Family Tales of Woe
Before I pour all this out, I must say my family is doing well despite the circumstances. Everyone is hangin in and hangin on. I know our faith gives us a lot of strength and comfort. Here's what's going on:
My Mom has breast cancer. She was diagnosed last fall. She found the lump herself and it was a good thing because it was an aggressive form of cancer. She had a lumpectomy and has been receiving radiation and chemo for the last 7 months. She just finished her last chemo treatment so her hair will start growing back in a few weeks - yay! Although, I must say, her wig looks fabulous and absolutely real. Mom tolerated the chemo really well. She was a little tired here and there and had a sensitive mouth with some sores but that's about it. She thought the decision was final that she would not have a mastectomy but now the Dr. wants to revisit that decision. Mom has had an extremely positive attitude throughout. Her prognosis has always been good. She has also had lots of support from our church family sending her cards, gifts and most of all praying for her. Mom said it hasn't been that hard, more of an inconvenience than anything. See what I mean about her attitude? You can see for yourself at her website. Check out her journal and sign her guest book. She loves getting comments. She was even brave enough to post a picture of herself bald with my niece wearing the wig.
Last month my Dad pulled up at my brother's high school graduation and suddenly lost his ability to speak and his mouth was sagging for a few minutes. My parents had to skip the graduation and rush to the hospital. He had a Transient Ischemic Attack. It's basically a "mini stroke" or a "warning stroke" that leaves no lasting damage. More than a third of people who have a TIA, have a stroke later. Sometimes it's a week later or years later. My Dad's only 48 so I'm really not ready for that. I guess no one ever is. An MRI and an MRA later they discovered that one of his carotid arteries is extremely narrow so blood is flowing too slowly too his brain. It's possible that he was born with the defect. I'm sure his smoking cigarettes since he was 10 has not helped. I don't know what it'll take to get him to stop. He started taking Plavix this week and is meeting with a neurologist July 6th.
And finally, there's my sister. She seems to be in very good health. Her trauma is that she had to leave her husband and take her 3 kids and move in with my Mom and Dad. I won't share the details that aren't mine to share but I will say that I support her decision 100%. Her 3 kids are 7, 2 1/2 and 6 months. She quit her job 6 months ago to stay home and raise the kids. Her husband can't afford to fully support them until he sells their house. My Mom and Dad don't have the funds to support them and it's too much to leave all 3 kids home with Mom and Dad so Tricia can go to work. Some thing's gonna have to give. It'll all work out somehow.
This stuff is kinda overwhelming. My parent's house is pretty chaotic but like I said, everyone seems to be doing well considering the circumstances. I'm not ready to lose my parents but I rest in the knowledge that this world is not all there is and that I will see them again some day. I sure will miss them here on earth. I know my sister's family is under God's watch and care and that He loves them more than I ever could, so I have to trust that He is working out his plans for them. It's hard to trust though. As for me, I'm partly at peace and partly numb, which means there's not much pain right now, so I'll be happy to take it. Deep breath.......It's going to be alright.
My Mom has breast cancer. She was diagnosed last fall. She found the lump herself and it was a good thing because it was an aggressive form of cancer. She had a lumpectomy and has been receiving radiation and chemo for the last 7 months. She just finished her last chemo treatment so her hair will start growing back in a few weeks - yay! Although, I must say, her wig looks fabulous and absolutely real. Mom tolerated the chemo really well. She was a little tired here and there and had a sensitive mouth with some sores but that's about it. She thought the decision was final that she would not have a mastectomy but now the Dr. wants to revisit that decision. Mom has had an extremely positive attitude throughout. Her prognosis has always been good. She has also had lots of support from our church family sending her cards, gifts and most of all praying for her. Mom said it hasn't been that hard, more of an inconvenience than anything. See what I mean about her attitude? You can see for yourself at her website. Check out her journal and sign her guest book. She loves getting comments. She was even brave enough to post a picture of herself bald with my niece wearing the wig.
Last month my Dad pulled up at my brother's high school graduation and suddenly lost his ability to speak and his mouth was sagging for a few minutes. My parents had to skip the graduation and rush to the hospital. He had a Transient Ischemic Attack. It's basically a "mini stroke" or a "warning stroke" that leaves no lasting damage. More than a third of people who have a TIA, have a stroke later. Sometimes it's a week later or years later. My Dad's only 48 so I'm really not ready for that. I guess no one ever is. An MRI and an MRA later they discovered that one of his carotid arteries is extremely narrow so blood is flowing too slowly too his brain. It's possible that he was born with the defect. I'm sure his smoking cigarettes since he was 10 has not helped. I don't know what it'll take to get him to stop. He started taking Plavix this week and is meeting with a neurologist July 6th.
And finally, there's my sister. She seems to be in very good health. Her trauma is that she had to leave her husband and take her 3 kids and move in with my Mom and Dad. I won't share the details that aren't mine to share but I will say that I support her decision 100%. Her 3 kids are 7, 2 1/2 and 6 months. She quit her job 6 months ago to stay home and raise the kids. Her husband can't afford to fully support them until he sells their house. My Mom and Dad don't have the funds to support them and it's too much to leave all 3 kids home with Mom and Dad so Tricia can go to work. Some thing's gonna have to give. It'll all work out somehow.
This stuff is kinda overwhelming. My parent's house is pretty chaotic but like I said, everyone seems to be doing well considering the circumstances. I'm not ready to lose my parents but I rest in the knowledge that this world is not all there is and that I will see them again some day. I sure will miss them here on earth. I know my sister's family is under God's watch and care and that He loves them more than I ever could, so I have to trust that He is working out his plans for them. It's hard to trust though. As for me, I'm partly at peace and partly numb, which means there's not much pain right now, so I'll be happy to take it. Deep breath.......It's going to be alright.
posted by Jennifer @ 7:40 PM
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