Our talented and generous niece, Melissa Becker, designed this beautiful blog to keep you informed of mom's progress. I, the un-techie Anna, will add posts about once a week. You can find more information about Multiple Myeloma on the websites listed at the right.
Briefly, MM is cancer of the blood which creates tumors in the bone - hence Mom's severe back pain before her radiation. Doctors say there is no connection between the MM and the brain tumor Mom had in summer/fall, and which has shrunk (or totally dissolved?) after the Gamma Knife (an intense, 45 minute radiation treatment pinpointed to the tumor.
Treatment consists of radiation and chemotherapy. Both the ten radiation treatments and the first chemo cycle were started while Mom was still in the hospital. One chemo cycle consists of three weeks: She receives chemo on days 1, 4, 8, and ll, followed by a week of no treatments. In addition, Mom takes one zillion pills, plus gallons of water, every day. The visiting nurses and physical therapists have been helpful. We are trying to get Mom AND Dad onto the Wii Fit! Feel free to come over and challenge them to a game!!
We all appreciate your tremendous support: prayers, phone calls, flowers, food, taxi service, and best of all, VISITS. Since Mom can't read or do crafts, she gets pretty tired of listening to books on tape and watching movies. They are home evenings and weekends. If you come during the day, you may want to call ahead first since doctor appointments and chemo times vary.
We, the sibs, had a pizza party at Mom and Dad's house while Mom was still in the hospital. We assembled and decorated the Christmas tree with the help of grandkids and a variety of beverages. The most prized family possession - the Christmas star - was just about stolen by any number of kids, but Sammie (Mom and Dad's new dog) protected the star for Mom. When Mom finally came home from the hospital, about 6 in the evening, she walked into a dark house lighted only by the Christmas tree, providing a warm welcome for her.
The dog: yes, Mom has a long tradition of disliking pets, especially in the house. Sammie is unique. Rose and Jim opened their Ocean Shores Inn (Collins Inn) and needed to find a new home for the lovable but yappy Sammie. We encouraged Dad to give it a try since he loves dogs. Well, guess who took a liking to Mom? While Mom was in the hospital, Sammie peed and pooped in the house, and wouldn't go into the dining room! Once her mistress came home, Sammie suddenly retrained her incontinent habits, once again joined her owners in the dining room, and resumed sleeping on Mom's lap when they are in the living room. An aside, when Mom was first in the hospital, Dad had trouble sleeping at night UNTIL (don't tell Mom), he allowed Sammie to sleep with him!
till next time - may the snow, beautiful may it be, blow away until next year - anna
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This blog is a brilliant idea. I have to admit, I knew almost nothing about MM and am now keen on doing a bit of research on the topic. Please know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers often. One thing's for certain, your family is blessed to have each other. You are all amazing.
ReplyDeleteFar away physically but not otherwise,
Niki
Great idea Melissa. Shirley I love your statement. I believe you shall conquer this dreadful C word. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I look forward to seeing you at a Stamp Camp soon. Love Melody
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you, Shirley, as well as the whole Becker family. May you all be comforted by the peace of Christ. My father was diagnosed with MM in 1991 with a prognosis of 1-3 years. Today, in 2009, he is alive and well! Attitude and watching the diet can make some amazing strides in fighting this nasty cancer. There IS hope and we must all believe in it!
ReplyDelete~Tracy Boguth