There has been a silence on the blog as there is not much to report. Mom is busy with occupational and physical therapy and a few doctor appointments here and there. Her biggest symptom currently is fatigue, headaches and intermittent pain on the left side of her body.

We had visitors over this past week including my best friend's 2 year old daughter which brought a huge deal of joy to mom. It was a small taste at being a grandma.

With the help of many friends and family we pulled off a 60 person BBQ party at our house celebrating the engagement of Chad (my brother) and Angee. Having so many friends and family at our house eating delicious food, carving pumpkins with kids and laughter all around brought so much happiness to mom.

November 10th is her next MRI - until then we will continue to enjoy our days and make every effort to increase mom's strength and energy.

More good news from the home life status

It has been 10 days since Mom has been released from the hospital. Of those 10 days we have spent 4 out of 10 of the days at the hospital for a variety of reasons.

Currently her days are filled with physical therapy, managing her daily needs, sewing, the occasional visiting friend, and resting.

After some blood work this week the doctor told mom she did not have to have a platelet transfusion this week because her valued did not drop below 10,000! This is the longest stretch of time she has gone without a transfusion and we were very excited to learn this news.

The last two days mom has used her walker getting in and out of the car and going to PT as opposed to using her wheelchair so she is trying to push herself to regain strength.

The family would kindly like to ask for people to resist from bringing over sweet baked goods. She is on the verge of diabetes and when she takes steroids her cravings for sweets and carbs increases. We know these baked goods are filled with love and we appreciate the thought, but you would be supporting more by bringing over sugar free and gluten free foods (although please understand we have TONS of food at the house).

Thanks again for everyone's love and support!

Enjoying home life

I would like to apologize for the delay on this update.

Mom was released from the hospital on Monday Oct. 5th. Dad worked hard to prepare the house for mom's return home. We had to make adjustments to accommodate mom's new needs and of course rid the house of the possum smell. Once we arrived home that night mom enjoyed sleeping in her own bed.

It seemed for a couple days merely a tease for leaving the hospital. We spent all day on Tuesday and Wednesday at MD Anderson meeting with doctors, therapists and conducting even more tests. Mom blew me out of the water on Wednesday. We had to wake up at 5:30 am in order to make our first MD Anderson appointment.

This might be mundane to read, but for me it was such a memorable, fun and exciting day that I do not want to forget this epic adventure at the hospital. Mom had her first appointment with an OT to get fitted for a wheelchair, we then raced across the opposite side of the hospital to draw blood, then we went back to floor 8 to visit some of our patient friends who were not yet lucky enough to be out of the hospital, we then had an appointment with the owner and nurse of At Your Side company who would be providing in home health care for mom when needed, then we raced to the Mays clinic to meet with the Hematologist who conveniently forgot he had an appointment with mom so we left the Mays clinic without seeing the doctor, we raced back to the main building to meet with her lead oncologist doctor, after that appointment we went to the Gastro-Intestinal Center to meet with a doctor and as soon as we finished with him we raced back to the Mays clinic to meet with the Hematologist doctor. At the end of the last appointment we found ourselves at the furthest place in relationship to our parking spot. Pheew - I was exhausted!

The details of the day are not as important as the reflections on mom's spirit and energy. It was the first day mom felt full of energy and seemed back to her old self (relatively speaking) in months. We met so many people that day in the waiting rooms and on shuttles, shared our story, listened to even more stories, gave out hugs, laughed, cried and became enraged by the inefficiencies in the hospital system.

The most memorable part of the day came when mom, dad and I met with her head oncologist doctor and for the first time in MONTHS he shared some good news. Dr. Puduvalli in his calming, sincere and heartfelt tone said, "Mrs. Yates, reviewing your MRI I can say that your tumor is stable and it has not grown in four weeks." F*%$ yeah! Finally, finally, finally, finally we have something to really smile about.

The next four weeks will include outpatient physical and occupational therapy, blood work and transfusions every 5-6 days and occasional doctor check ups. We are looking forward to a light hospital schedule and enjoying time at home. Until the tumor shows growth activity mom will not be given any treatment (chemo or radiation) so she can regain strength and normal bone marrow results.

I am currently in Vegas with my brothers and Angee (Chad's fiance) for my cousin's (Blair) wedding. It was hard to leave mom behind as she could not fly with such low platelets. Her rock of a husband also stayed behind to be with her. While we miss their presence with us, it is comforting to know that mom is in the comforts of her own home. We hired a certified nurse assistant to help mom since I would not be around during the days while dad is at work.

Mom is getting back to her sewing room and her friends have been coming over to spend time with her. Nothing could raise her spirits more than quilting, spending time with friends and being at home with Dad. We have to sing songs and celebrate each time we have good days with mom.

Brook's thoughts on the doctors and nurses: I cried the other day thinking about the doctors who have to share horrifying news to patients and their families and a daily basis. When Puduvalli shared the good news with mom the you could feel the thick relief and joy radiating from everyone including the doctor and his nurse. Sadly, the opposite can be said for the days when knife stabbing news is shared but with equal intensity. The doctors and nurses at MD Anderson are incredibly human and they care so much about their patients they take on their joys and sadness. It must be exhausting to be in their shoes. I also found it interesting that mom praised Puduvalli for the good news even though Puduvalli had no part in the fact that the tumor did not grow.

Back to "In-patient" status

Mom stayed in the ER for nearly 30 hours until they finally finished with all of the tests and found an open room. When we arrived that day the hospital was 106% full. She found her way back to the 8th floor in room P821.

Every four days mom will still need platelet transfusions as her platelets are not producing on their own.

Mom is extremely weak and although the doctors tell us she only has several days to spend in the hospital, from experience we might interpret that as at least one week and then go from there.

My family generously let me go to Salt Lake City for the weekend as I had a previously planned committee meeting for the non-profit organization Ski For Light. This weekend has been a good respite for me and I want to thank my family for stepping in during my absence.

Back to the ER we go!

Our morning started with a routine trip to the hospital for blood work. Finally we got some great news! Mom's platelets were at a satisfactory level which means we do not need a platelet transfusion.

Before leaving the hospital mom had to share with the doctor that she had some indigestion issues and abdominal pain. They sent us to the gastrointestinal center. When we finally met with the GI doctor they reviewed the symptoms and decided to send mom to the Emergency Center.

They suspect that her diverticulitis or colon infection has returned. In order to properly diagnose these infections it requires a CT scan. A CT scan itself is a walk in the park, however, the contrast that she has to drink is not a walk in the park. This liquid causes violent diarrhea for nearly 24 hours. This will be mom's third CT scan in nearly one month.

It is now 7:00pm and mom is still waiting in the ER room. We have been waiting all day for our turn at the CT scan machine with no hope in sight. Two days out of the hospital and now I am sitting back in the visitor chair looking onto my mother as she lays in the all so familiar hospital bed waiting for the "pooping juice".

As awful as the story I am painting my mom is still able to have fun in the darkest of hours. Mom, Peggy (her best friend from high school) and I sat in the room all day telling stories, jokes and making the best of the situation. Mom still gives hugs to each and every nurse and makes such a beautiful connection with every person who tends to her.

As many things that have gone wrong and continue to go wrong, my mother and I still find ourselves in a state of gratefulness. Thanks for the continued love and support.

Much love to all of those who send their love, thoughts and prayers.

The day after escaping from the hospital

To add to the complication of our current life, a big, fat nasty, flea infested possum made its way into our home several weeks ago. Dad thought squirrels had nestled their way into the attic through a hole from the outside of the house. He thought he "chased" the squirrels out of the attic and then closed up the hole. Several days before mom was discharged from the hospital dad and I noticed an awful smell in the house. Dad went investigating with a respirator and proper equipment and he found a starved and dehydrated dead possum. Sooooooo, instead of going home from the hospital, mom and I went to my uncle's condo which is near downtown Houston.

Mom's first day away from the hospital included a trip back to the hospital as the nurses forgot to give us all of the proper medication. We also went grocery shopping which typically would not sound like a milestone, but after spending 29 days in the hospital going anywhere in public is news worthy.

Nothing else of significance happened as mother's fatigue had taken over. For a variety of reasons the following two days out of the hospital mom basically slept all through the day.