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    Holly,

    Thank you for thinking of me and for your prayers.

    I just posted an update on my Mom in the caregivers forum. It isn't good news, but I thought I would post for all of you that are so thoughtful and supportive to me.

    Warm Hugs,

    Melinda

    update on Mom

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    I never realized what this disease would finally do to my Mom. God, it hurts so bad to see her like this. She can no longer get out of bed. She is so weak. She doesn't even have the strength to suck anything out of a straw. The hospice nurse is coming in tomorrow so hopefully she will have some ideas of something that we can do. I always feel like there is something I should be doing, saying. I just don't know what.

    I'm back at home this week. I took my two children to see her this past weekend which was nice.

    I have lost all hope and am so numb I can't seem to cry. I try to get the thought of her leaving this world out of my mind but it pops into my mind within seconds and hits me like a brick emotionally.

    My older sister is there with my stepdad helping take care of her. I just got off the phone with her and she said this has been the worst day so far. My Mom is getting very irritable and her mind is going. I talked with her on the phone for a few seconds to tell her I loved her and she started talking about something I couldn't understand. My sister told me that she couldn't remember her name during the day today. She doesn't like taking medication so I know it isn't the drugs making her talk such jibberish. My sister told me that when she does get some of the Ativan in her (you can't tell her she is taking it) that it calms her down a little bit.

    She still is fighting and hasn't given up. She keeps saying she has to get better. I don't know if she will ever let us tell her how much we are going to miss her.

    I'm heading down on Friday to spend the long weekend with her. I hope this week goes by quickly.

    Warm Hugs,

    Melinda

    An update on my mama

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    Lori,

    I can feel your pain so much. All we really want is what is best for our Moms. You shouldn't have the added burden of your SF being such a jerk.

    The only comforting thought I have right now is that we have our Moms here with us now... thinking about tomorrow is just too painful.

    I pray that today is a good day for you and your Mom.

    Warm Hugs,

    Melinda

    chemo no longer available to Mom

    in CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER

    Posted

    Our appointment with the doctor brought this devastating news. When the doctor came in he sat down and began to review all the options we've tried the last 22 months. He then told my Mom the cancer is in both lungs and is taking over and that her body couldn't handle the side effects of any other chemo. He also told her that he guessed it would be in less than one short month.

    I'll never, ever forget the look on her face when he told us this. His only suggestion was to call in hospice to make her comfortable.

    We called them yesterday and they delivered a bed which we set up in the living room and other equipment to make things easier on her.

    Just in the last few days there has been a drastic change. Her body is shutting down but yet her mind refuses to give up. She has always had the gift of gab and just never stops talking. Now, she is so lost in her thoughts. She shakes her head alot and says out loud "What are we going to do now?"

    How do you talk about death when she refuses to accept it? How do you give up when she hasn't given up?

    I never imagined how painful this disease could get. I feel so hopeless and watching the cancer take over hurts like nothing has ever before.

    I did ask the hospice nurse if she could prescribe something to take the edge off....so her mind could be at ease if only for a short time. She prescribed Ativan. She finally got to sleep about a 1/2 hour ago and my stepdad just ran to pick up the prescription. As soon as she wakes up, I'm going to give her this and hope it will bring some relief.

    She did eat a tiny bit for breakfast, but the hospice nurse told us to not try to force her to eat so there have been no fights regarding food.

    This part of the journey is so new and so foreign to me. It just feels like my heart is being pulled apart piece by piece.

    If anyone has any suggestions of something that I could do to make things easier for her or anything that has worked for others who have walked this terrible path, I would so much appreciate any help or advice anyone can offer.

    Warm Hugs,

    Melinda

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