Connie22

Welcome! This board has been my life-line since January. I think you will find, that we are so supportive and try and help with whatever we can. Where in SD are you? Let me know if I can be of any help. Hugs and prayers Connie

Praying for a peaceful passing, and family full of strength. Dear Lord please hear our prayers. Hugs and prayers Connie

GREAT news!!! I love stories like these.

Linda, As hard as it is sometimes, to stay away and rest, that is exactly what you need to do. Hospice will take care very good care of her. I had a hard time staying away, I would stay all night, run home and shower and then back up to the hospital. By the end I was emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausted. I also had a stepfather that was not taking her needs and wants to heart, so I felt I had to be there all the time. Take today and do whatever it is that you enjoy doing. Take care. Hugs nad prayers Connie

This darn stuff!!!! It is always such a rollercoaster ride. You got some really good advice, and calories are sooooo important. Let me know if I can do anything, beings I am only 45 minutes from you. Connie

Tina, We are holding your family close in our prayers. Connie

Mom had a total of 12 pints of blood over her 3 week stay. The last time, she had a low grade fever, not bad, but they were checking for any type of infection in the blood. They told me with their immune system and being in the hospital, is easy for them to catch septis. It's an infection that goes into the blood.My question was to them....beings you are giving her antibiotics and steriods, would you treat this differently if there is an infection? Their answer was no, it would be the same treatment, they would just know what was going on. I hope this info helps. Hugs and prayers Connie

ROOF

Hey Cindy- love the KY jelly comment. Let's try boot

I know most of you will understand what I am saying. I am sitting here feeling like this whole lung cancer issue at the hospital could have ened better. When My mom was admitted to the hospital on May 10 with plueral infussion to the right lung (the lung where the mass was) I never dreamed it would end like this. They drained it and then did the procedure where they put the talcum in the lung to stop the bleeding. They were "sure" there was cancer in the fluid, but there was none. Not sure if it was caused by radiation or Loveinox (blood thinner). That was healing up fine and then on Sunday the good lung had fluid in it. Again they said it was bloody and had cancer cells. I made them drain it and it was not bloody and no caner was found. She was doing fairly well, eating, walking and visiting and then against the family wishes they started her on Loveinox shots again on Friday. She started spitting up blood, Friday afternoon and on Sat. I spoke with the Oncologist and said no more shots. He explained that it was a catch 22 with the blood clot in her superior veina cava. I said the family will take its chances, well when I left the room, the shot was given and she ended up in ICU with a Oxygen mask that was pumping air into her lungs. They drained 500ccs from the bad lung and said she might have an infection. They started her on steroids and antibiotics and she never got better. She passed away that Thur. June 1 and I am sitting here feeling like I didn't do enough and this is some way my fault. I went to every appointment with her, including radiation and chemo and was her advocate. On Thursday morning the Dr. showed me the lastest Ct scan and it said the cancer had spread in the lung and they had found lesions on the upper part of the liver. But there are so many people that have the same dx and they keep on going with tx. I just miss her soooo much and am feeling guilty. I know the blood clot is a major concern, but we would have felt better if that would have moved, then the way it ended. I know I can't do anything about it now, I am just hoping for some closure. I feel extremely frusterated and angry at the Dr's and I need to put this to rest because it is starting to consume me. Towards the end, when a Dr. would come in, I would physically get ill. Thanks for letting me vent. Hugs and prayers Connie

Audrey Snow Brandon, SD Audrey Sharp-Snow Audrey went to be with Jesus, on June 1, 2006 at Avera McKennan Hospital surrounded by the love of her family. She was born in Sisseton, SD on January 26, 1942 to Fred and Violet Wilson. Audrey grew up in the Rapid City, SD area and married Robert Sharp on November 22, 1960. They made their home for many years in the Minneapolis area. After leaving MN she spent the rest of her years in SD. She then married Charlie Snow on August 31, 1991 in Brookings, SD. Together they moved to Brandon in August of 1995, where they still resided. At the time of her death she was employed with the Brandon Valley School District. Audrey enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Her two granddaughters, Amy & Megan, were her favorite past-times. She loved spending time with her dogs Shelby & Max, gardening, crocheting, walking, shopping, having coffee with friends, and helping others in any way she could. Audrey was preceded in death by both of her parents and her first husband. Survivors include her husband, Charlie Snow, daughter, Connie (Rich) Lees, son Gary Sharp, granddaughters, Amy and Megan Lees all of Brandon, SD. Siblings, Freddie (Pat) Wilson, Linda (Bill) Storment, Karen (Ralph) Riggert, Kathy Wilson, JoAnn (Dan) Wessinger, Cindy Mraz, Mike (Cindy) Wilson, and Duane Wilson all of Rapid City, SD and Terry (Cindy) Wilson of Bellevue, NE. She also cherished her numerous nieces/nephews and great nieces/nephews. Memorial services will be held at Heritage Funeral Home, 57th and Minn. ave, Sioux Falls, on Monday, June 5, 2006 at 2:30 p.m. There will be no visitation.

My mother passed away very peaceful on June 1. Her memorial service was on June 5. The service was wonderful, my 2 daughters and myself gave her euology. Thanks to everyone for their support and prayers. Hugs and prayers Connie

Alot has changed since the last time I posted. I don't even know whre to begin. I have been at the hospital 24/7 beings I have learned that you really cannot trust a lot of the staff. I get to mom's room on Friday morning and she tells me about this party she had in her room, and when she woke up there were all kinds of nurses standing over her. I went and spoke to the nurse that was on duty and she is said that she had taken the oxygen off and was laying in the doorway asking for help. She couldn't breathe. The oxygen has a beeper and the nurse claims she didn't hear it go off. So I have been there everynight. Then on Sat late afternoon, her right arm and right ankle is swollen so I go get the nurse and insist she call the onc. on call, who says to her I'll look at it tomorrow afternoon. Sat. night was a long night.... Sunday morning she won't wake up to eat and is very lethergic, the nurse is worried but does nothing. Mid morning her pulmonary Dr arrives on the floor and I go and ask him to look at mom. He seems annoyed but walks into the room with me and says the arm and ankle don't look any worse then yesterday. I say her face is swollen now too. He asks me to come out of the room and once again tells me how serious this disease is..Like I don't understand. I ask him to look at the x-rays from this morning. Five minutes later her calls me into the cage (all glass area where no-one can hear what is being said)and tells me that her other lung is filling up with blood (her good lung). He recommends we do nothing and she will pass in 2-4 days. I said to him and the 2 nurses in there, you will drain it and it will happen today. He said there is no chance for her cause now the cancer has spread to the good lung. He agrees to drain it with the needle, but tells us to call all family members home. He schedules it for 1:00pm and at 12:45 her oxygen crashes and the nurses are freaking out waiting for them. My cousins (who are both nurses) come up there about 11:30 and can see things are not good. They inform the nurses on how to handle the situation, thank GOD. She makes it. My 2 daughters are there when they pull the liguid out and guess what it is not blood it is fluid and not cancerous. She then is put on 15 liters of oxygen with the full bag and rushed to ICU, they tell us they will have to intubate by late afternoon and she will pass within 48 hours. Will she is still alive and 2 days ago was moved out of ICU and is expected to be out by Monday. Her oxygen is back to the reg oxygen and back to 7 liters not real good but getting better. There is alot more to this story but it is getting real long. I will say we called in another set of Drs. today who said both of the lungs fluid were cancer free. No-one ever told us that. She does have fluid around the heart, which could be causing the lungs to fill up.This is exactly like a roller coaster. My mom is sitting up and talking and playing games. Now if i had listened to the Dr. I would have killed her. I cannot believe it. Sorry it is so long. Connie

Carleen, I always have room in my prayers!!! My philosophy is when you think you have it bad..just look around you and someone is in worse shape, this was proven to me again tonight..by your post. I hope and pray everything turns out alright with you and your family. Prayers and hugs Connie

thank you soooo much for the kind words. Linda thanks a million for the comment about radiation, no-one has told us that. I found out today the next line of chemo is alima. I will be researching and finding out all that I can. She is so weak today, but gaining strength. She starts the new chemo on Tues after Memorial Day. She was given a B-12 shot and folic acid today. I pray this works.It looks like if everything goes ok she'll be getting out of the hospital on Tuesday, Thanks again everyone!! Connie

Just when we thought things were going good, the beast came back with a full face blow. Mom started with coughing up a lot of blood about a month ago. Her Onc. said that this is normal for lung cancer patients. So..at her last chemo tx, mom and I decided that after this Dr. made an appointment for the Mayo, we would then fire him and get a new Dr. Someone who doesn't just smile and tell us everything is ok, and takes no time to explain anything to us. I have learned so much more here then from the Dr. He gets a little angry when I second guess him. Anyways, long story short, my hubby and I are on our way to Mexico, last Wed. May 10, and I call my mom from the Denver Airport, when we land, it's like 8 am, and she is so short of breath even with her oxygen on. So I call my daughter who is studying for college finals, to go take her to the emergency room. Mom first wants her to call the Dr.. so Meg does and they said it could be a clot in her legs. Now she has been on Lovenox for 2 1/2 months due to several clots in the lungs. All this time noone checks to see if the medicine has done anything to the clots in SVC or the lungs or the shoulder blades or the arm, they kept telling us, they don't need to. The ER admits her with fluid in the lungs. Thursday, they poke a needle in her back to drain the fluid. (her reg. oncologist is on vacation yeah!!!) Friday the fluid is back so they surgicaly put in a tube. Sat. is alittle better Sun. is getting worse again and Monday they do surgery and find a clot almost the size of a football. No wonder why she coughing up all the blood. They are not sure what caused it, but it could be the Lovenox.I'm not sure what the procedure is called, but they scaped the lung and put talc powder in there to help it scar. They said she would probably be in ICU for 2 days, when they were finished she was not taken to ICu at all. She is a fighter. Needless to say the trip was a mess. I fired the old onc. and hired the new one all the way from Mexico. She has had a total of 8 pints of blood and last night had the drainage tube removed. She will be in the hospital until at least Mon. They also found a few new spots on the media stinum. I am hoping it has not spread anywhere else. We had to change her appointment with the Mayo, which was suppose to be this Monday, until the 12th of June. I would appreciate any info on what to do from here. I am soooooo scarred. Of course we are so close, I am at the hospital 24/7, she plays off of my emotions. If I show fear she becomes fearfull. It is so hard to always be the strong one. Thanks for all the previous prayers and words of encouragement. This board is diffently the best!!!!! Hugs and Prayers to you all Connie

Rich, You give me such great hope and encouragement. This has been a tuff weekend on my mom, coughing up blood and what seems to be blood clots. Waiting to hear back from the Dr. Hoping this is just normal. You are for sure an INSPIRATION!!!!!! Hugs and Prayers Connie

Teri, I will continue to pray and believe in miracles because I know God is listening. Hugs and Prayers Connie

What beautiful girls, Congrats!!!!! Connie

Prayers going up for your entire family Connie

Frank I'm with ya!!! I need a break also already. It is a beautiful day here in SD also. I LOVE spring. Yhe new growth on the trees and flowers budding. Don't wear yourself out thinking of the "have to's" around the yard, just enjoy!

I am so sorry for your loss. I pray that you and your family find the strength to carry on! I am thankful it was a peaceful passing. Connie

I am so sorry for your loss. I pray that you and your family find the strength to carry on! I am thankful it was a peaceful passing. Connie

Hi Roger, My mom used extra strength maalox-She had the magic bullet mixed up but never used it.

Kim, I can really relate to what you are saying....I feel the exact same way. I am my mom's caregiver and it is so very difficult to watch her struggle with this horrible disease. To watch her at the Dr's office, when he says we are hoping for stable and she is hoping for remission. It is like a big ton of rocks has fallen on her. She plays off of my emotions, so I need to act like it is no big deal, and ask the questions. I talk to my mom daily and always have, she has always lived close, within a mile. My two girls are the only grandchildren she has, and they are very close to her. It is so very hard. I am praying for all of us. Sometimes it is so hard to put one foot in front of the other and continue on. I always try to wear a happy face around her and that is getting to be so hard. All I can say is somehow we will get through this. I take one moment at a time, most days. For me it is hard to concentrate on anything else, but trying to find a "fix" for my mom. I pray for strength all the time, and most days I have it. I will continue to pray for you and your family. Just remember you always have us here on this board. Sometimes, I just come here and read and it always gives me hope and strength. This has been my savior....My friends have not gone through anything like this, they do not understand, these people do!!!! Hugs and prayers Connie