Although this section is for Life Chapters, I am dedicating this area to document my Mom’s valiant battle through this disease.  The sacrifice she made to continue living for her children and grandchildren is one of the highlights of her life.  The pain and suffering she endured shall not be forgotten and she will be remembered as a courageous and loving woman.

Mom -
You were BRAVER than you believed,
STRONGER than you seemed,
SMARTER than you thought,
And LOVED more than you knew.
                          ~ ❤️ your family

Mom had a consult and biopsy with an oral surgeon today.  She's been biting her tongue for the past year.  Her tongue is swollen and deformed.  Lab results of the biopsy could take up to 72 hours,  but based on the oral surgeon's experience, he's confident that the growth is not benign.  She is scheduled to see an ENT specialist on April 14.  

Mom is home resting.  Since the biopsy is on her tongue, she won't be able to talk much today.

It's not confirmed until the biopsy result comes back - expected within the next couple of days.  Sparky took Mom to her appt and the oral surgeon was very frank about it.  He says that he has seen enough of these cases to make a predetermination that it's cancer.  He's not suppose to say it until the lab comes back, but her case is really bad.  She waited too long.  He only did a biopsy and referred her to a specialist to have the mass removed.  Her tongue looks awful.  She told us on Friday after seeing Dr Kim Nguyen that she has to see an oral surgeon for biting her tongue.  That's the first time she mentioned it to me.  Her tongue is so swollen and disfigured that it looks like she was taking chucks off her tongue.  There's still hope that the biopsy comes back negative, but seems unlikely based on the oral surgeon's experience.  We're preparing for the worst and still hoping for the best though.  I'm heartbroken for her.  I just wish she mentioned it sooner.  If it happens to be cancer, I would like to take her to TX to see Stephen's house before she starts treatment or gets worse.  Stephen will deploy soon and won't return until September.  He wants to visit everyone before he goes, but he doesn't know if he will have time.

The oral surgeon called.  It's cancer - squamous cell carcinoma.  We were able to move her initial appt with the ENT to April 5.  The oral surgeon says most of her tongue will have to be removed and a lymph node.  The ENT will determine the course of treatment.

Not sure.  It may be just a consult to schedule the surgery.  The surgery will be extensive.  The oral surgeon told us to call back and mention the squamous cell carcinoma so she can be seen sooner. 

I imagine it's one of the worst places to get cancer.  You can't just bandage it up and ignore it.  The taste must be awful.  If this was discovered sooner, it may not be so bad.  Let's hope for the best.  She is going to be in a lot of pain.  :(

We had a bit of a false hope when she got her blood test back this morning which declared all is normal and well.  Then a couple of hours, the dreaded call came through.  

The specialist is the second opinion.  Both doctors have great reviews.  The ENT she is going to see is part of the GW Hospital.  The oral surgeon says it's beatable, but she will lose a large part of her tongue.  She will probably do radiation therapy and not chemo.

The news was hard to hear.  It will be tough and painful journey, but we'll get through it.  I agree that it's odd that she developed this.  She doesn't use tobacco products.

Visiting Stephen in Abilene, TX!

The ENT doctor we saw today is great - very knowledgeable and confident with great bedside manners.  He gave us a lot of info so I will just bullet point them below.

Pre-admission bloodwork and EKG @ GW Hospital 

We are heading to the hospital at 5am.  Surgery is at 8:30am, but she has to be there at 6:30am.  The ENT called tonight and informed us that there will be another surgeon in the surgery with him.  While the ENT works on removing the affected tongue and lymph nodes, the other surgeon will remove tissues from her arm and skin from her thigh for the reconstruction.  First step of surgery is the tracheotomy.  Surgery should be complete by 3pm (ENT's estimation).  I hope all goes well.  I feel awful she has to go through this.  Wish Dad was here to comfort her.

We left the house at 5am and arrived at the hospital at 5:30am.  At 6am, they took her (and the big group of other surgical patients) in for surgical prep.  Sparky and I waited on level 1 surgical waiting area.  At 7am, the family liaison staff escorted all waiting family members to the the surgical prep on level 2 to visit with patients before surgery.  Mom was in bay 14.  All bays were full.  There we met the anesthesiologist, chief resident Joshua Widermann, ENT surgeon Dr. Goodman, and a slew of other medical staff.  The nurse had placed a patch behind her ear, but did not instruct Mom to touch it.  She touched it and touched near her eye area.  It's not dangerous, but spreading the patch chemical causes the same effects as eye dilation such as blurry vision.  Mom had to get out of the bed to wash her hands.  An IV line was placed by her right wrist.  She signed consent forms and went over other documents regarding her surgery.  Areas for surgery were marked.  Then around 7:30-7:45am, they wheeled her away into the OR room.  Sparky and I returned to the 1st floor surgical waiting area.  At 8:30am, Dr Joshi arrived through the emergency room entrance and greeted us.  

Sparky left shortly before noon to attend to the boys.  He came back before 2pm with McDonalds.  He bought breakfast and Starbucks from the lobby floor cafeteria in the AM.

Surgery lasted longer than anticipated.  Around 3:45pm, Dr Joshi personally met with us in the surgical waiting area before he walked out through the emergency room exit.  He explained the surgery.  More lymph nodes were positive so they had to remove the glands on both sides of her neck.  The reconstruction was done and everything looked good.  She will need radiation and speech therapy and perhaps chemo as well.  Tissues from the left arm were used and the skin was taken from the left thigh.  Dr Goodman and the residents were finishing up the rest of the surgery - closing up... stitching and bandaging.  Later, the liaison led us into the consultation room to meet with Dr Goodman.  He explained the surgery and said the residents are finishing up and getting Mom ready for transfer to the recovery area.  Around 6pm, we noticed we were the last remaining in the waiting area and all staff had vacated the area so Sparky called on the hospital phone to get an update so we can see her.  He was told that she just arrived into the recovery area and they would like her to be there for at least 45 mins.  An hour later, Sparky called back.  Then about 10 mins later, the family liaison instructed us to go to level 2 for the escorted visit.  The recovery area was practically empty.  Mom was probably 1 of 2 patients there.  She will remain there until a bed opens up in ICU.  GW has 4 ICUs... one on each floor except the ob/gyn where the NICU is.  We saw Mom and met with her recovery nurses.  We also spoke with the Dr Widermann.  Mom looked better than expected.  Not swollen and horrible like Dad.  She was partly awake, but responsive.  She acknowledged that we were there.  Dr Widerman had to adjust a couple of lines in her neck.  The medical device was not detectingher pulse very well.  Mom was not in pain.  The head nurse said she's on light sedation and low pain killers.  Dr Widerman said the cancer itself is more painful than the surgery.  We visited for about 30-45mins so Mom can rest.  We left there feeling very positive and relieved.  We feel she is in good hands and is getting the personal care and attention she needs.

Two trips into the garage... $23 and $16 in parking fees.  We forgot to get a ticket validated for surgery.

The surgery is complete and the ENT says she did great.  Surgery went well.  They had to remove the lymph nodes from both sides, but he feels very confidant that all the cancer has been removed.  She will remain sedated for the night and they will wake her tomorrow.  She will require radiation therapy and possibly chemo.  She will also need speech therapy.  So the next few days in ICU will be somewhat critical in hopes that no issues develop for the "new" tongue area and no blood clots form.  

Sparky and I are still in the waiting area.  She will move to a recovery area for awhile.  Once she gets her ICU room, we may be able to see her.

Sparky called in the morning.  Mom was moved into ICU 283.  He dropped me off at 6am for visitation.  He had to work so he dropped me off early.  Website says visitation starts 6:30am, but the posted sign in the ICU2 waiting room says 8:30am.  I sat and waited in the waiting room until 8:30am.  To enter the ICU area, you have to go to the back door and ring the doorbell/buzzer.  As I pressed the button the first time, Sparky called.  Dr Joshi had called him and said the new tongue flap isn't doing so well and that she will have to go back into the OR.  They will try to either revive or redo the entire reconstruction.  Dr Goodman was in another surgery so he will assess once he's done.  I buzzed in again and gained access to the ICU.  Dr. Li was in with her to explain the surgery for the day.  She had similar paperwork/authorization for Mom to sign.   Mom had mentioned while in the pre-op that she had problems signing because of the IV line.  I informed Dr Li of that and that I have the Power of Attorney.  I signed the authorization forms.  I met with nurse Samantha.  Mom is off sedation because it was lowering her blood pressure.  She seems to have a high tolerance for pain.  Mom was alert and responsive.  One of the first questions is if I drove to see her.  I told her that Sparky dropped me off and she appeared content.  The ICU room is huge.  Plenty of space for equipment, medical staff, and visitors.  An obese size wheelchair was in the room.  During the next few hours, I met multiple medical staff.  Around 9:30am, Dr. Goodman stepped away from his morning thyroid surgery to update me on the Mom's progress.  He explained that they were not happy with the blood flow to the tongue.  They will take her back into the OR to reassess the tongue flap to see if they can revive it or just redo the entire reconstruction using tissues from her right forearm.  He didn't appear confidant about reviving the first flap since several hours have passed.  He prodded with her tongue while I was in the room.  He estimated that her surgery will take place around 11am.  Mom's mouth was partially opened the entire time.  The tongue looks either swollen or too big for her mouth.  I am glad I am here.  She signaled she was itchy so I scratched her.  The areas where the tubes and cords were touching her skin was causing some irritation.  At one point, she signaled that she couldn't breathe.  I alerted the nurse and she suctioned Mom's mouth.  She had to do it a few more times.  The prodding by Dr Goodman appears to either created more saliva or triggered more bleeding.  Blood would drip down the left side of her mouth.  After a couple of times, I decided just to take the gauze and dab her mouth, cheek, and neck myself instead of calling the nurse every few minutes.  Shortly after I arrived, Mom had also signaled at her stomach.  She needed to pee.  I alerted the nurse and she informed Mom that she is hooked up to a catheter so it's ok for her to pee.

Around 11am, Steve and Michelle arrived for the visit.  Luckily, the surgery was delayed so that they can spend more time visiting.  Mom acknowledged Michelle and Steve.  She made several attempts to speak.  It was hard trying to guess at what she wanted.  She pointed to the clock to signal that surgery was late.  It was 11:30am.  She did signal that she was in pain so I alerted someone at the desk since the nurse was at lunch.  Another nurse showed me what to press for pain medication.  Mom gets my attention by waving her right hand/fingers so it's important to look over at her often.  The dietitian came by to check up and explain the feeding and formula.  She mentioned that she will swap out the formula to Pivot which has greater protein and other stuff to better aid in healing.  Steve and Michelle stayed until about 12:45pm.  Sparky had arrived and was waiting in the waiting room for entry.  The nurse allowed me to remain in the room while Steve and Michelle visited, but the desk admin wouldn't allow Sparky to enter until they leave.  

Around 2pm, the team of medical doctors (Dr Widerman, anesthesiologist, etc) took her to the OR.  Sparky and I sat in the ICU room for awhile and then decided to get lunch in the cafeteria.  We tried to re-enter the room, but was denied access since Mom was still in surgery.  So we waited on the 1st floor waiting area... same location... same seats.  Dr Joshi, who was at his Reston office for the day, arrived later for the surgery.  He came by after surgery around 6pm to greet and update us.  He says she did great.  They used her right arm and the new flap looks better.  It's smaller than the first flap.  He is determined not to do a third surgery tomorrow. 

Mom is in room 283 ICU.  Visiting hours are 8:30am-6:45pm and 8pm-10pm.  There is an ICU waiting room right off the elevators on the second floor.  Walk through the small room to get to the other door to request for entry.  I arrived early today so I am just loitering in the waiting room until visiting hours open.  The hospital has free unsecured wifi so that helps pass the time a bit.  Only 2 visitors are allowed at a time and no children under 13 are permitted, per posted sign.  Everything is at the discretion of the head nurse so he/she may make exceptions.

I am in Mom's ICU room.  She is alert and responsive.  Unfortunately, the flap for the new part of the tongue doesn't appear to be getting adequate blood flow so the doctors may take her back into surgery to redo the reconstruction.  One of her surgeons is currently in another surgery so we will have to wait until he is out to assess her situation.

I just met with the anesthesiologist.  Mom is going back into the OR.

Steve - You may be able to catch Mom before she goes back into surgery.  I will let you know when the doctors have a better time frame.  If you are able to arrive before she goes into surgery, can you drive me home so I can let the dogs out?  I will return later with Sparky.  However, if  she goes into surgery soon, then don't worry about it.  I'll just loiter here for the rest of the day.  I told Mom that you plan to visit today, but may wait if she goes into surgery soon.

Mom appears to be doing well.  She is off sedation and has minimal pain.  She is connected to a ventilator through her trachea, but she doesn't appear to need it will be removed today or tomorrow.  In typical Mom fashion, one of the first things she wanted to know is if I drove myself today.  She can't speak, but she can nod, point and mouth words.

Mom finally went into surgery around 2 and she came out of surgery around 6.  The Drs redid the reconstruction surgery using tissues from her right arm.  She did well.  Let's hope this flap survives.  The nurse will call us once Mom is resettled into her ICU room.  We will visit with her briefly then go home so she can rest.  I'll let you know if anything changes.

I showed Mom the picture.  She smiled.  She looks better today.  The new tongue flap is smaller so she can actually close her mouth.  The Dr says the flap will shrink about 30%.

She's off the ventilator right now and the nurse is having to remind her to breathe.  She's been off since 5:15pm.

She is doing well today.  She was just moved into a regular room (room 564).  It's a private room, but tiny.  We just got here and it stinks and feels dirty.  Different from the ICU.  Mom had PT and OT today.  Her catheter is off so she was using the bedside potty.  She has a bathroom in this room so she will probably use that when she's feeling a bit stronger.  She's off the IV.  She still has the feeding tube.  We've been here for 20 minutes and have yet to meet her new nurse.  She needs to pee and the response is slow.  Tons of medical tech and others in the hallway just chatting.  I may have to stay overnight with her.  She can't speak and it will be hard for her to catch someone's attention.  I pressed the nurse button and someone at the desk asked what I needed... mom can't reply.

I met the nurse and the tech.  They are both nice and are doing their best.  While the nurse was in here, she received 3 calls from families.  I think Mom will be ok, but I will stay with her tonight.  She needs little things that doesn't require the nurse's attention, but requires often, such as wiping her eyes, mouth, sitting up, reclining, & etc.

 Mom is now in room 564.  She is off the IV, catheter, ventilator and continuous feeding.  She is improving greatly each day.  She had PT and OT today and did very well.  She is now using the bedside commode.  She still needs support for little things such as wiping her mouth, eyes, reclining, calling the nurse, and etc.  

The new room is very small.  It's not dirty, but it does not feel as sterile as the ICU.  She is in a private room with a private bathroom.  The nurses and techs so far are nice and attentive despite their higher nurse-to-patient ratio.  Unlike the ICU where all the nurses answer all calls and work together as one team, the staff on this level handle only patients that are assigned to them.  When we first arrived, it was frustrating waiting for assistance while some available staff were congregating in the hallway just chatting.  Beside that initial call for assistance, her nurses and techs have been very responsive.

Although Mom is doing much better and is not bedridden (she sits upright in the chair during the day), she does drool a lot and uses the bathroom often.  I asked her this evening if she wants visitors since she's in a regular room and she said no.  To respect her privacy, let's restrict visitation to us only for now.  She may change her mind as her condition improves.  She cannot talk right now, but she can write so when I can't understand her expressions I just hand her the clipboard and pen.  It's been working well.  If all goes well, she will get a voice box for her trach and verbally communicate soon.  

On Thursday, she will get the splint on her left arm removed.  The right will be removed on Friday.  The trach might be removed on Monday.  The earliest possible date for discharge is Tuesday.  Sparky will be back on Monday night so we should be ok to transport her home.  

Mom is mentally sharp and fully conscious.  She does become very agitated at times.  Be patient and do not take it personally.  She doesn't like running low on supplies so she will ask you to tell the nurse to replenish wipes and stuff.  She will also remind you to use the hand sanitizer after touching her.  

It has been a busy day for her.  She is comfortably resting right now.  

Some notes for you...

The nurse will provide a blanket, sheet and pillow case.  There is a pillow in the small closet.  You can sleep in the reclining chair.  Bring a pen so she can use it to write with.  You can ask for paper from the nurse or at the nurse's station.

Here's a general list of Mom's usual requests:

*Wipe mucous from mouth, nose and/or on chest from trach

*Dab eyes with damp paper towels, damp gauze, or wet wipes to remove sweat (sweat stings eyes)

* Call nurse for bathroom - can walk with assistance to bathroom or may use bedside commode if too tired 

* Blanket on/off

* Place pillows under arms

* Lower legs on reclining chair

* Raise/lower head on bed

* Socks on/off

* Paper and pen for communication

* If male tech, wipe after bathroom use (tech present for physical support and to empty potty)

* Adjust blue oxygen tube so it's close to trach

* Pay attention to small gestures she uses to get your attention (wave hand)

* Clean your hands after handling (soap & water or sanitizer)

* Turn lights on/off

* Open/close door

* Request for more wipes and towels

* No TV

Dr Joshi & Dr Widerman are out of town on a conference until Monday.  Dr Li is making rounds and is in charge until the other doctors return.  It's a teaching hospital so someone or a team is always tagging along.  Rounds are done twice a day... approx 7am and sometime in late afternoon or early evening.  

A new IV line was placed in her right foot today.  The right side stitches for her trachea is pulling on her skin.  It cannot be removed, yet, so she will have to deal with the pain.  She is getting pain meds on a schedule.  She has diarrhea.  All bowels are loose.  She had a bad stomach ache last night, but she should pain free now.  She is getting meds before her feedings.  She will occasionally get coughing attacks.  Sometimes she can clear it herself, but other times she will need the nurse to suction her.  Keep a washcloth near her face to catch the drool/mucous while she sleeps.  The oxygen tube tends to slip away from the trach so it's important to reposition it.  She doesn't need the oxygen as much as the moisture for the trach.  Do not tie the gown nor oxygen strap around her neck.  

Starbucks is open 24 hours.  Cafeteria opens at 6:30am-9:30am and 11:00am-11:00pm during the week.  Cafeteria sells coffee from a machine for $1.05-1.25... cheaper than Starbucks.  Sushi is made fresh on-site.  Bag of chips is $0.75 ... chips in vending machine in ICU waiting room costs twice as much.  Water is $1.55, but $1.50 in vending machines.  Breakfast served in the AM (scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, & etc).  Grill open in afternoon/evening.  Limited fresh fruits available.  Small soup and salad are also available.

Have they removed the left arm splint?

[Thoa’s reply]  Yes, they removed the splint.  The person that did it said it looked great.  I thought it looked yucky because the skin is so thin, you can see her veins.  They put on a lighter dressing.  We are are waiting for Dr. Joshi to come so see if they can remove the drain on her left arm.  They will work on her right arm tomorrow.

Yay!  She said the left splint was heavy - at least 15lbs.  Her left arm is finally free!  The skin on her arm came from her inner thigh. :)

She is getting stronger and better each day.  Today, her left arm splint was removed so she is now able to wipe her own mouth.  The other splint will be removed tomorrow and so will the feeding tube if she is able to swallow.  She also did a walking lap today.  With her progress, she will be much stronger and independent by the weekend.  Tuesday is still the earliest possible date for discharge.  She may have to go home with the trach for awhile.  That's TBD.

Voice device inserted into trachea... speaks for the first time post-surgery

Eating a liquid diet.

[Discharged from GW Hospital with help from Michelle

Mom is home!  We came home around 2pm.  Traffic around the hospital was crazy today.  Damn tourists everywhere!  A shuttle bus stopped and blocked the entrance to the hospital!  It broke down, but they eventually moved it up enough to free up the entrance.  Mom is resting now.  She's doing well.

The discharge process happened really quickly.  Most times, it takes several hours.  If she was getting discharged tomorrow, I definitely would have needed your help.  I felt well enough to drive and more importantly, Mom was comfortable enough with me driving.  She thinks I have permanent vertigo.  Anyhow, she's home.  Her first post-op appt is this Friday with her ENT surgeon, Dr Joshi.  We'll find out the next steps to her treatment then.  

Resting at home

Follow up appt with ENT surgeon in Reston, VA office

If Mom feels well enough, we may take her to see Guinevere play on Saturday.  She's doing well and is healing well.  Her tongue is still swollen so her speech is impaired.  We are waiting to hear from more doctors regarding radiation and chemo. 

I don't know if Mom will have enough energy so we won't go.  She takes a lot of naps.

Mom's immune system is ok for now.  It will weaken after she starts chemo and radiation.

Initial consultation with chemo/medical oncologist.

Chemotherapy class @ 9am

Medical/chemo oncology appt @ 11:30am

Radiation oncology consultation (radiation mask fitting)@ 2p

CT scan of the neck

CT scan of the abdomen

Mediport placement surgery - outpatient procedure

INOVA Fairfax Hospital’s Radiology Interventional Center.

That's a good idea.  She is doing ok right now, but radiation will be really rough on her.  The doctors have warned us that she will be in pain and advised her to take her pain medication often.  She's getting a feeding tube because her mouth and throat will become raw (feel like bad skin scrapes) so it's unlikely she will be able to eat.  Surgery was the easy part.  Here comes two intense months of chemo & radiation.

Radiation oncology (radiation mask adjustments) @ 2pm

Feeding (G) tube implant - outpatient procedure with an overnight stay for observation.

INOVA Fairfax Hospital

Chemo therapy - session 1 @ 9:15am

Radiation therapy - session 1 @  2:30pm

Radiation therapy - session 2 @ 7:40am

Thanks for the invitation.  Mom started chemo and radiation on Thursday
and she's already experiencing fatigue.  It's unlikely we'll be able to join you.  I'll let you know if her condition changes.  

June 12: Radiation therapy - session 3 @ 7:30am

June 13: Radiation therapy - session 4 @ 7:45am

Bloodwork & chemo/medical oncology follow-up @ 8:50am

June 14: Radiation therapy - session 5 @ 7:30am

June 15: Radiation therapy - session 6 @ 7:30am

Chemo therapy - session 2 @ 8:30am

June 16: Radiation therapy - session 7 @ 7:30am

June 19: Radiation therapy - session 8 @ 7:30am

June 20: Radiation therapy - session 9 @ 7:30am

Bloodwork & chemo/medical oncology follow-up @ 3pm

June 21: Radiation therapy - session 10 @ 7:30am

June 22: Radiation therapy - session 11 @ 7:30am

Chemo therapy - session 3 @ 8:30am

Feeding tube adjustment (Fairfax Radiology) @ 1pm

June 23: Radiation therapy - session 12 @ 7:30am

Mom is still trekking through her treatments.  She's beginning to experience some side effects from radiation.  While she still has the physical ability to eat, we will do lunch.  You are welcome to join us again this Friday at 11am.  The restaurant for this week is... BLUE PEARL! 

[THAO’s Email]  How about lunch 12 noon this Sunday at Hai Doung (in Springfield)?

Sounds great!  We look forward to seeing you all!

I'm so sorry, but we will have to reschedule.  The pain in her mouth is worsening and she doesn't think she will be able to eat.  She's uncomfortable and is becoming increasingly agitated, too.  She didn't eat much yesterday.  Unfortunately, future lunch dates with her will have to wait until she's done with radiation therapy and starts healing.  The remaining 5 weeks will be very painful and yucky for her.

Thanks for offering, but there isn't anything you can do right now.  We're beginning to enter tough times and are trying to take it one day at a time.  You can send notes and pictures to cheer her up though.

June 26: Radiation therapy - session 13 @ 7:30am

June 27: Radiation therapy - session 14 @ 7:30am

Bloodwork & chemo/medical oncology follow-up @ 9:15am

June 28: Radiation therapy - session 15 @ 7:30am

June 29: Radiation therapy - session 16 @ 7:30am

Chemo therapy - session 4 @ 9:15am

June 30: Radiation therapy - session 17 @ 7:30am

I look forward to her finishing the treatments.  3.5 weeks left.  She's developed her first mild fever tonight. 

She's doing ok - a little more tired, weaker, has some pain from radiation and had a mild grade fever last night.  Her red blood cell count is a little low, but overall bloodwork still is ok.  She can't eat so she is only drinking Ensure and we're doing more tube feeding.

July 3: Radiation therapy - session 18 @ 7:30am

Bloodwork & chemo/medical oncology follow-up @ 8:50am

July 5: Radiation therapy - session 19 @ 7:30am

July 6: Radiation therapy - session 20 @ 7:30am

Chemo therapy - session 5 @ 8:30am

July 7: Radiation therapy - session 21 @ 7:15am

Mom is doing ok.  It hasn't been too bad.  Very mild side effects compared to what Dad endured.  She has 2.5 weeks left - 2 chemo treatments and her daily radiation's last day is July 23.  She looks forward to eating again.

Hopefully, she will be well enough to go out by her birthday.  She's craving Famous Dave's, but she can't eat, yet.  She drinks Ensure in the mornings and we do tube feeding for the rest of the day.

July 10: Radiation therapy - session 22 @ 7:15am

July 11: Radiation therapy - session 23 @ 7:15am

Bloodwork & chemo/medical oncology follow-up @ 2:30pm

July 12: Radiation therapy - session 24 @ 7:15am

July 13: Radiation therapy - session 25 @ 7:15am

Chemo therapy - session 5 @ 8:30am

July 14: Radiation therapy - session 26 @ 7:15am

She mentioned you texted/emailed and I thought she may have replied.  She logged off imessage and couldn't get back in. Just found out this morning.

July 17: Radiation therapy - session 27 @ 7:15am

July 18: Radiation therapy - session 28 @ 7:15am

Bloodwork & chemo/medical oncology follow-up @ 8:50am; very ill - received IV hydration

July 19: Radiation therapy - session 29 @ 7:15am

IV hydration after radiation therap

July 20: Radiation therapy - session 30 @ 7:15am

Chemo therapy - session 6 @ 8:30am ... CANCELED DUE TO SEVERE ILLNESS; received IV hydration instead

July 21: Radiation therapy - session 31 @ 7:15am

IV hydration after radiation therapy

July 24: Radiation therapy - session 32 @ 7:15am

Bloodwork & IV hydration @ 8:15am

July 25: Radiation therapy - session 33 @ 7:15am

Chemo/medical oncology follow-up @ 9:20am

Chemo is done and tomorrow is her last radiation treatment.  Mom did it!  We have follow ups with the Drs, but no further treatment at this time.

The doctors will review new scans and determine when/if she's cancer free.  She will keep the port and g-tube until then.  She's feeling ok now.  She was really sick last Tuesday though.  Probably the worst she’s been since treatment started.  The effects of chemo and radiation are still in her system so her condition is expected to dip for a couple of weeks before recovery begins.

The flowers and balloon were a pleasant surprise.  Mom is happy that she's done with treatment, but she's still experiencing some side effects.  Her condition will worsen for a week or two and then she should start bouncing back.  She should be well enough to see everyone by her birthday.

She can't eat right now, but she can shop!  

Medical oncology follow-up @ 1pm

Mom is doing ok.  The week after her last radiation was tough.  Yesterday, her mouth was swollen with very thick mucus.  Today, she is more energetic and her speech is much better.  She's starting to feel better.  Her Monday appt went well.  It may take 3 months for a full recovery from chemo and radiation.  Recovery from the surgeries will take longer.  The skin grafts on her arms are beginning to match her natural skin tone.  Mom is a true trooper.  She's handled chemo, radiation, and surgeries like a champ.  Dad would have been super proud.

I don't know when they will run tests to determine if she's in remission or cancer-free.  Maybe after she's recovered from therapy.  She has to follow-up with the surgeon and he will probably assess her condition then.