Good News!

Wow....another stable MRI for my mom! I am shocked, amazed and relieved!! My stomach has been in knots since she went in for the MRI on Friday until we got the results from the dr. today. And, to top off the good news, the dr's believe what they have been seeing on the mri on the right side of her brain (cancer was located on the left) is from the radiation treatments and not new growth! They feel she is doing so well that they gave her the option of her next MRI being in 3 mos. or 6 mos...she went for the 6. Of course if there are any changes before then they will get her in asap. But it's nice to know that she has a nice break from something that causes her so much stress.

We are quickly approaching the one year anniversary of my mom's dx with this cancer. I feel I've been blessed to have been given "one more" of all of the holidays, birthdays, etc. with her. And now to think I can look forward to even more!

 Things are still difficult and I know that there will be many hard times ahead of us. I'm struggling now with thinking about me and getting my life back on track. I left my job and moved back in with my mom to be with her. She originally was not going to go through with treatments and I wanted to be with her. To be honest, I thought we were going to lose her quickly....man has she proved us all wrong! I am so happy and thankful, but a part of me can't help but think is it time for me to make a move forward in my life so that she can move forward in hers? She can't be alone, at least not know. She no longer drives and often needs help with simple tasks....but I wonder if given the opportunity for more independence would she relearn some of the things she's lost. She often makes comments about me not leaving her....but I can't continue to stay in this position for years and years. It's such a bittersweet victory to be making such great progress. I often wish someone would just magically hand me the answers to all my questions....I'm sure we've all felt that way.

 At least I know I can be grateful and thankful that my mom is still with us today...almost one year to the date! So hard to believe....thank you thank you thank to all the higher powers. It wasn't her time.....I truly believe that.

Much love to you all

holly

that is great news! Your mom is lucky to have a daughter like you,  She must be a great mom too, for you to want to give her so much of your time.  Time with family helps with healing too.  You both are blessed to have each other.  keep us posted.

Dear Holly,

That is such wonderful news! I can't imagine how thrilled you all must be. Your Mom sounds like a fighter, and you as well. Those decisions you are trying to make will not be easy, just trust in God that you will make the right ones. My mother, dx 12/07 just had her first post-radiation/chemo MRI today and we are meeting with the doc. on Fri. to get the results. I hope we receive good news like you did! Tell your mom to keep up the good work!

Sarah

On 5/7/2008 spagirl9191 wrote:

Wow....another stable MRI for my mom! I am shocked, amazed and relieved!! My stomach has been in knots since she went in for the MRI on Friday until we got the results from the dr. today. And, to top off the good news, the dr's believe what they have been seeing on the mri on the right side of her brain (cancer was located on the left) is from the radiation treatments and not new growth! They feel she is doing so well that they gave her the option of her next MRI being in 3 mos. or 6 mos...she went for the 6. Of course if there are any changes before then they will get her in asap. But it's nice to know that she has a nice break from something that causes her so much stress.

We are quickly approaching the one year anniversary of my mom's dx with this cancer. I feel I've been blessed to have been given "one more" of all of the holidays, birthdays, etc. with her. And now to think I can look forward to even more!

 Things are still difficult and I know that there will be many hard times ahead of us. I'm struggling now with thinking about me and getting my life back on track. I left my job and moved back in with my mom to be with her. She originally was not going to go through with treatments and I wanted to be with her. To be honest, I thought we were going to lose her quickly....man has she proved us all wrong! I am so happy and thankful, but a part of me can't help but think is it time for me to make a move forward in my life so that she can move forward in hers? She can't be alone, at least not know. She no longer drives and often needs help with simple tasks....but I wonder if given the opportunity for more independence would she relearn some of the things she's lost. She often makes comments about me not leaving her....but I can't continue to stay in this position for years and years. It's such a bittersweet victory to be making such great progress. I often wish someone would just magically hand me the answers to all my questions....I'm sure we've all felt that way.

 At least I know I can be grateful and thankful that my mom is still with us today...almost one year to the date! So hard to believe....thank you thank you thank to all the higher powers. It wasn't her time.....I truly believe that.

Much love to you all

holly

First,Thanks To GOD!!!

What a great Happy Mother's day ,you will have.I am happy for you and your family.

                                      Rally 53

Holly, congrats to you and your mom! My mother too has beaten the odds thus far (19 months out from dx) and going strong. It's funny how you prepare yourself for the worse and don't expect to get a break and get it anyways!

Your mom sounds a lot like mine in respect to needing someone with her. It's a tough position to be in. Fortunately, my brother switched shifts and comes to my house during the day to be with her so I can still work. He's my only sibling, so it's just us (and my husband, God bless him!). Yet, we could not do this on our own if it were not for an unlikely support...  My mother ended all treatment in June 07 and asked her family doctor for a referral to Hospice. The neurosurgeon had warned her that if she stopped treatment, she was likely to be back on the "fast track"... 3 months without aggressive treatment. That was 10 months ago and THANK GOD Hospice still graciously makes all support available to us. We supplement our family caregiving with in-home respite (one day a week my brother stays home and every other Saturday I get the day off). We've also been blessed to have a dear aunt from Georgia make 3 extended visits to help out. 

 I am not suggesting Hospice is an option for you... sounds like your Mom is still fighting the good fight! But checking out home health services, calling in more family resources, or hiring someone hourly may be worth looking into. I do know, having been a primary caregiver for 19 months (and counting) , that I NEED to work. I need the contact with the outside world and I need a facet of my life that GBM does not enter. 

Happy Mother's Day, Holly. May the two of you enjoy every minute of it! Louise