Each Day is a Gift

That's what's written on the picture I gave my mom for Mother's Day this year. It's in my profile photo.

Unfortunately, we received some negative news about my mom today. About 2 weeks ago, at the same time she finished radiation treatments to her neck, she developed a lesion on her scalp, near the original melanoma site. Unfortunately, this lesion is also cancerous, probably melanoma (they are sending it to pathology), and while she could have surgery on it, more will probably pop up. She could also have radiation treatment, but she is so weak now, I don't know if she could handle it. She's lost about 40 pounds since August and is still not eating and barely drinking.

The surgeon who removed the lymph nodes and parotid gland will meet with the "Tumor Board" (a group of physicians who discuss patients and their diagnoses) on Thursday and see if they can come up with a treatment plan.

This news was hard to take. Please remember us in your prayers.

Anita

Burns :(

A very quick note to update you~
My mom's right ear and neck are burned from the radiation and are starting to peel and her earlobe is black. Please pray for quick healing.

She still can't swallow well, either. Please pray something, anything, would taste good and that she would force herself to drink. She sees her primary care doctor and the neck surgeon this week for follow-up.

She got her hair cut very short so it will bother her less.

Ring That Bell!

Hurray!

She got to ring the bell on Friday ~

and loud enough for the entire building to hear it!

My mom finally finished her 30 treatments of radiation therapy, but not without a lot of lost weight, uneaten meals and burns on her face and neck. Please pray that she will heal quickly.

She returns to the surgeon at the end of May and to the oncologist at the end of June. New scans will be performed in July. We'll keep you posted.

Here are photos of her with her mask and certificate of completion.

Mother's Day

We went by my parents' house on the way home from church. Since she is not eating (hardly at all), we all decided we would wait until she enjoys eating again to go out to dinner for Mother's Day. We took cheeseburgers & fries to my parents but my mom ate a few fries and that was it. She drank some Carnation instant breakfast in milk. We went to dinner with John's family this afternoon.

Only 5 more treatments to go! Please pray for strength and the ability to drink for my mom so that she will not get dehydrated this week.

Could Be Better

Just a brief note to let you know that my parents still need to gain weight. I'm praying that once the radiation treatments are over that my mom will want to eat and drink again and that as a result, they will both be eating better. We went to see them briefly after church today and they had gone back to bed.

My mom is now seeing a physical therapist near her PCP's office and Medicare won't cover a home health nurse.

My dad refuses to take anti-anxiety medication because of the side effects he has read about. He and John replaced a bathroom sink yesterday.

Thanks for the continued prayers. I would encourage you to send them cards of encouragement.