Relay for Life 2010

Hello Everyone!!!
Mom had an amazing night on Saturday June 26th because she was able to leave the rehab hospital for a few hours, with a day pass, in order to attend the local Relay for Life that was held in Windham. Wow what a night!!!! Mom participated in the survivors walk by wheeling around the track, with yours truly as the driver. She wore she survivor shirt and sash with great pride as we looked on with all smiles. She even walked a total of a third of the track with the help of her walker. She is doing so well. Everyday there are many improvements.
Once the sun went down and we admired the beautiful sunset it was time for the luminary ceremony that dad and i participated in. Dad began the ceremony by discussing what a luminary is and then on to how they are important. Then each team came up and read the luminaries that they had for there team. There were luminaries in memory of people who had lost their life to cancer, and then there were luminaries to honor people who were currently fighting cancer. Then it was my turn at the mic. I read the poem: Every candle has a name. This poem was to tell the people that we were not just looking at a flame in a luminary bag but more important that each flame represented someone that had fought/was fighting the battle of cancer.
It was a very emotional night full of saddness, happiness, strength, encouragement, love, and so MUCH more!! After the ceremony was done, dad and I, had to rush mom back to the hospital because we kept her longer then her curfew was for. Oh well. What were they going to do. It was well worth it!!!
I have pictures but i will post them in a few days.
Mom, is doing well at rehab, so well in fact that they my kick her out early. Still waiting on the word, but i can not wait to get her home!!!! Her puppies miss her, oh, and so do we... ALOT!!

I hope that one day, the word "CANCER" will no longer exist!!!
Thanks to everyone for all of the love and support that you have shown our family. We really appreciate it, more than words can say!

Love to all
Unil I know more...
love, Jess

still at rehab

Mom is doing well at rehab. Each day is showing great improvement!!!! She is walking around the wing with her walker, doing stairs during her therapy treatments, and plunty of arm punches in her arm exercises. She is doing really well and you can definitely tell she is improving. She is eating and drinking better.
She has about 2 more weeks of therapy. She will then be readmitted to Maine medical center for her fourth round of chemo, which will last 5 days. She will then have a week to recover, to have her counts drop and then rise up. Hopefully, i have my fingers crossed, she will be coming home!!!!!
Thank you to everyone who have been so supportive by calling, asking about mom, sending cards, sending flowers, and so much more. It really means alot to me, my father, my family, and my mother. So thank you!
until i know more...
love Jess

Mom is at rehab

Mom moved to the rehab center today at 2 pm by ambulance. she is all settled into her room. She has a roommate but has not met her yet and her room is much smaller compared to her rooms she had in Gibson. But, hopefully, she will not be at rehab to long. She is doing well and so are her spirits. 

She is a machine and is chugging away! 

until i know more...

love, jess

WICKED GOOD NEWS!

         Mom had her third round of chemo on monday and it went really well. She did not have any problems with vomiting but she has had some side pain so they gave her some pain med and that seemed to help. Her counts dropped a little but are going back up.

          SO THE GOOD NEWS- Mom is moving to the rehab center tomorrow, wednesday! Yah!!!!!!!! At the rehab center they are going to work with her to get her stronger. They will work on walking, stairs, and daily activities. After she is done at rehab... SHE IS COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!! They do not know if she will be at rehab for 1,2,3,4, weeks. It is a daily evaluation of how she is doing. 

          She is doing well and will move tomorrow via ambulance. We are all really excited and i can not wait until she can come home. The two that are going to be most excited to see mom are the puppies, sunshine and junior. They miss her so much! 

           Hope this wonderful news makes everyones day, because it made mine.

Until i know more...

love, jess

Mom is doing well. The tentative date for her to start chemo is on the 14th. This round of chemo only lasts one day. After that chemo is done, roughly 3 days after finishing chemo, she will then head to rehab. Other than that things are going well and she is status quo. 

until i know more...

love jess 

Hi all- sorry that i have not updated the blog in a while. Things are going well mom. She is still in Maine Medical but are hoping to get out of here soon and go to rehab. She is moving more and walking around more. She has now walked to the other nurses station and back which is a huge accomplishment. She is continuing to meet with PT and OT to work on daily activities. She is also eating better, which is a plus. She even had a baked potato today for dinner. 

    She is still here at maine med because for some reason they can not control her potassium levels, they keep dropping. She is getting potassium through IV and Pill form. When she takes the pills she sometimes becomes nauseous that is why they are supplementing with IV. The reason her potassium is dropping is because of her kidneys. Her kidneys are not holding on to the potassium but the doctor said that it will take time and her kidneys will correct themselves. There was some question about dialysis but the doctor said NO WAY. THERE IS NO NEED FOR HER TO HAVE DIALYSIS!!!

    OTher than that she is doing well. Once her potassium is corrected she will go to rehab. The next possible date for chemo is on June 14 or 15. But that is possibility if everything goes well.

Well, i think that is all, until i know more...

love jess 

"One day at a time!"