I don't know how many of you remember my post back in November or so asking for prayers for my Mom, she had Alzeimers and had developed lung cancer. But I thank all of you for your prayers and thoughts that you gave to her.
She gave up fighting it on Sunday night.
The 'slow growing' cancer that she was diagnosed with didn't turn out to be slow growing at all. She had X-rays done about 2-3 months ago and it showed that the tumors had grown substantially and 4th tumor had appeared also. There was still nothing the doctors recommended that we do for it. None of the treatments would have done enough good, at least not enough to outweigh the side effects....at least not according to the doctors. On top of that, as her lungs would be absorbing less oxygen with the growth of the tumors, here brain would get less oxygen and would exacerbate the Alzeimers. She had been on oxygen for the 3 weeks, but was still getting around pretty well. She didn't even need it for the St. Patrick's day party we went to. It was great to see her in such good spirits, and I managed to take some really good pictures of her, some with all her Sisters, her Mom, my Brother, my Dad and myself.
But about a week and a half ago she took a downturn, and started having pains from the tumors pressing against her lungs, and was having shortness of breath after walking up the stairs. By Thursday she had stopped eating and had limited fluid intake, and was heavily medicated by then, on Percocet, Oxycontin(?) and Morphine. On Thursday night she went to sleep and did not get out of bed after that. She was in a semi-concious state, mostly because of the painkillers. But you could see that she could hear us, as her facial expression would change and she would try to talk, but with no sound. She even laughed a couple of times. I sat with her from Saturday afternoon until Sunday night when she passed. I did everything possible to make her comfortable, held her hand, talked to her about what a wonderful mother she was, thanked her for her unselfish sacrifices she had made for our family and everyone she touched. I played her favorite Neil Diamond CD (Hot August Night) and sang 'Song Sung Blue' to her. Myself, my Dad and his sister (who a Fransiscan Nun) were by her side when she took her final breath. We tried to assure her that everything would be OK....that there was nothing to be afraid of. We prayed with her, and told her that Susan (my deceased younger sister) and her Dad were calling her, and that she should go see them, and start her new life, and that she will always be with us.
In the end, the world lost one of the most generous people I have ever known. She will be missed, but she will never be forgotten.
RIP Mom, and enjoy your new eternal life of love and hapiness with God. In that respect, I am happy that she does not have to suffer anymore and is at peace and with my sister and all the others that have gone before her.
We love you Mom. We always will. We will never forget you.
Sincerely, your son,
Stephen
She gave up fighting it on Sunday night.
The 'slow growing' cancer that she was diagnosed with didn't turn out to be slow growing at all. She had X-rays done about 2-3 months ago and it showed that the tumors had grown substantially and 4th tumor had appeared also. There was still nothing the doctors recommended that we do for it. None of the treatments would have done enough good, at least not enough to outweigh the side effects....at least not according to the doctors. On top of that, as her lungs would be absorbing less oxygen with the growth of the tumors, here brain would get less oxygen and would exacerbate the Alzeimers. She had been on oxygen for the 3 weeks, but was still getting around pretty well. She didn't even need it for the St. Patrick's day party we went to. It was great to see her in such good spirits, and I managed to take some really good pictures of her, some with all her Sisters, her Mom, my Brother, my Dad and myself.
But about a week and a half ago she took a downturn, and started having pains from the tumors pressing against her lungs, and was having shortness of breath after walking up the stairs. By Thursday she had stopped eating and had limited fluid intake, and was heavily medicated by then, on Percocet, Oxycontin(?) and Morphine. On Thursday night she went to sleep and did not get out of bed after that. She was in a semi-concious state, mostly because of the painkillers. But you could see that she could hear us, as her facial expression would change and she would try to talk, but with no sound. She even laughed a couple of times. I sat with her from Saturday afternoon until Sunday night when she passed. I did everything possible to make her comfortable, held her hand, talked to her about what a wonderful mother she was, thanked her for her unselfish sacrifices she had made for our family and everyone she touched. I played her favorite Neil Diamond CD (Hot August Night) and sang 'Song Sung Blue' to her. Myself, my Dad and his sister (who a Fransiscan Nun) were by her side when she took her final breath. We tried to assure her that everything would be OK....that there was nothing to be afraid of. We prayed with her, and told her that Susan (my deceased younger sister) and her Dad were calling her, and that she should go see them, and start her new life, and that she will always be with us.
In the end, the world lost one of the most generous people I have ever known.
She will be missed, but she will never be forgotten.RIP Mom, and enjoy your new eternal life of love and hapiness with God. In that respect, I am happy that she does not have to suffer anymore and is at peace and with my sister and all the others that have gone before her.
We love you Mom. We always will.
We will never forget you.Sincerely, your son,
Stephen
