According to my sister, Mom has taken a turn for the worse. The jaundice from the liver cancer has gotten very substantial, and the hospice people are saying weeks instead of months (which is more info than I heard on a timeline so far).
She sounds fine on the phone, but I guess she looks awful. Some general easement-ma would be wonderful. And some travel-ma for me and my siblings. I have a brother and sister flying in today, and I'm probably going to be driving up to Maine a bit more than I planned this month. Ordinarily, I'd enjoy the foliage, but...
Some good-ish news. My mom LOVES her new oncologist. He spent almost 90 minutes with her and was open and informative and very clear that it is HER disease and the choices of treatment were hers alone. "Not your kids, not your friends, not mine--not anyone but yours."
He also said that it was looking like "two good years," which seems to be the magic number all of the various Docs have agreed on. He is going to look into radiation and surgery possibilities, but quality of life is paramount. She's feeling respected and supported, which is great.
If anyone can spare some health~ma, could you sent it my dad's way? He had a bone marrow biopsy today (great way to spend one's birthday!) and we're crossing our fingers that his sketchy bloodwork is just side effects from his anti-seizure meds rather than something worse as an underlying cause.
Much -ma to your dad, Matt.
In, I hope not related news...
Saw Mom this last weekend and the jaundice is horrible. It looks like yellow makeup - I've never seen anyone with significant jaundice before. The hospice people think its days, not weeks, at this point. I know that is what Mom wants, but it's still hard to digest mentally. Painless passing is what I'm hoping at this point, so -ma for that would be great.
I have a new short Hilobrow piece up on Spike Jonze.
Please to clicky like it at the website for the FB and Twitting and whatnot if you are so inclined.
It's shameful, I know, to come asking for something when I have been so, very absent. You all have been in my heart, but my mind has only been able to manage the occasional whinge in Tech.
Tomorrow, my beloved Niki, surrogate mom extraordinaire, is going to have her replacement knee replaced. Apparently, the 'cement' portion of the original rebuild has crumbled into her leg. She's been in terrible pain for a while and hopes that the 'vacuuming' and replacement will alleviate that.
She called tonight to have the 'just in case' conversation.
She is cheerful, but did mention that the doctor mentioned that there is a 5 to 7% chance she won't wake up.
Her previous recoveries were very, very hard. After the last one, I had to pretty much reach into Hell to pull her out. I can't be there now (though I do trust the people who are with her) and feel pretty powerless.
I'm asking for smooth recovery and pain-free days, however long Niki can live.
I can never be greedy, so grateful am I, but I would hate to lose her. I have never felt like an orphan since the day I met her.
Mom took a turn for the worse yesterday. Her kidneys have started to shut down, and they've started her on morphine, so she's basically out of it at this point. The hospice people were saying three days was about the most that would be expected, but it could be anytime now (and could conceivably be longer in extraordinary cases). No real -ma is needed at this point, but I thought I'd update folks.
I'd like to ask for some good test results/health~ma. I can't be too much more specific than that for now.
The ~ma is flowing. Can you direct some interview~ma to DH who is in Worcester, MA for two days and then in Seattle? Thanks!
