Today's Update on Mom

She's had 2 very good days.  Her health has stayed stable, and her mood is good.  She's been very lucid, with only a few slips all day, that I noticed.  She's bruised around her arm from the BP cuff, and on her right hand from attempted IV sticks.  Her injured knee is waaaaaaay better than it was.

Aunt Peggy and Pam, Uncle Ted and Cheryl, and Aunt June came to visit from the Akron area today.  Rachel and Dan came this afternoon, and Drew and Jessica this morning.  Then Chris and Jenna this afternoon and Charlie and Susan this evening.  We started out saying we wanted to keep her with only 2 visitors at a time, but the day wore on and Mom was doing so well, we let about 4-5 at a time, and she insisted it wasn't tiring her.

We're settling down, now.  Dave and his kids are on their way from San Antonio and should be at Dad and Mom's later tonight.  We advised them not to come to the hospital at the late hour he would be arriving, around 10 PM, but to let Mom rest for a big day tomorrow.

Tomorrow they'll run another MRI to compare to the first and to assess how her brain swelling is doing.  They'll have the heart surgeon who did her carotid artery surgeries (before - years back) in consultation, as well, and look at her current vitals and decide whether it's time to do the surgery.

Chris and Jenna and I are all staying at Katrina's, and Dad's been commuting from home.  For now, we're all holding up well, but having our tearful moments, too.  Mostly good times and positive energy here, though.  The staff all love Mom and keep telling us that she's a real honey.  We know that.  We've been lucky to know her for a long time.  The staff here have all been absolutely outstanding.

I have wireless internet access at the hospital but it's not as easy to use the phone, so I'll try to post frequently here tomorrow as we learn more.

Bless you, and thank you for your prayers.

Love, Beck

Coming Home Tomorrow

With Benji.  We'll be staying with my friend Katrina in Columbus (Hilliard).

Direct flight on Southwest

Sat Jul 30
 #3188
   Depart PHOENIX AZ (PHX) at 11:00 AM
Arrive in COLUMBUS OH (CMH) at 5:45 PM

More Bad News About Mom

Just talked to Dad and Chris and Mom at the hospital.

They just completed reviewing the MRI with the doctor.

Mom's situation is very grave.  The tumor is about the size and shape of a lime, behind her left temple, above the ear.  There are a few other smaller tumors as well.  The swelling is severe and worrying, and is extending down and beginning to encroach where her spinal fluid needs to flow.  The steroids are helping that not to worsen, or slow it at least.  They're concerned that it's too dangerous to do surgery now because of her being on blood thinners.  They've taken her off them and are waiting, and hope to do surgery Sunday or Monday if she doesn't worsen before then.  They also need the surgeon who did her carotid artery surgeries to test to be sure they are still OK.  For now, she is stable, has eaten and is feeling well.  She's still completely lucid, but sounds scared, as anyone would be.  Dad is numb, Chris tearful.

As soon as I finish this, I'm working on a flight home ASAP.

Love you'ns.  Pray for us.

Very Bad News

We learned yesterday that my Mother has a brain tumor.  She was not lucid and acting not herself, and her BP was 190/120 so Dad and Charlie took her to the hospital ER in Cambridge.  They diagnosed a brain tumor and sent her to OSU Medical Center by ambulance.  Drew met her in the ER at the hospital last night and was a great comfort to her.  She was relieved to see a friendly face amongst so many strangers.  Dad had been too upset to talk on the phone to anyone, and his hearing loss frustrates him tremendously.  For whatever reason, he and Charlie went home, Chris went to Dad and Mom's last night, then drove to the hospital with Dad this morning.

I spoke to Mom and Drew last night and Mom was doing much better, was completely lucid, felt much better, but was tired and hungry - they'd not given her anything to eat all day.

This morning she saw an oncologist and was soon to see a neurologist.  The tumor is large and is pressing on the left side of her brain, and that's dangerous because it could cause loss of function.  They gave her steroids to reduce the swelling and plan to biopsy today.  They're now waiting on an MRI.

That's all I've heard so far.  But I will probably be coming to Ohio soon, and may need to call on my Columbus friends for help, and maybe lodging.  Rachel, my niece is in Columbus and could visit Mom a lot except that she has twin 6-month old boys and a 4 year old boy to manage at home.

I'll keep you all posted here.