Deb’s Life Angels & Home sweet home

Dr. Yaffe called me back last Friday to check on Deb and also to go over the follow up MRI and CT Scan results from January. Deb’s abdominal CTScan showed overall but not significant tumor reduction in right and left liver lobes as a result of chemoembolization treatments in Nov-Dec 2008. MRI neck and back results were normal with no issues found. Deb’s MRI brain still showed the small mass on her left lobe that appeared on last MRI in December that we hoped was a result of falling out of her bed at Northside. Even though it has only been a month since last brain MRI, the brain mass has not decreased in size and shows additional swelling around the outer edges of mass. At this point, it would require a biopsy to truly identify if it is a hematoma or tumor metastasis related to Deb’s other cancer. What makes this suspect to mets is that MEN1 neuroendocrine is usually slow growing and does normally metastasize to the brain. Regardless, Dr. Yaffe agrees that we cannot move forward with any other testing of the brain, etc.. until Deb is strong enough so the family is on our current “day to day” rebuilding of our Deb. Will do another checkpoint with Dr. Yaffe in early March if Deb’s condition improves.
The hardest part of sharing Deb’s journal is having to share news that is not positive in nature because Deb always has lived with loving and positive energies surrounding around her. It is my role as part of Deb’s journey to keep all Deb’s Life Angels out there current so you continue to feel connected to Deb no matter where you are in this wonderful world. Deb’s mom Bonnie has been with us since after Christmas since Deb has not been strong enough to be by herself while I am at work. Bonnie continues to shine in her wonderful and effortless motherly care for her daughter.

It is with sadness but endless family strength that I share to all that Deb and rest of our family have agreed two weeks ago to seek assistance with home health care for Deb. Deb’s newest team of life angels consist of a home nurse, aide, social worker, and chaplain that are all just a phone call away. In the last 6 months, I cannot tell you how wonderful it is for the first time to have aide come to Deb instead of taking Deb to them. They have brought the common home medical tools we need to make Deb more comfortable during this phase of her journey.

Because of her overall weakness, Deb has not been able to go up/down our stairs so we spend more time with her in our master bedroom where she continues to be so peaceful in the comfort of our home sweet home. With obvious reasons, Deb continues to stay with her personal bed nest in place of a hospital style bed that continues to be offered to us. The wonderful sitting room that the Crosses included in our original house design has made all the difference now for everyone to visit with Deb without feeling like we are smothering her.

Deb continues to be around 100lbs even though Bonnie has her consistently eating her 3 meals a day. We are seeing more confusion with Deb in the early morning and then she gets better throughout the day. Her pain med (oxy) intake has gone up so she is taking 1-2 doses nightly and in the morning. She continues to experience abdominal swelling which is common with liver cancer but currently not a risk. Because she is too weak to travel, we will continue to measure the swelling and if necessary, I will take her back to Northside for fluid drain if it becomes unbearable. Unfortunately, this is a procedure that cannot be done at the house. She can walk short distances including to/from the bathroom but we are right there to assist in case she seems “wobbly”. She can stay up 2-3 times a day for only a short period of time before she wants to go back to sleep.

With all of this said about Deb’s current state, she continues to amaze all of us how she can for the last 6 months of her life journey be so selfless with a never ending fire in her eyes that is constantly fighting for her independence so that she feels that she is not a burden to us. Deb’s strength has been rock solid with no feeling of being “needy” to her family. Those of you that know Deb well or have worked with her know that this is just the way she is and as a teacher, she continues to teach us.

The friend/family network strength continues to be strong and my family continues to be so grateful to all of Deb’s Life Angels out there for food and comfort so that Deb can be where she will always be most at peace in her continued life journey…. home sweet home.

KTS and Love to all,
Rod

I knew our joy would fill the earth and last till the end of time my love
Roberta Flack