Just wanted to send a quick update on my mothers condition... She went into the hospital last week because apparently her red blood cell count was about half of what it ought to be. She was in for 3 days as the doctors gave her blood and took a look or two around inside to see what they could find.
What they found was a blockage at the top of her stomach and further blockages in her gall bladder. Yesterday, the stomach blockage was officially diagnosed as stomach cancer. As I type this, she is headed in for another look at the gall bladder, as the doctors still aren't quite sure what that is. There's a particular cancer that it could be (I haven't spoken to the doctors myself so I'm somewhat vague here) and if it is that, there's not much they can do. It's pretty rare however, and they warned us of it not because there are any signs pointing to it or anything, but just to make us aware of all of the possibilities likely or not, scary and otherwise. There's every chance in the world that the stomach and gall bladder are completely unrelated, they just need to go in and figure out once and for all what it is before they can begin treatment for it and for her stomach.
As scared as I am, my cousin last night reminded me of all of the people in our family who have already beaten cancer (apparently it runs in the family. that's a pleasant thought.) Her mom had a lump in her breast. Removed, gone. Her dad had a cancerous growth in his ear. Removed, gone. My moms brother had testicular cancer. Removed, gone, it's probably been twenty years. so long that we often forget he had it. My paternal grandmother had it. Removed, gone. My parents know at least two people they talked to yesterday who've survived cancer as well, one of which was such a "hopeless case" that the doctors expected her to die two decades ago.
Obviously, all of these success stories still do not equal a garauntee for my mother, but in the constant battle between Faith and Fear, you take what encouragement is available. And like I say, the Big Scary Gall Bladder Cancer the doctors were afraid of is actually pretty rare, and there's a good chance that's NOT the problem. no signs pointing to it, they just wanted to make us aware that it was POSSIBLE. her coloration has been steadily improving the past week, and she's been up and about the house like she always is; as one would expect from my mom, she's taking it more in stride than any of the rest of us.
All of this and my best friend (who married my cousin) had a little girl a few weeks ago...she was born with a rare and troubling condition where her organs were essentially trying to push they're way into her chest cavity during development. It was detected several months ago, so everyone was prepared (as much as one could be) when she was born for what needed to be done next. There have been some scary moments, but she's had her surgery and is in recovery and doing quite well (my family is known for being stubborn. Little Emma is no exception, she's fighting the good fight for sure). Now it's pretty much slowly weaning her off of support machinery and teaching her to eat (at this point she's never eaten; she's just had nutrients flowing into her body via tube) so that she can go home and be with her parents.
This family is going through a dark time, and we would appreciate your prayers. Thank you so much, and I'll keep updating as I hear news.
What they found was a blockage at the top of her stomach and further blockages in her gall bladder. Yesterday, the stomach blockage was officially diagnosed as stomach cancer. As I type this, she is headed in for another look at the gall bladder, as the doctors still aren't quite sure what that is. There's a particular cancer that it could be (I haven't spoken to the doctors myself so I'm somewhat vague here) and if it is that, there's not much they can do. It's pretty rare however, and they warned us of it not because there are any signs pointing to it or anything, but just to make us aware of all of the possibilities likely or not, scary and otherwise. There's every chance in the world that the stomach and gall bladder are completely unrelated, they just need to go in and figure out once and for all what it is before they can begin treatment for it and for her stomach.
As scared as I am, my cousin last night reminded me of all of the people in our family who have already beaten cancer (apparently it runs in the family. that's a pleasant thought.) Her mom had a lump in her breast. Removed, gone. Her dad had a cancerous growth in his ear. Removed, gone. My moms brother had testicular cancer. Removed, gone, it's probably been twenty years. so long that we often forget he had it. My paternal grandmother had it. Removed, gone. My parents know at least two people they talked to yesterday who've survived cancer as well, one of which was such a "hopeless case" that the doctors expected her to die two decades ago.
Obviously, all of these success stories still do not equal a garauntee for my mother, but in the constant battle between Faith and Fear, you take what encouragement is available. And like I say, the Big Scary Gall Bladder Cancer the doctors were afraid of is actually pretty rare, and there's a good chance that's NOT the problem. no signs pointing to it, they just wanted to make us aware that it was POSSIBLE. her coloration has been steadily improving the past week, and she's been up and about the house like she always is; as one would expect from my mom, she's taking it more in stride than any of the rest of us.
All of this and my best friend (who married my cousin) had a little girl a few weeks ago...she was born with a rare and troubling condition where her organs were essentially trying to push they're way into her chest cavity during development. It was detected several months ago, so everyone was prepared (as much as one could be) when she was born for what needed to be done next. There have been some scary moments, but she's had her surgery and is in recovery and doing quite well (my family is known for being stubborn. Little Emma is no exception, she's fighting the good fight for sure). Now it's pretty much slowly weaning her off of support machinery and teaching her to eat (at this point she's never eaten; she's just had nutrients flowing into her body via tube) so that she can go home and be with her parents.
This family is going through a dark time, and we would appreciate your prayers. Thank you so much, and I'll keep updating as I hear news.
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