Home for a Visit

Mom had her third chemo dose on August 14. It went well, like the others, except for more dizziness than usual in the days following. In fact, she collapsed in her bathroom at one point and didn't tell Suzy about it until later. No injuries, but Suzy and Mom had a talk about the importance of asking for help. It's hard to ask for help, especially when we're pretty sure we can handle it. They went to the hospital on Friday the 17th in the late evening and returned home about 2:30 a.m. with a diagnosis of another urinary tract infection. She's cleared up now.

The weekend before Mom was feeling well and we went together to her house, next door to Suzy's. Mom hadn't been there since she moved in with Suzy in mid-April. While we sat in the livingroom, I mentioned that anytime I was up staying at her house she could stay with me if she wanted, just for a change of pace. She said, another first, that she should probably get used to sleeping there again in preparation for when she moves back for good. When.

She also said that she could probably move back now, except she didn't want to because she would be alone. There is always activity at the Wises', and whether she finds it entertaining or irritating it's lively, and that's good for her. So, although she isn't moving back any time soon, maybe we'll have a sleepover at her house every once in a while.

Here's Mom on her livingroom couch after church on Sunday the 12th, wearing yet another super chic hat.

Panama & Prayer

Mom is doing great. Really great. I told her yesterday she seems more like herself than she has since before her diagnosis, except without hair. And even the hair situation is improving.

Saturday she washed dishes. She took a couple of breaks to spare her back, but standing at a sink for a long time is hard on anyone. Saturday evening she folded clothes in the livingroom. Her physical therapist has worked household chores into her exercise homework, and it's working out beautifully. It gives her something productive to do with a visible result, and most importantly she gets to check a box on her homework sheet when she completes the task. Process oriented people like that sort of thing.

On Sunday we went to church. Mom wore a new panama hat. She was reluctant because the other hat had been working quite well for her. But she looked like summertime in it and she received a lot of compliments. Here she is, enjoying a before-service fritter with a friend from church, Margaret.

After song service Paul invited people to go forward for prayer. Normally I ask Mom if she wants to go up. But yesterday she turned to me, took my hand and said "Let's both go up together." Last Thursday I started having some chest pain that makes it very difficult to breathe deeply, cough, sneeze, laugh. So Mom wanted me to receive prayer. It was humbling to have my mom, who is battling cancer, lead me by the hand down the aisle so that I could be prayed for. I can't begin to describe how it made and makes me feel. I have the most amazing mom.