Tattoo Fun

Wow, a lot has happened since my last blog update. We are still praising God for the results of my mom’s CT scan and she is still continuing her chemo treatments. My mom was able to alter the timing of her chemo treatments so they don’t get in the way of some exciting things (she can’t miss out on the fun). She will still have chemo every three weeks but she waited 4 weeks for the chemo treatment she just had. Now that the dates of her chemo treatments are changed she can enjoy all her kids and grandkids coming to visit for the Easter weekend and she can enjoy Jeff’s Graduation in May.

About two weeks ago my mom caught a cold and has been trying to fight it off for the last couple weeks. It hit her pretty hard and it is still lingering. Pray that she will be able to get rid of the cold soon and try to stay away from any sicknesses.

Our family also found out that our Grandma Ours (dad’s mom) is in the hospital with only 15 % of her heart working. My dad flew out there for two weeks to be with her (he will come home next weekend).

Thankfully my mom is surrounded by many people that love her that are taking care of her while my dad is gone. Erna Crosby has arranged babysitters to spend the night with my mom every night after a scare with my mom choking on one of her pills and Erna Crosby doing the Heimlich maneuver on her. Also my Aunt Suzanne came up Thursday morning to take my mom to her chemo treatment and then she brought my mom down to Roswell on Friday morning. My mom will stay at my Aunt Suzanne’s house till Tuesday. We are very thankful to my Aunt Suzanne for taking time to take care of my mom and taking so many trips up and down the mountain.

My mom also enjoyed a fun day with her mother and sisters in Roswell last Monday. They enjoyed a lunch together and helped my mom pick out a wig.

It is becoming a major deal and pressure to come up with something new and exciting to do while my mom is receiving her chemo treatments. This time my Aunt Suzanne gave my mom and herself tattoo’s (with help from Elisa) during the chemo treatment. They turned the office into tattoo parlor and had the whole office interested in what they were doing. I think my Aunt Suzanne has found her calling in life. : )






Karen doesn't want to miss out on the fun : )

In the picture below my mom has a quilt over her lap. One of my friends and coworker Sindus approached me a couple months ago and asked if her church could make my mom a prayer quilt. I thought it would be wonderful. I filled out the paper work and Sindus took care of the rest. A ministry at her church made the quilt and after mass one Sunday everyone came out and said a prayer for my mom as they tied a knot on the quilt. This touched us that people that don’t even know her took the time to make the quilt and say prayers for her. My mom is now going to take the prayer quilt with her on all her chemo treatments.


Elisa and Paula taking care of my mom

Prayer is AMAZING. It is comforting knowing that my mom is surrounded by prayers from all over world, from people who love her dearly, and from people who have never met her. I am so thankful to Jesus that we have a way to support my mom by praying to Him. Thank you for all your prayers they are working.

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!

Praise Jesus!!!!!!!!!!! My mom received a call from her nurse practitioner Karen this morning. Karen said the results from the CT Scan shows Definite Improvement…yeah!!! The main improvement was seen in the lungs and liver. One lesion that was 5.5 centimeters it is now 3.8 centimeters. The liver lesions now have dead centers which means they are healing. There was one lesion on a pulmonary artery that is now GONE!! It is still in the vertebra and in the bone but we have to keep in mind that all of this progress is after only 3 chemos. Thank God for his hand in my mom’s healing process. Please continue to pray for my mom as she continues to fight this cancer. She still has a doctor’s appointment next Wednesday for a more in-depth look at her CT scans and discussing the next step.

CT Scan (keep praying for a miracle)

My mom has her first CT scan since she has started chemo. The CT scan is scheduled for March 5th and her doctor’s appointment to go over the CT scan is on March 11th. PLEASE continue to pray for a miracle of healing in her body.

Chemo Fun

My mom had another chemo treatment and for the most part it went well. There were a couple minor glitches. Her potassium was still low and her blood pressure was high and her chest started to tighten a little again. They have increased her potassium pills to 5 a day and they have doubled her blood pressure medicine. On Friday she went in again for a shot to boost her white blood cells.

My Aunt Suzanne accompanied her and as you can see from the pictures they had a lot of fun. My Aunt Suzanne beat my mom at Skip Bo. They also put on a juggling show for the doctor’s office. They had the whole office entertained and laughing. I wonder what surprises will be in store for my mom’s next chemo? : )

Chemo Treatment

My mom had another successful chemo treatment. My Aunt Kathy (her sister) accompanied my mom to the chemo treatment. They tried on blond wigs, played Skip-Bo, and apparently, my Aunt Kathy pampered my mom by feeding her strawberries. My dad and Uncle Marvin stopped by for a visit and a quick snapshot. My parents enjoyed having Aunt Kathy and Uncle Marvin around for a couple days.

The next day my mom went for a shot to keep her white blood cell count up. Mom found out that this one shot costs $4,500.00….thank God for insurance. : )

My mom has a doctor’s appointment on February 18th. Hopefully, after this appointment they will schedule another C.T. Scan so we will see what progress she has made and what the next step is. Please continue to pray for my mom’s strength and for a miracle of healing.

Wonderful Work Environment

My mom’s work has been nothing but supportive, encouraging, and loving. My mom has been famous for pulling the cancer card at work and even while playing games. A co-worker’s daughter & summer staff (Meghan Tucker) made a sign for my mom that said “I don’t have to deal with this I have cancer.” She keeps it on her desk to use when needed. Well, since they copied her Mohawk hairdo they didn’t want to be left out on the cancer card. During a staff meeting everyone in the meeting held up signs saying, “I shouldn’t have to deal with this, Pat has Cancer.”

They also gave her a Spirit Award, this is what the award said:

“For exceptional courage in the face of extreme trials
For contagious joy reminding all of us that our joy is not dependent
On our circumstances, but our relationship to Jesus

For all you are and all you do, we congratulate you and thank God for your presence at Bonita Park”

Like I’ve said before, we are all thankful that my mom is surrounded by friends that are supportive and keep a joyful atmosphere around my mom.

Low Potassium and White Blood Cell Count

For the last several weeks my mom has been struggling to keep her potassium at a normal level. Due to her low potassium and chemo she has been extremely tired. On Wednesday she went in for her weekly blood test and they called her later in the afternoon asking her to come back in. She found out her potassium was very low and her white blood cell count was low. She had a four hour IV of potassium and a shot to stimulate her white blood cells. Thursday and Friday she also had to go in for the shot to stimulate her white blood cells. From now on she will have to get a shot to stimulate her white blood cells the day after every chemo treatment. She also has new pills to hopefully help keep up her potassium levels.

My mom has her next chemo treatment next Thurday. Please pray that she will take it well and that the chemo is doing its job. My mom has been a trooper and is still trying to live life normal even though she is really tired. I love her so much and I'm glad she's fighting this cancer with a great outlook on life.