Posted on 09/23/2006 5:32:40 PM PDT by Hi Heels
From Tom, ZM's husband:
Sorry for the long silence.... It has been quite a ride.
On Monday 8/28 we met with ZM's oncologist to learn the results of the chest and abdomen CT scans. As I told you in my last update, all the news was good and we decided to switch to the chemo pill since ZMs veins were shrinking. We had great fun for the rest of the week planning how to use the time we would be getting back since she would not be sitting in the infusion room for 4 hours every Friday.
Over the labor day weekend (Sept 3,4) ZM began to have problems moving her left side and she become quiet and hard to communicate with. On Tuesday morning (Sept 5) she slipped into a near comma state and was taken to the hospital via 911 services. In the ER they ordered a brain scan and delivered the news that the cancer had spread to her brain and she had multiple tumors causing lesions in the right side of her brain, some as large as 5 centimeters. These were also causing swelling in her brain and increased pain. ZM's oncologist ordered more test and then told us that the tumors causing the lesions were inoperable. We were told that our options were to (1) simply give up and go home with hospice care or (2) try some radiation of the brain. The radiation may result in some temporary improvement or at least make ZM more comfortable.
So on Thursday (9/07) we moved ZM to a hospital in Plano, TX where she could receive radiation treatments as an inpatient. By now ZM was basically in a coma and could not move her left arm o r leg and could not even force her eyes to look to the left. That afternoon, they developed a treatment mask for her and did the first radiation treatment. After a 3 hour sleep ZM woke up able to move her left arm and leg some. A combination of steroids was prescribed to shrink the swelling in her brain. On Friday afternoon she received a 5 minute radiation treatment and following an hours sleep she woke with full use of her body, sat up in bed and pronounced herself hungry for the first time in weeks. Radiation is only done Monday thru Friday, so we hung around in the hospital over the weekend with ZM improving by the hour. The Doctors have all said they are astonished with her recovery/progress. They are now referring to her as their September miracle.
Following radiation on Monday (9/11) she was released from the hospital and I brought her home. She is 100% off the oxygen now and has had no pain medication since Thursday (9/07). She requires a walker to get around, but is getting stronger each day. We return to the hospital in Plano (30 miles each way) for radiation treatments and she continues to take the steroid to reduce the swelling. All this activity has left her with a bit of confusion, but today she tried to get on line and read some of her email.(Since she hasn't looked at email in well over a month you can imagine the stack of mail she has.)
We will continue the daily radiation treatments on Monday and Tuesday (9/26). After that she'll continue on the steroids but will return to her regular daily activities. ZM and I believe that -- Thanks to the prays and good thoughts - this is a permanent fix. However, she'll be returning to the doctors for blood work and check-ups on 10/10. Hopefully she'll get a clean bill of health at that time.
Thanks so much to everyone for the cards, emails and keeping her in your prayers.
See? OUr "treatment" is working. PLEASE keep this wonderful FRiend in your thoughts and prayers! God bless!
Thank You, Mighty God, for healing Sandy. May Your Holy and Awesome Name be praised both now and evermore.
My wife is over at Sandy's house right now, so I'll update y'all this evening or tomorrow.
Thank you for the ping and for staying in touch with Zacs Mom's family.
To Zac's Mom (still don't know your "real" name) and Tom.
May God's grace continue to be with you through the trials and triumphs of your heroic battle against the attacks of sickness.
Praise God for the doctors and nurses who performed the "September miracle."
HUGS.
Thank you for the ping. I appreciate it.
More praise to our good and almighty God.
Prayers for continued recovery, in Jesus' name!
I hope everything goes well
any news about Zacs Mom?
I am thinking about her all the time, but have no way of contacting her or her family.
I hope we hear soon.
so good to hear ... always opt for Plan B !
Nope. I'm out of town on a Pastor's retreat and will call Tom when I get home. I think about her and pray about her each and every day. I'll be home on Monday.
thanks - no rush, prayers are there whether we know or not...
see 112
Thank you for pings. I keep Zacs Mom in my prayers every day.
Prayers continuing for Zac's Mom and her family.
Unfortunately it appears that the radiation therapy was only a temporary window for Joan (ZM). I spoke with Tom today and he told me that she had about eight days of renewed health and spent that time with him and her grandchildren and children. After the eight days, the effects of the radiation faded. Her blood pressure is dropping, she is on morphine and her doctor has placed her in hospice. Tom has tried to get online to post something, but he just can't bring himself to leave her side right now. Please continue to pray for this wonderful woman and her loving family at this difficult time. Thanks.
I am so very sad to hear this..She has been in my thoughts so much lately and my prayers. Thank you so much for the update..much as I hate to hear the news.
My prayers will continue,Hi Heels, for her, for Tom and for her loved ones..
Update at #117 Prayers needed.
Update at #117 Prayers needed.
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