Latest update on Sweet Mama

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. We are down to the final 6 days of Sweet Mama's radiation treatments! We are all so glad! As many of you know (and some of you don't) Sweet Mama had a rare sinus cancer 4 years ago which was treated with surgery only. It reoccurred this past January and she had more surgery (2) in May at Emory Hospital in Atlanta. This time, after the surgeries, it was decided that she had to have radiation treatments...33 to be exact! The past week it has been harder on Sweet Mama. Radiation drains all of your strength and makes you very tired. It gets worse as the days go on. Yesterday she tried to have a fainting spell. That was scary! She has lost about 10+ pounds since we started the treatments around the first of July, almost 30 total since the surgeries...she doesn't need to lose any more. The good news is that once the treatments end, she will regain her strength and appetite. Because she is having radiation to her head, her tongue and throat are sore and a little swollen. It is very hard to eat and to get calories! Hopefully, when this is all over, we will eat ice cream and drink milkshakes every day!

A Better Day

After a whirlwind day yesterday, of expected and unexpected doctor's appointments, Sweet Mama, Red and I made it back home. The ride from Atlanta was nice and easy. The doctors were very positive and Sweet Mama was feeling much better by the time we got home. Much better ending to a day that started a little rough. Sweet Mama has had a time recovering from the anesthesia. It didn't help that she had 2 surgeries in less than 3 weeks! Hopefully every day will be a little better than the last!

We have been spending more and more time on the back porch now that Skippy and I cleaned and vacuumed. Red's family (minus Kojak) came over and visited last night. And this evening Skippy and Red came back! Beau has taken a liking to the recliner, especially at naptime. Well , Skippy plopped down while Beau was trying to nap. Both would not give an inch! The result was this! Beau was slowly sliding down the recliner as Skippy would lean back. His face got closer and closer to the edge!

Until finally he gave up and left! Not in an angry or mad way...just like "OK I'm tired of this...yawn...hmm.. this other chair looks nice and comfy!" A relaxing and quiet day for healing!

This Long Week

It has been a long week... First Sweet Mama and I went to Atlanta to see her prosthodontist and surgeon. Her eye has been giving her a fit, it is sagging and she could not close it all the way. So the surgeon referred over to a ocular plastics doctor. He saw us that afternoon and decided to sew her eye shut until she finishes radiation. Not what we had planned for that day! But her eye is feeling better now, although she looks like a rock star!

Wednesday we all went to meet the radiation doctor. Red went too! They were very nice and kind! Sweet Mama seemed pleased with the meeting and felt very informed. We go back in a week.

On Thursday, around 4pm, Sweet Mama called me into her room for something to drink. Then she said she wasn't feeling well, then she could not talk to me...We had to call 911 and she was taken to the hospital by ambulance! Red rode with her and they both were disappointed that they did not use the lights or sirens. They thought that if you have to pay the money for the ambulance ride you should at least get the full experience! I think she was dehydrated and was having a reaction to one of the medicines she was given on Monday. We were there until this afternoon.

I am so tired! I have spent 2 nights in the hospital with her, and boy are they noisy at night! It is hard to get a good night's sleep with so many people barging in all hour of the night!

So now, we are home and she is resting in her own bed. We go back to Emory on Monday to see everyone. And then back to the radiation drs on Thursday to start again! I think this time it is going to be more challenging than the last time four years ago. But I know we will get through it! It will just take more time and effort and prayers!

Sweet Mama's On-Going Recovery

Sweet Mama has this sign hanging up in her kitchen. It is a reminder that there is something good happening every day!! I have been her caregiver here at home since Saturday. I have to make sure she has something to eat, takes her meds and is resting comfortably. It is a non-stop job. She related it to bringing a new baby home from the hospital! Boy is it true! I have been so busy...washing, feeding and cleaning!! Not to mention running my Etsy shop...But it is worth it! She is getting better everyday. Her main problem is not related to the surgery but to the cold she has been fighting for the last week and a half! With packing still in one side of her nose and cold in the other, sometimes it is quite a chore just to breathe! But like I said...every day is better than the last! Just waiting for the 19...when we see the doctors again for followup!

And remembering to "Look for the good in everyday"! It's always there!!