Monday, June 30, 2008
June 30
Wanda arrived today and that gave Mom a bit of a boost. Jimmy came at lunch time so we were all there when the doctor came to visit. This evening when Wanda and I went to see Mom we met Christa coming down the stairs so we had a bit of a visit with her while allowing Mom to rest in between. When Wanda and I went upstairs to visit Mom was pretty good and visited for about 15 minutes, then she just faded right in front of us and we left. She looked somewhat more comfortable this evening. Lor has decided that she should come back again and is planning to drive down, starting tomorrow. It will take her a full day to reach Williams Lake and then she should arrive here Wednesday evening. So Wanda will get to visit with them as well. It will be easier for Emily now that all the local kids are out of school and Gyro park pool is open.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Mom again
Mom is feeling short of breath and it takes most of her energy just to be. Jimmy came for a visit this afternoon and I am just making short visits so that she can get her rest.
I guess I truly am Diarmid's mother - he is the Ranting Moose
I don't know why woodpeckers are not extinct! If not from the concussions they must constantly endure, from people throwing sharp objects at them when they start their favorite pastime at 0500! Just about the time that you decide it is truly worth getting out of bed to yell at them, they quit! And by that time there is no return to sleep nor any desire to get up. Lying in bed planning entries just like this - that is what happens.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
June 28, 2008
Yesterday Mom was moved into the Hospice Room. Things seem to be shutting down and her chest is becoming quite congested. With the pain medication keeping her comfortable it is very nice that she doesn't have to have roommates to disrupt her snoozes. Family are not restricted by visiting hours, just by the patient's need for rest. Attached to the Hospice Room is a lounge room that contains a couch and mini-kitchen.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday, June 27

Ah, maybe this website gets to be tired or congested later in the day but it seems as though I have a much easier time in the early morning. Mom had a very poor day yesterday so I didn't spend much time with her. But some lovely Aussie flowers arrived to cheer her up. Today I am going to head to the doctor's office first thing to get a prescription of some meds that they don't provide in the hospital (????) Good thing that Mom has someone to do that. Otherwise what would happen? So I will get to see her reasonably early. Because there aren't phones at the bedside in our hospital family members call the desk to find out how their loved one passed the night. This great number of calls has now necessitated that the switchboard is not allowed to put calls through to the nursing station until 11oo. Maybe I will be able to get onto this website again today to keep everyone in touch.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Finally able to post!
Well, I can finally get on to post! It has been a few days and Mom is doing somewhat better today. On Monday she was still in so much pain and was so nauseated that she was not eating anything but by Tuesday the pain meds had kicked in and she was able to eat a bit. Then it was decided that we should have a planning meeting which happened today and now we know that Mom will be in hospital until the doctor and we are satisfied that she will do well at home. Then we went on from there to more long-term planning. The doctor was really pleased with how quickly Mom bounced back from her day on Sunday.
She now has a pain pump which releases a steadier dose of medication, more of her meds will be in liquid form because she has always had a tough time swallowing pills.
On the home front, the washing machine has packed it in and Tuesday was a very interesting day - circumstances made it such that I washed the floor under the washer and also cleaned the basement fridge after a can of pop burst.
Wanda is coming back next week and the doctor indicated that is likely when the home care and everything will be set up for Mom to come home.
She now has a pain pump which releases a steadier dose of medication, more of her meds will be in liquid form because she has always had a tough time swallowing pills.
On the home front, the washing machine has packed it in and Tuesday was a very interesting day - circumstances made it such that I washed the floor under the washer and also cleaned the basement fridge after a can of pop burst.
Wanda is coming back next week and the doctor indicated that is likely when the home care and everything will be set up for Mom to come home.
Monday, June 23, 2008
June 23
I was having some trouble getting on to post yesterday so was unable to let everyone know that Mom was admitted to hospital yesterday. Her nausea was so bad that she couldn't take her pain-killers so her pain was greatly increased. There they are able to administer IV medication both for pain and nausea so hopefully they will get things under control. When Wanda left this morning for home and stopped by the hospital to say good-bye the nurse said that Mom had slept but was still in some pain. I will go in at noon when visiting hours start. They haven't called me so I figure that no news is good news!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
June 22, 2008
This is a photo of the lovely flower box that Lorraine gave Mom for her birthday this year. It is sure flourishing and I have taken a few photos to show Mom.
Yesterday Mom was having another tough day and wasn't able to take very many painkillers due to nausea so her pain level was high. But during one of her better moments we were reminiscing and got onto the Mad Hatter's tea that we had a few years ago and all of the lovely things that Mom made and served. She made her famous scones and half a dozen different squares and turtle tarts as well as ribbon sandwiches and rolled sandwiches. About 30 people attended and we had a blast! There were prizes for some hats. (See the post from July 21,2006)
Mom had been hoping to have another tea this year. Then she was talking about how everyone loves those rolled and ribbon sandwiches and decided that when Wanda comes back at the end of June that she and I should make some, put them in the freezer for Mom's memorial service! Just might happen.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Mom's Journey
I am now on vacation for the next week and Wanda will be heading home. It sure has been great that she could be here. Mom is still trying to get her pain under control - trial and error and it changes every day. She is appreciating all of the cards and emails that people have sent. Jim and Kim came for a visit and dinner last evening but Mom was too pooped to eat much. The home care nurses are now visiting. Their schedule starts out a couple of times a week and then becomes more frequent as needed.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Home from Kelowna
We have had a tough go the last few days and then my laptop is having some problems too so I have not had a lot of time to update this journal.
Since we returned from Kelowna Mom's pain level has increased to the point that she has been to the Emergency Room twice. Wanda arrived on Monday morning just in time to make the arrangements for the first visit. I returned to work this week.
Then Tuesday evening we had to go again, each time the doctor tried to give us a new regime for the medication to try to ease her pain.
Yesterday the home care nurse came for her initial visit to share their information and to try to make Mom more comfortable.
Since we returned from Kelowna Mom's pain level has increased to the point that she has been to the Emergency Room twice. Wanda arrived on Monday morning just in time to make the arrangements for the first visit. I returned to work this week.
Then Tuesday evening we had to go again, each time the doctor tried to give us a new regime for the medication to try to ease her pain.
Yesterday the home care nurse came for her initial visit to share their information and to try to make Mom more comfortable.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Radiation - Day 5
The last day of radiation well very well. While we were waiting for the treatment, Dr Hoegler came along and took us for the followup consultation appointment that we were supposed to have at 1300, enabling us to leave as soon as the radiation treament was over.
the trip home to Nelson was quite good, so much better than the trip to Kelowna.
But today, Saturday, Mom awoke feeling quite a bit of pain and was unable to find much relief all day long. We are hoping that it is just the trip and that tomorrow will bring a better day.
the trip home to Nelson was quite good, so much better than the trip to Kelowna.
But today, Saturday, Mom awoke feeling quite a bit of pain and was unable to find much relief all day long. We are hoping that it is just the trip and that tomorrow will bring a better day.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Radiation - Day 4
We are now rather falling into the routine of radiation, lunch out, shome shopping, back home for a rest, dinner and then either TV or out again for a drive or some more shopping. When I say shopping, I mean my version of shopping where not a lot is purchased, as opposed to Mom's version of shopping which is the opposite.
When we visited Mom's doctor about two weeks ago, I asked who would be coming home from the radiation treatment with me - the tired lady in the wheelchair or the lady who couldn't wait to get home to start baking scones! Dr Boyd replied that while Mom would likely be tired at first she should regain some oomph in the weeks following radiation. So that's likely why she is now standing at the sink doing the supper dishes. Such a good daughter I am - when Mom says she can do the dishes, I let her!
We are now anticipating our arrival home tomorrow. The radiation appointment is at 1200, followed by a doctor's appointment at 1300. Checkout time is 1100. Today I asked for and was granted permission to check out by 1130. We plan to eat at the hospital cafeteria between the radiation and the doctor appointment and then blast out of Kelowna as soon as we can. Anyone who saw how full the car was when we left home will know how I'm feeling about packing it all in again, including all the shopping.
The next episode comes from home!
When we visited Mom's doctor about two weeks ago, I asked who would be coming home from the radiation treatment with me - the tired lady in the wheelchair or the lady who couldn't wait to get home to start baking scones! Dr Boyd replied that while Mom would likely be tired at first she should regain some oomph in the weeks following radiation. So that's likely why she is now standing at the sink doing the supper dishes. Such a good daughter I am - when Mom says she can do the dishes, I let her!
We are now anticipating our arrival home tomorrow. The radiation appointment is at 1200, followed by a doctor's appointment at 1300. Checkout time is 1100. Today I asked for and was granted permission to check out by 1130. We plan to eat at the hospital cafeteria between the radiation and the doctor appointment and then blast out of Kelowna as soon as we can. Anyone who saw how full the car was when we left home will know how I'm feeling about packing it all in again, including all the shopping.
The next episode comes from home!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Radiation - Day 3
Well, we're more than half-way. Mom is so much more optimistic because she was so worried about side-effects. Thus far she was just really tired the first day and now she has a bit of heartburn so is considering herself very lucky. Dr Hoegler gave her a new timetable for medications that seems to be controlling the pain much more effectively except for in the mornings.
Today after her treatment we went for lunch at http://www.pheasantandquail.com/ - a very nice pub that is only about a block from here.
Then we returned the blouse that I bought for her yesterday and we drove around a bit, ending up at WalMart to buy a few things. Outside the WalMart store the Old Time Fiddlers were playing, getting ready for a competition. We quite enjoyed their performance for a little while. I was so impressed by my memory that my cell phone has a camera that I took a photo to share in this space. And then I forgot to save it. One more thing to learn.
Now I am looking around at all of the things that we brought to make our stay here comfortable and am wondering how many of them we really need to take back home with us!
Today after her treatment we went for lunch at http://www.pheasantandquail.com/ - a very nice pub that is only about a block from here.
Then we returned the blouse that I bought for her yesterday and we drove around a bit, ending up at WalMart to buy a few things. Outside the WalMart store the Old Time Fiddlers were playing, getting ready for a competition. We quite enjoyed their performance for a little while. I was so impressed by my memory that my cell phone has a camera that I took a photo to share in this space. And then I forgot to save it. One more thing to learn.
Now I am looking around at all of the things that we brought to make our stay here comfortable and am wondering how many of them we really need to take back home with us!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Radiation - Day 2

Today we are veterans in the radiation treatment game. The appointment was at 1130. We made ready and were there by 1110, only making one wrong turn in the Cancer Clinic. The staff had suggested that we take home the hospital gown each day so that Mom wouldn't have to further exhaust herself by change clothing twice - worked very well. The treatment is very short-lived and we were back out in the parking lot by 1200.
Mom was feeling quite a bit better today so we decided to go out for lunch. I chose the Wood Fire Bakery and on another occasion it would probably have been an excellent choice. We just weren't hungry enough and the place was packed so we didn't have enough time to choose correctly. But we managed and then Mom decided that she didn't need to come directly back to bed and wanted to catch up on some of her shopping. Off we went to WalMart to find some treasures. She agreed to ride in WalMart's wheelchair so that made her spree!
After the shopping Mom was still feeling pretty good so we went exploring around Kelowna. We were amazed at all of the new and very expensive homes. At one point Mom suggested that it would be very difficult to choose if offered one.
Finally she decided that she should perhaps rest a bit and so we came home. While she rested I went grocery shopping and stopped to pick up a blouse for her. Of course I got the wrong size - you might wonder how often I have gone shopping with Mom. She did like the blouse and was feeling pretty good again after dinner so we decided to exchange the blouse for the correct size.
Did you know that Orchard Park Mall is not open in the evenings on Tuesdays? Tuck that bit of information away in a safe place, it may be important to you one day. More exploring - this time in the area where the fire devastated homes in 2003. The entire hillside is now covered in new homes.
Now we are actually anticipating tomorrow's treatment.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Radiation - Day 1
I have decided to record Mom's journey through her illness. Since I have not started before today I will have to go back and edit when something comes back to my sieve of a memory.
Today Mom had her first radiation treatment. She tolerated the treatment well. Side-effects and after-effects vary from one patient to another and they gave us the whole list. So far the only one that has happened is that she is totally wiped. In my mind this is a good sign because we heal as we sleep.
Last year Mom was able to give up her home oxygen for 6 months and during that time we went to Australia to see Diarmid and Jenn and family. Then she went to Kitimat in June to spend some time with Lor & Emily and help Lor out with child care for the summer. Suddenly in mid-August her breathing deteriorated and she decided to come home so that she could use her oxygen again. Her breathing gradually worse and then just before Christmas she had a couple of episodes of hemoptysis(coughing up blood in her sputum). This didn't stop her from making scones for the entire hospital staff. She did this 2 dozen scones at a time, having them ready for me to take in when I went to work at 0730. This involved 8 or 10 different days, usually 2 or 3 days a week.
Christmas was pretty tiring for her even though everyone who came for dinner helped out. I was in Victoria with Kevin so she had to do all the preparations by herself. And she does like to make Christmas fancy.
January brought a little more decrease in activity, partly due to the weather. Last year she would have done some snow-shovelling, this year I don't think that she did any at all. But she was still feeling pretty good and optomistic that she could give up her oxygen again this year and we started to plan a short trip to England. Mom wanted to visit her one surviving first cousin, Frank Symes and family and see a few more sights and relatives. We are avid fans of "Doc Martin" and would love to see Port Isaac in Cornwall where the show is filmed, and no journey to England would be complete without a visit with Brenda and Richard Hufton, now in Dorset.
The plan started out as a 10 day trip but soon had to be lengthened to almost 3 weeks in order to accommodate all of the people and places that we had in mind. There was a period of longing to even make a quick trip to Ireland - after all, if we are that close it would be a shame to miss it!
By the beginning of April Mom was realizing that she would not be able to give up her oxygen this year as last. Then our plans changed to driving to Saskatchewan to see Wanda & Hezz and her brother Tom & Frances and all the rest of the relatives that we could cram into 4 or 5 days. Following this we would drive to Terrace via Whitecourt to meet Mom's newest great grandson, Liam. We thought that we could arrive in Terrace just as school finished in June and spend a few days there.
Then her hip started to hurt. She thought that it was pretty much the same pain that she had had in the past and that if she started doing the exercises again, the pain would go away just as it had several times in the past. But the pain didn't abate and she then went to the doctor hoping to get xrays before visiting the chiropractor - after all, those bones are 13 years older than the last time the chiropractor worked his magic on them.
Xrays complete she went to the chiropractor a couple of times. After the first treatment her hip became so sore that she could no longer weight-bear so I brought home a walker from the hospital and she needed to use that to get aroung. After the next treatment her hip improved, but the way that she had to lay on the table gave her incredible pain in her ribs. She was incapacitated for a couple of days and decided not to go back.
Then she needed a prescription renewal and went back to her physician who, after hearing her history decided to do more xrays and some blood work. These tests invited more, as well as the referral to an internal medicine specialist. She ended up having a chest CT scan, a nuclear medicine bone scan and a skeletal survey (xrays of all long bones and skull and chest).
When the internist received some of the test results she arranged for Mom's consultation appointment was moved up by 2 weeks. Following the consultation the internist arranged for a skull CT, a mammogram and a bone marrow biopsy.
May 26 was the day that we went for the bone marrow biopsy. The doctor gave us the devastating news that Mom has lung cancer that has metastasized to the liver and bones. The only good news was that she felt that the bone marrow biopsy and mammogram were unnecessary. She arranged for a CT guided biopsy of the lung tumor and was referring Mom for radiation therapy.
Mom was feeling rather mortal and we called to give the family the bad news. Wanda came for a few days and is returning next week. Al Reed came for a very short visit - from 0900 to 1400 one day, Lor and Emily came for about a week and left when we came to Kelowna. Kevin came for a weekend.
So here we are, only 6 weeks after the first doctor visit, in Kelowna having radiation therapy. This morning we met Dr Hoegler and she had a simulation scan which involved making marks on her torso as well as a tattoo(!!!) for landmarking the radiation treatments. Then followed the first treatment. After being released for the day we decided to take a bit of a drive and went over the very new bridge. It is only the same 2 lanes in each direction and we wonder how that is going to help traffic congestion here in Kelowna. Then all of a sudden Mom just was exhausted and we came back home to our motel and she just fell into bed for the rest of the day.
Today Mom had her first radiation treatment. She tolerated the treatment well. Side-effects and after-effects vary from one patient to another and they gave us the whole list. So far the only one that has happened is that she is totally wiped. In my mind this is a good sign because we heal as we sleep.
Last year Mom was able to give up her home oxygen for 6 months and during that time we went to Australia to see Diarmid and Jenn and family. Then she went to Kitimat in June to spend some time with Lor & Emily and help Lor out with child care for the summer. Suddenly in mid-August her breathing deteriorated and she decided to come home so that she could use her oxygen again. Her breathing gradually worse and then just before Christmas she had a couple of episodes of hemoptysis(coughing up blood in her sputum). This didn't stop her from making scones for the entire hospital staff. She did this 2 dozen scones at a time, having them ready for me to take in when I went to work at 0730. This involved 8 or 10 different days, usually 2 or 3 days a week.
Christmas was pretty tiring for her even though everyone who came for dinner helped out. I was in Victoria with Kevin so she had to do all the preparations by herself. And she does like to make Christmas fancy.
January brought a little more decrease in activity, partly due to the weather. Last year she would have done some snow-shovelling, this year I don't think that she did any at all. But she was still feeling pretty good and optomistic that she could give up her oxygen again this year and we started to plan a short trip to England. Mom wanted to visit her one surviving first cousin, Frank Symes and family and see a few more sights and relatives. We are avid fans of "Doc Martin" and would love to see Port Isaac in Cornwall where the show is filmed, and no journey to England would be complete without a visit with Brenda and Richard Hufton, now in Dorset.
The plan started out as a 10 day trip but soon had to be lengthened to almost 3 weeks in order to accommodate all of the people and places that we had in mind. There was a period of longing to even make a quick trip to Ireland - after all, if we are that close it would be a shame to miss it!
By the beginning of April Mom was realizing that she would not be able to give up her oxygen this year as last. Then our plans changed to driving to Saskatchewan to see Wanda & Hezz and her brother Tom & Frances and all the rest of the relatives that we could cram into 4 or 5 days. Following this we would drive to Terrace via Whitecourt to meet Mom's newest great grandson, Liam. We thought that we could arrive in Terrace just as school finished in June and spend a few days there.
Then her hip started to hurt. She thought that it was pretty much the same pain that she had had in the past and that if she started doing the exercises again, the pain would go away just as it had several times in the past. But the pain didn't abate and she then went to the doctor hoping to get xrays before visiting the chiropractor - after all, those bones are 13 years older than the last time the chiropractor worked his magic on them.
Xrays complete she went to the chiropractor a couple of times. After the first treatment her hip became so sore that she could no longer weight-bear so I brought home a walker from the hospital and she needed to use that to get aroung. After the next treatment her hip improved, but the way that she had to lay on the table gave her incredible pain in her ribs. She was incapacitated for a couple of days and decided not to go back.
Then she needed a prescription renewal and went back to her physician who, after hearing her history decided to do more xrays and some blood work. These tests invited more, as well as the referral to an internal medicine specialist. She ended up having a chest CT scan, a nuclear medicine bone scan and a skeletal survey (xrays of all long bones and skull and chest).
When the internist received some of the test results she arranged for Mom's consultation appointment was moved up by 2 weeks. Following the consultation the internist arranged for a skull CT, a mammogram and a bone marrow biopsy.
May 26 was the day that we went for the bone marrow biopsy. The doctor gave us the devastating news that Mom has lung cancer that has metastasized to the liver and bones. The only good news was that she felt that the bone marrow biopsy and mammogram were unnecessary. She arranged for a CT guided biopsy of the lung tumor and was referring Mom for radiation therapy.
Mom was feeling rather mortal and we called to give the family the bad news. Wanda came for a few days and is returning next week. Al Reed came for a very short visit - from 0900 to 1400 one day, Lor and Emily came for about a week and left when we came to Kelowna. Kevin came for a weekend.
So here we are, only 6 weeks after the first doctor visit, in Kelowna having radiation therapy. This morning we met Dr Hoegler and she had a simulation scan which involved making marks on her torso as well as a tattoo(!!!) for landmarking the radiation treatments. Then followed the first treatment. After being released for the day we decided to take a bit of a drive and went over the very new bridge. It is only the same 2 lanes in each direction and we wonder how that is going to help traffic congestion here in Kelowna. Then all of a sudden Mom just was exhausted and we came back home to our motel and she just fell into bed for the rest of the day.
More in hopefully shorter episodes.
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