Home Again

Mom was discharged on Monday, day fifteen of her stay. Suzy and I brought her home early in the evening. She acquired some extra gear - a catheter and a new nebulizer. Mom qualifies for skilled nursing in the home because her blood needs to be tested regularly while she is on coumadin. This is a real blessing; another set of hands to help with Mom, and less trips to the doctor. She also qualifies for physical therapy in the home, which will help her regain the strength she lost during her hospital stay.

Mom became increasingly disoriented over the weekend, and until today was still confused and unresponsive to commands. But today she is much better. At least that's what Suzy tells me; Mom was distracted by Animal Planet while we were talking today, which made for interesting conversation.

Mom's first full day home was rough. But today was much better. Suzy is giving Mom great care, and Mom is happy to be home.

Below are some pictures of Bill's and Pattie's visit on Saturday:

Cody with Mom above. He told me I could send my phone pictures to the internet - never thought of that! I didn't figure that out, but I did find I could email the pictures to myself. Thanks Cody!

Mom had many fine nurses and techs who took good care of her and showered her with attention. Unfortunately, I only took one picture of any of them. Mom is with nurse Sara below.

On Sunday, Suzy and I stopped at Walmart (actually, every day we stopped at Walmart either coming or going), and she found a clearance on hunter's orange caps. She bought one for each of the boys. When Corey, Jaime and Evan came to the hospital, Evan put one of the hats on Mom. She loved it! Poor Cameron may never get his cap. Tech Linda gave her lots of compliments on the new chapeau.

Oh yeah - and Suzy bought Mom's favorite cookies while we were at it.

Caught up in the moment, Evan shared a touching story from the movie Spinal Tap.

Apparently, Mom found the drama in it.

Techs Pat and Linda spent a long time saying goodby to Mom. We appreciated their genuine affection for her. When we arrived home Mom wanted to go straight to bed, so we tucked her in, clothes and all. She wore Connie's hat home, and Evan topped her off with the orange cap.

Mom receives her first oral chemo on Friday.

If everything goes well, Mom will be discharged tomorrow.
As of Sunday, her heart rate, blood pressure, hemoglobin, and temperature were all good. Her white cells went up a little bit (from 11,000 - 14,000) but not enough to prevent her from coming home.
Bill, Pattie, Cody, Jessy and Tyler visited Mom yesterday. I have a few pictures saved to my cell phone. I still haven't figured out just how to get them from the phone to the blog, but as soon as I do I'll post them.
More tomorrow.

Mom is still in the hospital. Early Monday morning her temperature rose to 101 degrees. By late afternoon her fever broke. She was tired and still a little disoriented, but much better. Her urine output decreased significantly. Her heart is okay, so they pushed fluids to get her hydrated. Suzy said yesterday Mom got up to use the bathroom 13 times in two hours. Mom's white cell count was up a little and she had a slight fever. She will be switching to IV antibiotics again. Suzy tried to contact Dr. Galloway yesterday but was unable to reach her. Hopefully sometime today they will connect and discuss these changes.

These days in the hospital have been challenging. Each new person caring for Mom - tech, nurse, doctor - needs to be brought up to speed on Mom's needs that are not written in the chart. She has a hard time finishing sentences, so she needs time to talk. She has a quirky sense of humor, so she shouldn't be taken seriously when she implies Suzy (and even me) is mean to her. She tries to get out of getting up and walking when she's able by turning on her big blue eyes and dramatically moaning how tired she is, but she can walk and needs to walk to maintain her mobility. Some of the health care workers get it, others not so much. It makes it difficult to leave her behind at the hospital, not because she won't be cared for, but because of the way she'll be cared for. Suzy has been at the hospital every day for hours to make sure she's there to talk to the doctors and nurses about Mom's care.

Mom helped us do a crossword puzzle on Monday when she felt better. Mom is great at crosswords. I can tell she knows a word, it's right there, but she can't get it out. It stops right at that place between her brain and her tongue. It happens to all of us, but it happens a lot to Mom these days. She gets frustrated, but she is able to laugh. She is well liked by the hospital staff. She's still sweet and funny.

I made a mistake a couple posts ago about the new crocheted cap Mom wore to church. Roleen's daughter Connie made it. Thanks Connie!

The pictures below were taken at the hospital Saturday when Jaime and Jodi were there.

Still in the NMRH

The couple day stay in the hospital has stretched a bit. Last Thursday Mom was given a tentative discharge date of Sunday, January 20. Suzy and I arrived at the hospital early Sunday because the doctor promised Mom she was first on his list Sunday. We found out as the day stretched on without a visit from Dr. Knitter that the emergency department had been busy all day, no doubt partially due to the severe weather and the subsequent accidents. Suzy watched traffic skid along on 131 from Mom's hospital window while we waited.
At about 3:30 p.m. Dr. Knitter made it up to the third floor to see Mom. Her white blood cell count had been on a downward trend, beginning at 34,000 and making it to 20,000 on Saturday. But Sunday morning's test showed a rise in the count. So he put her on an additional oral antibiotic and kept her for another night. If the count is down today she will come home. If not, she'll go back on the IV antibiotic and stay a couple more days.
Mom's pain level is much better. Every once in a while she gets a twinge of pain, but nothing like the pain she experienced before we took her to the hospital on the 13th.
Dr. Galloway, Mom's oncologist, visited her on Saturday afternoon. Mom's hemoglobin has been low after chemo, and it took a deep dip in the hospital last week, down to between 6 and 7 (it should be around 12). This dip is caused by the way her body is responding to Alimpta, the new chemo she began receiving last fall. We discussed giving Mom shots to boost her red blood cell development, but Dr. Galloway recommends discontinuing the Alimpta and beginning Mom on an oral chemo called Tarceva. There are side effects with Tarceva, as with all chemo products, but the Alimpta side effects Mom is experiencing are not worth the benefits. If Mom is doing well on her next chemo appointment, January 29, she'll begin the Tarceva then.
Mom's appetite has been good. Although she doesn't have much interest in ordering her food, she eats it all when it arrives. Her color is good. Her energy level could be better, but fighting an infection and the compelling urge to stay in bed are obstacles - not insurmountable, but resistent to the exercise she needs to remain active. Suzy is faithful to push her when she needs it.
I took a couple pictures on Saturday, but I won't be able to post them until I'm back in Grand Rapids.
Thanks for your continued prayers.

Back in the NMRH

Mom has had a rough go of it the last few days. The injury she sustained on Thursday resulted in several broken ribs. Although the breaks didn't show on the x-ray, we could feel them shifting when we gave her assistance. Her primary care doctor prescribed morphine tablets to help with the pain because the vicodin wasn't enough. The oral dose takes longer to hit the system and build up than the IV drip Mom has come to adore (yes, she again informed the hospital staff how much she loves morphine).


Mom was also very disoriented, exhibiting symptoms of dementia. She wasn't able to finish sentences, find words, or follow simple instructions like "walk toward me," or "put your right foot forward." She complained of stomach pain on Saturday night. Concerned that she may have internal injuries from the broken ribs, we took her to Northern Michigan Regional Hospital on Sunday morning.


We arrived at about 10:00 a.m. She was seen by the same doctor that put the single stitch in her head a few weeks ago. When she failed to answer his questions appropriately, he told us he was going to admit her. During the six hours we waited in the emergency department they ran urine and blood tests, took an x-ray and a ct scan. The ct scan showed no sign of bleeding or damage to her brain. The x-ray showed a change in the position of her colon. Her hemoglobin was low, 8.1. Most significantly, her urine tested positive for a urinary tract infection.

The UTI contributed to Mom's abnormal behavior. She was put on antibiotics, and Suzy told me today she is much better. Her hemoglobin fell some more, but is heading north again. A surgeon was consulted to determine whether or not her colon was beginning to twist. He saw some thicking on the x-ray of her colon that sometimes occurs in chemo patients, but she is not in danger of a twisted colon at this point.

She will be in the hospital for a few days. I'm not sure exactly how many. On Sunday, we were told at least two. Today is day two, and she is not ready to go home. But she loves the hospital. She gets room service, heated blankets, and a young tech named Ted gave her a bath today. They love her because her attitude is so good, and even when she's confused she's pleasant and funny.

Please continue to pray for Mom. The cancer is at bay, but the treatments are causing her difficulties that endanger her ability to remain lucid and mobile. Please pray for insight for the doctors planning her treatment, and for our stamina and peace as we assist Mom. It's our joy to have her with us and to give back a little of the wonderful care she gave us as children. It's also difficult to see her like she was last weekend, completely helpless to act or think. We trust God gives us grace for it, and we appreciate the prayers of our community of friends.


I wish I had a picture to share with you, but there was no appropriate time for pictures last weekend. But I do have some memorable quotes from Mom:


Look, there's a violin in the hallway.

Did Dick and Grace send me these? (warm blankets provided by ED nurse)

Toilet divine? (misunderstood "you went to the toilet; you're fine)

Haley is a much nicer person than me.

If I wanted a crash helmet, I would have bought one a long time ago. But they make too much noise.

Cracked tooth? (misunderstood "crap shoot")

Oh! Did I do that? (saw milk shake on food tray and thought it was her poo)



There's only one Rosie. Our mom is non-stop fun, even when she's down.

Good News, Bump News

The bump news is Mom fell early Thursday morning, this time on her side rather than her head. Suzy took her to the hospital. Although x-rays didn't show any damage, the doctor diagnosed her with broken ribs. She was very happy to get a little morphine at the hospital, and the doctor prescribed vicodin for her recover. I'm heading up this morning to be with her and help out.

Good news - Mom received her chemotherapy on Tuesday without having to receive a blood transfusion first. The last chemo visit her red cells were low, thus the transfusion. So her hemoglobin is up! Also, she received the results of her gamma knife radiosurgery. The brain tumor has shrunk. Very welcome news.

Mom's dose of steroid medication has been increased. Hopefully this will give her the cognitive boost she needs.

Below is a picture of her last Sunday at church with her friend Bev. Mom is donning her new cap knitted by cousin Roleen.

Bobbie Graham

Last summer, Bobbie and Rich came for the Darrow family reunion a couple days early so they could spend more time with Mom. It was a wonderful, fun time, all the more precious now as Bobbie left us on December 28.

Mom was diagnosed with cancer in its most advanced stage. None of us during that visit in June would have dreamed that Bobbie would go first. We don't get to know these things. So we do well to give each other our best love with every opportunity given to us.

We're grateful Bobbie and Rich took the opportunity to love us last June.





Barbara Graham Obituary