Mom's Medical Update

What can I say but Hallelujah. Mom's final radiation treatment was last Friday. They all came out to say goodbye and to give her hugs - the nurses, the radiation techs; well just about everyone you come in to contact with from the front door to the back treatment rooms. They were all so nice and accommodating. Answering all our questions, even the silly ones, and always checking in to make sure mom was doing okay. We couldn't have had a better treatment team taking care of her.

Now were in the wait and see zone. She'll have a follow up MRI in 2 1/2 months and then a check in appointment with her Radiologist, Dr. Pants. He'll continue to follow up for the first year, doing period MRI's to gain measurements and overall insight. We'll also be following up with her Neurologist/surgeon Dr. Laguno every six months as well, and after the first year then he'll take the reigns again and arrange future MRI's (on a timely basis as I'm going to be overseeing everything this time around)as well as follow up visits with himself. I'll be writing them in on the calendar and working with his nurse Donna, who is awesome, to make sure everything sticks to the general timeline and that orders are called in when they should be. Mom and I do not want to be blind sighted by any additional large growths as we both like to know what we're dealing with and what challenges may be just around the bend.

All in all she handled it graciously, going in with a smile and coming back out with a smile in place as well. She did lose some hair but not near as bad as estimated, and has been fatigued on a daily basis since about week three of the series. They do not typically do a repeat for her type of tumor, especially given her age, but one never knows, so we are in wait and see mode as to how this little adventure is going to play out. We'll keep you all posted.

And in that same vein I thought you all might get a kick out of seeing mom in some recent photo's. Of course she's loving on my boy Joe just after he was born at the hospital one year ago this month. The following two photo's were taken in June of this year when we were able to hook up with her brothers. In the first one she is standing between her brothers Ron and Jake, and in the second one she's hanging out with Armas having a chat. All in all that was a great trip and I got to hear all kinds of old stories, which just goes to prove that you never know everything about a person no matter how long you've known them. Enjoy!