Casting Crumbs

Many of you are asking about Mom and how she is doing since coming home from the hospital…

She is resting much more comfortably than before, thanks to Hospice and good medicines that can keep her comfortable. She has visits from nurses that come 4 times a week to check on her and make sure that she has everything she needs. They are wonderful and really help us with many things like medications and personal care; I consider them a true blessing.

We are all doing pretty well, considering this is a very sobering time that we are working through in Mom’s fight with cancer. Mom’s spirits are good and she talks of Heaven often. It’s interesting to hear her thoughts on heaven as they come from someone who is looking forward to being there in the near future.

Thank you again for all your prayers and well-wishes as we appreciate them so much and truly feel God’s presence. I am learning that during this Thanksgiving season that it’s not always the easy thing to give Thanks, yet we serve a God who deserves our praise and thanksgiving in every season of life.

I read this today and it encouraged me, so I thought I would share it here.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4.

Hello All,

Mom is to come home from the Hospital today. She is doing some better, had a blood transfusion and some other things done to make her more comfortable. We have gotten some help for her at home too. We are working through a branch of Hospice and their Home Health Care to give her more care at home. She will have nurses coming in to check on her, help with care, meds and manage pain and other things. She can still seek any treatments that she would like to continue through this part of Hospice, but hasn’t made any decisions about further treatment at this point.

I’ll keep you posted as we know more. Thanks again for all the support and prayer. Jesus is very near and we feel and see Him working around us. We are in the best of hands!

Hi everyone -

To keep everyone informed of my Mom and to update you on how we need prayer, I wanted to let you know of her status…

Mom has really had a struggle the last two weeks and we took her to the emergency room on Thursday. She is resting better and finally was able to get some sleep that she has needed for months. We are working with the oncologist to decide what the next route is to be. We haven’t made decisions yet and would appreciate your prayers with that. At this point, we also don’t know when she will be coming home. We will be working to get some much needed items at home so that she can rest better when she is discharged – like a different bed and things.

She does ask that no one come to see her at this time. She would like to be feeling better before having any more visitors.

Mom and I at a local tea room a week ago.

Today my Mom went to the Dr. for the results of a very important PET scan. They found that the cancer in her abdomen is holding about the same and another spot up on her clavical area actually shrunk some. The Dr. is pleased that it’s at least holding steady and not getting worse. He knows that its not a perfect situation, but the goal right now is to give her as much time as possible and in a way in which she can cope. So they will continue to go forward with the same treatments they have been giving her. She takes chemo 5 days in a row and then is off for two weeks after that and then starts over again.

Even though this report is not remission, we praise God for the report. It was a good one and is encouraging to us. Mom is such a trooper. I seem to learn so much from her each day. She is able to give me a perspective that I haven’t experienced before. She helps me to look at life one day at a time and to leave the gift of life in God’s hands. It is a place of resting and peace that only knowing Jesus can provide. I say that in the most earnest way that I can!

Thanks for your continued prayers. We appreciate them so much.

Today is a day of celebration. It is my Mother’s birthday!! We spent most of the day together sitting around the living room with family, bouncy kids and good food. My brother Mike, surprised us with another visit and my Aunt Carolyn flew in for the occasion. It was a wonderful day. Nothing too overly special was done or said, but it was priceless none the less.

Here’s Mom reading another birthday card….she has received 93 cards in the mail so far!! Thanks everyone!

Four years ago I didn’t think I would have spent today with my Mom. The Doctors didn’t think she would be here and they stated that “even with chemo….well, maybe two years.” However, she is still here and still brings JOY to my life each day. I can say that Mom is one of the best friends that I have ever had and it is a special relationship because she IS my Mom. I know that over the last four years we have experienced pain and hardship. We have rejoiced together over good news and good times and cried over the painful reports and the difficulties that come with fighting cancer. Yet, I am honored to walk with her through this and I am equally honored to call her my Mom. I have never known of someone with her stamina, her strength in weakness, her joy, her faith, hope and endurance in the face of such a fight. She has taught me so much without ever opening her mouth as I have watched and listened and observed.

If I could go back and choose who my Mother would be, I would pick my Mom. I wouldn’t change a thing! I can only hope to be to my children what she has been to me over the years. God was completely merciful to me when he gave me my Mom. So on this special day, I want to tell Mom that I love her and I am grateful to everything that she has poured into my life.

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
~God

For those that keep up with Mom by the blog…

We appreciate your continued prayers and support! We trust in God for her life. It ultimately is in His very capable hands. We appreciate each day and what it brings, knowing that He is in control.

I’m posting an email that my Mom sent out to family and friends this last week. She will be having a Pet Scan on the 17th and then will discuss with the Dr. what the next step will be. No matter what, we have a Great Physician that is in control. He is actively at work in our lives and He is still on the throne. Thanks so much for your prayers!

Many of you have asked that I keep you updated as to what is going on and the results of the “tumor marker” blood test taken last Tuesday. It was to give an indication as to the effectiveness of the chemo drug I am currently taking. The cancer center called this morning with the results which were not good as the numbers had more than doubled instead of going down as we had hoped. I am to take the chemo treatment next Tuesday the 10th, and a Pet & CT scan have been scheduled for March 17 followed by my regularly scheduled chemo treatment.

In His care,
Judy

Hey everyone -

Just to keep you informed that Mom will start another round of chemo this Tuesday. She is starting a new drug that she will receive weekly. It doesn’t have as many side effects but is also slower to bring down the tumor counts usually. Please be in prayer for her as she begins. Pray that they do see a marked improvement in her markers as she begins.

Thanks everyone for your continued prayers and support!

Another update on my Mom’s progress….

Just wanted to keep all you out there who occasionally stop by, updated on my Mom. She had another tumor marker count done last week. She received the good news Friday that her count is at 25.3. That is slightly different than the one before at 24.8. It can fluctuate from month to month and it is still in “normal” range. We are so thankful to the Lord for all he has done for us. She is done with this round of chemo and we are praying that she won’t ever have to do any more. Thanks for standing with us in faith and in prayer!!