Taking it minute by minute now

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-1998
Taking it minute by minute now
5
Thu, 11-16-2006 - 4:13pm

Thanks for the warm welcome to the board last week.

I am out visiting my mom as planned. She was in postacute care til last night. She is severely neutropenic from the chemo (2% neutrophils, total WBC 200). She developed an infection in her blood. They rushed her over to the ICU at the acute care hospital and she is on meds for the infection plus fluids, blood, plasma expanders and vasopressors(?) to keep her BP up.

Her onco says she is responding well to the chemo so we are fighting the infection with aggressive measures. He says if she can make it through the next 24 hours, she may be able to fight off the infection with the help of all of the meds.

When the social worker came by, I asked her to put together a folder for mom's dh on funeral and burial planning resources, hospice, etc... because when I talked to him last night about it, he did not know where to even start looking for information. Mom would not talk about end of life issues such as where she wanted to be buried, so there is no plot, no plan for who should handle the service, type of funeral etc... It could be years from now but I still would want to have things set up so all he has to do is make a phone call to set it in motion and the decisions are already figured out.

My aunt flew down this morning and a friend (who is a fellow cancer survivor and knows the ins/outs and who to call, how to work the system, etc...) is sticking around too. My aunt and I came home for a little bit to eat, freshen up, and drop off her luggage, then its back to the ICU.

Please keep her in your thoughts as she fights this infection. Thank you.

Dolli

baby growth



New and improved siggy coming soon (which could mean after Christmas)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 11-17-2006 - 1:54am

Hi Dolli


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Oh I am so glad you were able to get there for both you and your Mom.

Hope everyone has a great Summer!

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Avatar for klmuc
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Fri, 11-17-2006 - 11:28am

Hi Dolli, you & your mother will be in my thoughts & prayers. I am very glad you have your aunt, friend & others to support you as you are going through this most difficult time.

I lost a husband to cancer 2 years ago after a long battle with renal cancer. Cancer is bad enough, but then you have all the complications with the treatment. You just don't know what's next. And like you said, it's minute by minute.

I read your first post & understand so well what you are feeling about it being so very difficult when you KNOW there are things that need to be put in place so you can get on with just being together & not worrying about all the end of life issues. I went through this same thing before my husband died.

I am sure your mother's DH is feeling much less lost now that you are there & thought of all these things -- and have arranged to have someone gather information to help you all. Using the social worker & all other resources available to you will allow you to focus on your mother, be with her. That is the most important thing. We had Hospice for support and Idon't know how I would have made it without them as we went through it all -- and for me after.

I am praying very hard for you & your Mom. Please take care of yourself. Karen

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-1998
Sat, 11-18-2006 - 12:27am

Thank you ladies for your support. My mom passed away yesterday afternoon surrounded by the love of her family and friends. The hospital staff was AMAZING. We are overwhelmed by the support of her friends right now.

She fought really hard and we will miss her dearly. My aunt and I are starting the long process of sorting through her belongings, but it is very therapeutic to do so.

Thanks again for your shoulders the past couple of weeks.

baby growth



New and improved siggy coming soon (which could mean after Christmas)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Fri, 11-24-2006 - 10:11pm

I am so very sorry for your loss.

Judy

cl-ivhjude

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 11-26-2006 - 2:09am



Hope everyone has a great Summer!

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