Fellow TCS Users,
I’ve had a few PM’s lately asking where I have been, as I haven’t been on the boards at all. I’m not narcissistic enough to think people would actually notice my absence on a site this big but since some have I figured I would just start a new thread so everyone is up to speed.
In October 2011 my Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. It came as quite a shock as she was only 59 and had always been very healthy: never smoked, ate all the right foods, and exercised regularly. Her only symptom was a persistent cough that her doctor kept writing off as her being allergic to the new cat.
The past 20 months have been a roller coaster of ups and downs, good news and bad. Through it all she has had a fighting spirit and just kept on going. She went through 4 different types of chemotherapy, full spine radiation, and full brain radiation- twice (something that is almost unheard of). Her doctors told her most people at her stage rarely live more than 7 months- boy did she prove them wrong!
Last month our final chemo option stopped working. So, we started pursuing the option of a clinical trial. And, she got into an amazing one that was in the last phase before it goes to the FDA for approval. There were no placebos involved and we knew the dose of the medication that she would be getting. We found out after she was accepted that she not only got the last spot at our hospital here, but the last spot in the entire US. It seemed like fate.
But then, her health took a sudden turn. We had to do a bunch of tests to finish qualifying for the trial, and that meant almost 3 weeks with no treatment of any kind. At first she was just tired and a little out of it but then she totally crashed. She went from being up and active every day to unable to walk on her own. She couldn't feed herself and for several gut wrenching days, didn’t know who I was. We stayed optimistic hoping the new drug would help but when we went for the final appointment last week they dropped the bomb that in order to qualify patents have to be up and active at least 50% of the time. Since at that point she wasn’t she was disqualified, less than 18 hours before the trial was set to begin.
We had one more chemo we could have tried but it is highly toxic to even the healthiest patients. So, she elected not to do it. Instead, we have called in hospice and are trying to make her last few weeks as comfortable as possible.
So, that is where I am and why I am not around. I have moved all my necessities out of my house and I’m living with my parents to provide around the clock care. Given how quickly she has gone downhill I don’t think we have more than a few weeks left and I want to get every second I can with her. I don’t know when I will return to TCS, I just know that I will. Until then, lots of vibes and prayers for us please.
Thank you for all the support,
EB
I’ve had a few PM’s lately asking where I have been, as I haven’t been on the boards at all. I’m not narcissistic enough to think people would actually notice my absence on a site this big but since some have I figured I would just start a new thread so everyone is up to speed.
In October 2011 my Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. It came as quite a shock as she was only 59 and had always been very healthy: never smoked, ate all the right foods, and exercised regularly. Her only symptom was a persistent cough that her doctor kept writing off as her being allergic to the new cat.
The past 20 months have been a roller coaster of ups and downs, good news and bad. Through it all she has had a fighting spirit and just kept on going. She went through 4 different types of chemotherapy, full spine radiation, and full brain radiation- twice (something that is almost unheard of). Her doctors told her most people at her stage rarely live more than 7 months- boy did she prove them wrong!
Last month our final chemo option stopped working. So, we started pursuing the option of a clinical trial. And, she got into an amazing one that was in the last phase before it goes to the FDA for approval. There were no placebos involved and we knew the dose of the medication that she would be getting. We found out after she was accepted that she not only got the last spot at our hospital here, but the last spot in the entire US. It seemed like fate.
But then, her health took a sudden turn. We had to do a bunch of tests to finish qualifying for the trial, and that meant almost 3 weeks with no treatment of any kind. At first she was just tired and a little out of it but then she totally crashed. She went from being up and active every day to unable to walk on her own. She couldn't feed herself and for several gut wrenching days, didn’t know who I was. We stayed optimistic hoping the new drug would help but when we went for the final appointment last week they dropped the bomb that in order to qualify patents have to be up and active at least 50% of the time. Since at that point she wasn’t she was disqualified, less than 18 hours before the trial was set to begin.
We had one more chemo we could have tried but it is highly toxic to even the healthiest patients. So, she elected not to do it. Instead, we have called in hospice and are trying to make her last few weeks as comfortable as possible.
So, that is where I am and why I am not around. I have moved all my necessities out of my house and I’m living with my parents to provide around the clock care. Given how quickly she has gone downhill I don’t think we have more than a few weeks left and I want to get every second I can with her. I don’t know when I will return to TCS, I just know that I will. Until then, lots of vibes and prayers for us please.
Thank you for all the support,
EB