Major Updates

The past few months have been nothing short of haywire.

We have experienced ups and many downs, some to where my Mom was completely ready to let go and die.

We ave been through one treatment that unfortunately did not work and are beginning another.

The new chemo is a pill called Votrient, and although it is most commonly used for renal cancer patients, they are seeing major strides with cervical patients as well.

We just celebrated another Christmas with my Mom and she had a wonderful time watching Jack open gifts and play with his toys. It was truly a blessing to have another Christmas with her. She is our Christmas miracle.

As a Christmas gift to herself, she purchased a new Toyota Venza yesterday. It is a wonderful thing because it is giving her a lift of her spirits, and for the first time in months, she is driving a car again! Many things here are thrilling, and we are all just so happy for the small things.

We also appreciate the outpouring of love, support and kind words, especially during the Christmas season.

We wish you and your family health and happiness in the New Year!

News

Last week, we did not get great news from the oncologist about my Mom. The oncologist explained that even though the last chemo didn't work and the tumor grew a bit, we are running out of options for treatment.

They will be starting her on one final treatment beginning September 5 and will give the chemo for 3 weeks and on the 4th week, they will do a CAT scan. If the scan shows no improvement, they will then change their focus to just making her as comfortable as possible. Genzyme, the chemo that she will be starting, has only a 20% chance of working (out of 100).

At the appointment, my Mom was very upset and crying a bit, but she insisted that the doctor tell her how long she has. He responded, "How long do you think you have?" She asked if she will make it to the beach in 2 weeks? He said yes. She asked about Christmas, and he sighed and said, "Helen, I don't know." From the way that he said it, it sounded like she may only be with us a few months more at the most.

She is heartbroken that the treatments don't seem to be working, although we have known all along that chemo would only ever put her in a possible remission or buy more time. My sisters and I are also heartbroken, but we continue to put on a brave face for her.

So far, we have bought almost a year and a half of time, and my sisters and I are just so thankful to be able to spend the time with her that we have spent and that we will spend.

Additionally, this week, she has begun wearing a scarf on her head. She still has some hair left, but she is very self conscious, so she has opted to wear a scarf.

She is trying to remain in good spirits, but she is tired and has mentioned that she can feel her body starting to wind down. Most mornings, she sleeps until 10:30-11am and takes another nap around 12 or 12:30. I have been trying to get her to leave the house during the day, either for a walk with the baby up the street or to run a quick errand or two. Most days, she doesn't have the energy, but sometimes she does come out.

Her trip to the beach next Sunday has her very excited and she is looking forward to seeing family, spending time with her girls and with Jack and then spending her last week there with the Bridge girls.

The cards, calls and letters continue to make her smile and keep her in good spirits. Please continue to say prayers for her and prayers for our family.

Above are two pictures from this past week. One is of her taking Jack for a stroll down the block and the other is of her with Aunt Meurita (97 years young) and Jack.

In It to Win It

After the news last week, my Mom was feeling down and upset that the Bevicusimab wasn't working, but as we explained to her, "Chemo is like ice cream flavors. You just have to find the right one for you."

She has perked up this week after not such good days on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday, she seemed to turn a corner, and today she is feeling pretty good. Even accepting a visit from her friend, Betsy and going for a manicure!

This weekend, her dance card is filled with social events; Ned and Sara's wedding, Carolyn's baby shower, and Jack and I will be moving in permanantly! She is thrilled to have us at the house, and we are thrilled as well. Chris has been there for about the past 5 weeks or so helping her and cooking for her on occasion when he returns from work.

I am looking forward to being able to spend more time with her and for her to spend more time with Jack. She is always thrilled to hold her favorite grandson and give him his bottle, and now she can do it anytime that she wishes.

We are still awaiting the gynecological oncologist's opinion for which chemo treatment that she will begin next. Hopefully they get her started on something soon.

Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Helen vs. Cervical Cancer

If you have had the privilidge of knowing my Mom, you will know that she is not only kind, sweet, caring, funny and a really great time, but she is also a fighter. She fights for her kids, and right now, she is fighting for herself.

Because my mother is not an exceptionally public person, but so many people care about her well being, I have decided to begin a blog for her to update her friends and family about her progress as she fights for her life against cervical cancer. If you would be so kind as to NOT mention the blog to her, I would greatly appreciate it. It can often times be difficult to reach everyone with any news that we have received, so I thought that this may be a great way to keep everyone in the loop.

She has been battling this wretched disease since late 2008, and once before in 2002. To the shock of her oncologists, she is still fighting a year and a half later and is no where near ready to throw in the towel.

Yesterday, we did not get great news about the most recent chemo that she was on (Taxol and Bevicusimab) because the tumor grew a bit more. *Note: a successful round of chemo can be considered as no growth of the tumor or shrinking of the tumor. This coming Monday, July 26, Dr. Saidman will begin her on Gemzar, a new type of chemo, and we will see how this one fights the cancer.

With the most recent round of chemo that she was on, she unfortunately lost most of her hair and has also lost a significant amount of weight due to appetite loss, etc... However, her spirits are intact. She is thrilled with good news that her grandson, Jack will be living with her full-time (with Chris and I of course) beginning next Saturday, July 31.

Additionally, after many years of flip-flopping, she has decided to finally remodel her galley kitchen! And we will all be taking a much needed vacation at the end of August together to Dewey Beach!

Many good and positive things to look forward to, as well as her weekly bridge games with her girlfriends.

Please do not anticipate a daily update, but this blog will be updated as needed. Feel free to add it to your Google Reader (if you do not know what that is or how to do it, let me know and I can walk you through it) or e-mail subscribe to the blog so that you will know when the blog is updated.

Thank you as well on behalf of my Mom and my sisters for all of the cards, phone calls, flowers and visits! It is great to see everyone and have all of the positive messages reach my Mom.