May 10th

Once again, I have fallen back on my duties as it relates to updating mom's blog.

That being said, I have been EXTREMELY busy with her care as well as some personal issues of my own. Where to start, …... the chemo has truly taken a toll on her to date. She has her ups and downs (more downs than ups recently). Confusion continues to be a huge side effect to-date and I can only leave her alone for a very limited time. (while she sleeps) For example, she woke me up almost every hour last night thinking it was time for her doctors appointment that we didn't have.

At this point, I have secured all her meds (too be safe) and implemented a simple system that alerts me if she gets up at night. As most of you know, I have spent a better part of the last 18 years medically serving cancer patients all over the world. That being said, I had no clue as to the true impact of these deadly diseases on the care givers at home. WOW!!!

Most recently, I had some business travel and requested the assistance of Carilion Home Health........ No words can describe my TOTAL disappointment in their operation and their staff skills. ( Next time I will call HOUSEKEEPING instead…...... I wouldn't refer them to my worst enemy) My experience to date with home health has been nothing but total dismay, to the point that I will leverage all my skills, contacts and resources to be an instrument of change. (Warning.......If anyone is reading this beyond a Director level position at Carilion, please take note,.......... change is coming and you will know my name before my quest ends).... OK, got that off my chest.... :-)

Tomorrow she starts her second round of chemo therapy at the cancer center at Lewis Gale in Salem. Due to my upcoming relocation/business travels, I must return to Minneapolis around May 20^th returning to VA around June 15^th. Please pray for improved progress in her health before that time...... Also, I may seek/need assistance from time to time during that departure and I will list those needs on her blog seeking volunteers.

Thanks again for all your continues support, assistance and prayers!! Heading to bed "without spell check this evening" Sorry.........Kindest Regards.. Steve

4/27 First Round of Chemo

I'm waiting for her first round of Chemo to finish up here at the hospital today. They started her initial regiment at the center this morning around 10:30am and should last up to 4 hours. She will then be connected to a continuas injection pump that she must wear through Friday afternoon. We were told that most side effects will begin later on this afternoon to include severe cold sensitivity. When they state severe sensitivity, they mean severe....... For example; drinking or eating anything beyond room temperature will feel like “glass” going down her throat. Also, she must wear “gloves” if she reaches into the refrigerator or freezer and absolutely no direct air flow from a fan or air-conditioner. (guess I get to sweat for a while).

On a more positive note, the revised pain management is working great!!! She slept well last night (first night with no tears from the pain) and she is tolerating auto travel much better. (thank god for pain meds!!) It was truly nice to see her “sense of humor” surface for a brief period of time last night. She was having way too much fun laying on the couch with her feet up watching me; fix dinner, washing dishes, feeding the dogs and washing her “bloomers”............ (I told her not to get used to this)..........

Thanks again for your continued prayers and well wishes............... Steve

4/26 Update after hospital discharge

I truly apologies to everyone for the delay in updating mom's blog the last couple of days. She was finally discharged from Roanoke Memorial recently after a rather lengthy/difficult post-op recovery stay. She seems to be tolerating food much better now (as long as we watch her diet) and hopefully she will start regaining some of the weight she recently lost so quickly.

The surgery took a lot out of her and the recovery has been rather challenging. As you can imagine, it will take some time for her to adjust to the colostomy bag both emotionally as well as physically. Thankfully, the recent adjustments in her pain management strategy is working much more effectively. Unfortunately, there is no time for rest, she has a per-chemotherapy appointment this morning at Dr. Fintel's office and her first round of chemotherapy beginning tomorrow morning.

She asked me to thank everyone for all the wonderful cards and well wishes. I would also like to thank my 2^nd mom “Karen” for the wonderful meal Easter Sunday. After numerous days in the hospital sleeping in a chair and eating fast food, I needed a break and that meal was a god sent! On a side note, mom had “Karen” left overs for dinner last night and she liked it so much that she suggested that we visit her house for dinner on Thanksgiving...lol

I hope to update everyone tomorrow afternoon after her first round of chemotherapy. Thanks again for all the support and prayers. Steve

4/22 AM Post Op Day 1

Mom “Jerri” slept as well as can be expected given current circumstances and routine nurse/intern visits. Her 7p-7a unit nurse; “Lisa” is one of the best in the business and truly exceeded expectations. Dr. Munsun just made his visit with us this morning, he is hopeful that she will be discharged either Saturday or Sunday. To assist in her recovery, Dr. Munsun wants to see her resume a robust diet excluding citrus & salads and start walking as early as today. Her first round of Chemotherapy is next Wednesday and Dr Munsun would like to see us keep that appointment..... I'm off for now... in search of more coffee!! Steve

9:00 PM Post-Op Update!!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I just spoke to mom's surgeon and everything went very well. She is in post-op at this very moment and should be moving to her recovery room soon. My access to the web is limited here at the hospital, but I will try to keep everyone up to-date on her recovery progress and potential discharge date. My kind mother-in-law “treated” me to dinner this evening here at the hospital. Thanks again for dinner Margaret!! …....... Steve

Surgery This Evening

Just a quick update, mom (Jerri) will be having her surgery this afternoon at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. She has a great surgeon, Dr. Keith Munson and I'm very confident that this procedure will reduce the ongoing pain and pressure she has at this time.

As most of you know, she has spent more than 29 years working at Lewis Gale Hospital in the Radiology department. Yesterday afternoon, those great folks at LGH delivered a wonderful card that brought her to tears. We are so grateful for all the cards, well wishes, offers of support and most importantly the “prayers” during this difficult time. For more than 18 years I have worked to help those afflicted with deadly diseases like cancer, never once knowing that one day....... I would be holding my mothers hand as she too faces cancers and prepares for her own battle to overcome a deadly disease.

Hopefully, her struggles will remind each of you to be proactive and routinely schedule those all important screenings like; mammograms, colon and prostate exams. I will update everyone once she is in recovery and doing well this evening....Keep us in your prayers.. Steve

April 19th - Broad understanding of her treatment plan

After finally meeting with all her doctors, we now have a broad understanding of her upcoming treatment plan to battle her stage 4 colon cancer. This Thursday evening she is scheduled for colostomy surgery at Roanoke Memorial. We are hoping this effort will reduce the continual-severe pain caused by the tumor. The surgeon will also be placing her central line in preparation of her first round of Chemotherapy that is scheduled to begin sometime next week. Dr Fintel will be using a 48 hour pump to deliver the Chemo and she will not be required to have any radiation treatment. (She gets to keep her hair!!) The plan of attack is multiple rounds of: (two days of Chemo and 12 days off). We are hoping that this treatment will attack the areas on her lungs as well as the tumor and lymph nodes. Once the tumor is successfully treated, she will once again have surgery on her colon to finally remove the tumor mass.  My goal is to update her Blog daily... Steve