Changes

When I left for Grand Rapids last Monday Mom had slept most of the day. Suzy told me Tuesday evening that Mom was still very tired and that there were changes in her demeanor and appearance.

Mom can be snappy, but she's always been just one word away from kindness. Last week, Mom was irritated and not very nice to Suzy. This is very unusual behavior for her. (Suzy might jokingly tell you it's status quo.) Her speech became quiet and a bit nasal. She had a difficult time finishing sentences and sometimes repeated the same word over and over. Most of what she said did not make sense, although it seemed she knew what she was trying to say. Much like she was a few weeks ago, but moreso.

When Corey and I arrived late Thursday night, I could see the change in Mom's face. Everything in her face seemed to have fallen a little, and seeing us after three days did not bring the usual smile to her face. She was interacting with the TV characters she was watching, occasionally acknowledging that we were there. The abrupt change was disconcerting. However, at bedtime she kept tradition with a sincere "I love you Patty" and kisses.

Dr. Karkosak thought it was one of two things: the effects of morphine or swelling of the brain from a tumor. We pretty much ruled out the morphine because she had been on the same dose for several days and this change was quick. Dr. Karkosak prescribed prednisone to bring down swelling if it existed. So we stopped the liquid ibuprofen and started prednisone on Thursday.

Friday, Mom slept until 2:40 p.m. When she awoke, she greeted me with a smile, told me she was feeling pretty good, and said scrambled eggs sounded wonderful. By the time Suzy and Corey returned from their trip to Petoskey in the late afternoon she was much more herself. Not to the extent that she was last weekend, but much different from Thursday. Everything that had fallen in her face was back in its sunny place.

Bill, Pattie, Tina and Devon came on Saturday and it was a good visit, replete with conversation and laughter. Tina brought a DVD from Mom's cousin, Eileen Milner, of Eileen's trip to the Czech Republic this year. Eileen and her daughters found the house in Andrejov where Mom's great-great-grandfather lived when he left for America. We watched it together.

This morning Mom woke up early. She is patiently waiting for me to post this update and return to the room with her breakfast. Suzy is making oven baked french toast for breakfast at the church, and Olivia is dutifully and desparately trying to wake her siblings to get ready. So, it's pretty much business as usual. What a blessing.

Mom's last labs came back good - a small rise in her hemoglobin, a small decrease in her white blood cells, no infection. She will continue with prednisone in gradually decreasing doses for a few more days, the Dr. Karkosak will reassess. I'll keep you posted.