Well I wanted to come here and update on my mother We have been in Florida for 8 days now and it has been mostly frustrating.

I rushed here last Saturday 15 1/2 hours straight through from Virginia because they were to admit her to the hospital on Sunday for surgery on Tuesday. Well took her to the hospital to admit her and they had no knowledge of her to be admitted or the surgery. So we took her home and the neighbor who is her POA (more like a pain the butt) Monday started the process of yelling at the Doctors office about what was going on. Long story short the secretary in the office dropped the ball. you see Mom's Primary doctor doesn't have privileges at the Winter Haven Hospital so he talked to his partner who does to take care of my mom and the secretary for some reason thought that the surgery was Elective surgery, Now why would an 86 yr old woman want to have surgery on her colon for no good reason? Needless to say Nancy was livid I was livid and Wednesday they got the process rolling.

Mom was admitted Friday morning, but the nurse told us they had been waiting for her all day Thursday, the thing that gets us is that her Doctors office did not call until Thursday after 5 pm to tell us she was going to be admitted Friday to do the pre-op testing she needed. We also got the definitive diagnosis of Colon Cancer.

Last night I spoke to her surgeon who told me that the cancer has went to the lymph nodes based on the CT-Scan they are severely enlarged. He is going to do the surgery on Monday memorial day because it is emergent surgery. Mom will be in the ICU for a few days and in the hospital anywhere from a week to a week and a half. They want her to have Chemotherapy but she is refusing it. Plus mom has told many of her friends that she is tired and wants to be with Daddy I worry that she does not have the will to fight or recover from this surgery and her older sister who is 91 has bone cancer and they are unable to treat it and she is decompensating fast no longer eating, pain is not able to be controlled and they have called in hospice. Mom says that its time for both of them to go together, they maybe over 1000 miles from each other but they are very close and thick as thieves.

So if you all could think about us at 8 am EST Monday I would be grateful, I just found out the hospital has free wi-fi so I will try to update after the surgery.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Best wishes to your Mom. I'll be thinking of her tomorrow morning.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I'll keep your family & you in my prayers.
Judy

I will say a prayer for you and your mother.

Thinking of you and your family..

Thinking of you right now. I went through surgeries(heart bipass)sp? with my mother two years ago. Very scary waiting for news.

It's 8:10 and I'm thinking of your Mom. Wishing her the best.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I am getting queasy in my stomach now, told surgery would be an hour and we are at more than an hour, they took her in earlier... I dont know right now I am very sick to my stomach.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Don't forget that there's a pre-op period too. So if surgery is an hour, it usually means that she'll be away for about 2 hours. Besides, it doesn't mean that something went wrong. I had surgery in January that was supposed to last 3 hours and it took 71/2 instead! It wasn't that anything went wrong, just that it was more complication than they anticipated.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Praying for your mom, and strength for your family.

Do update us when you can. Hang in there!

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

it did take almost two hours for surgery, the Doctor called the tumor a goomba sized tumor, she is on a ventilator now much to her annoyance. It is something she never wanted but necessary and they were hoping to remove her from it by 5 pm tonight, but that did not happen when they weaned her down she wasn't breathing on her own, they say its because of the pain medication she is on it depresses her breathing and at 86 and with her breathing issues from post-polio syndrome it makes sense. When we were in the room she was agitated and all I had to do was stroke her forehead and smooth down her hair and tell her everything is alright momma and she would settle down. She had fallen at home Thursday night she wasnt wearing her glasses and I think she hit her foot on the walker as she turned to go towards the bathroom and they finally x-rayed it yesterday and she broke it at the 4th and 5th metatarsal so its very obvious to me I have to move down here which is going to cause issues I think with DH's SSDI appeal, we may have to do a split situation with him there and me here and I wont have any money because he needs my SSDI to pay the bills at home, I just dont know what to do right now its too much at one time to digest.

So right now its hour by hour day by day. I will go see her in the morning unless I have insomnia again then I can go visit in the middle of the night, I was amazed to hear cell phones ringing in the SICU and I questioned it and they told me it was Ok to leave cell phones on in the hospital which was a surprise to me because at home we have to turn them off unless we are in the lobby.

I will update as I can. I am very tired I came home at 3 pm and fell asleep until 6:30 and almsot missed bingo at the community hall where they asked me to give an update on Mom. I am going to try to go to sleep shortly.

Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts, you should see what DS Stefan has sent me in email smiley grams that are adorable and he sent a lovely email to Grandma at the hospital, the hospital has email for patients that the volunteers deliver everyday to patients really cool concept.

Once again thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the thoughts and prayers

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

sending prayers to your family.

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

Sending sincere prayers for everyone.. Peace , Catherine

Saw mom this morning her kidneys shut down and they were transfusing her with blood and she was very very swollen because of her kidneys, but she was off the ventilator. She blew all her IV lines so I had to sign the paperwork to put a central line in, she understood but her hands were so swollen she could not hold a pen and the POA was not available at the time to do it. I think the hardest thing I signed was the DNR (Do Not resuscitate) the wrote the order and I had to sign to approve it, her living will says to not do heroic measures. I am beat I have a migraine and a 21 yr old son who is worthless and I am ready to feed him to the gators, I wont even go into it makes me so mad.

Day by day hour by hour

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Sorry to hear that you and your Mom are having such a rough time (and that your son is useless). Are they thinking that her kidneys might kick back in again?

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Sorry for all of your frustrations, as well as the decisions you are having to make right now. I just sent a prayer your way. Lynne

They are hoping her kidneys will kick in and function right soon, her output was bit better overnight, but they had to transfuse her again and I cant go to the hospital I woke up with a fever and goopy eyes I think its a sinus infection so called my Dr in Va and they called me in something here at Walgreens.

Ortho will be in to look at her foot today they want to try to get her up into a chair at least so I hope they cast it or give her a "Space" boot to use.

My 21 yr old son is MIA after Daddy called him and told him off last night I wont even go into all the details but he is up to some old tricks and disrespect towards me and DH and I told him from the start when he came back and after he got out of jail if he contacted a certain person even by email or Im he was going to be homeless he thought he had one up on us, well we put monitoring software on all our PC's and we know he has contacted her and suffice it to say he was caught red-handed. I had enough last night when I took my migraine meds told him I had a migraine and was going to sleep and to leave me alone and he woke me up twice and then the third time I yelled at him not to wake me up again unless the blankity blank house was on fire, he could not figure out how to cook hashbrowns for crying out loud read the directions and use common sense your 21 and mommy cant be there 24/7 to help. then he purposely started slamming things around my mothers house and I lost it and called DH who let him have it and put him into tears. Let me tell you bi-polar children no matter what age are hard to deal with when they refuse treatment and I cant do it anymore and I cannot be his caretaker , take care of my mom and my own health issues also I am so done with him.

I just keep praying Mom comes out of this OK and she conitnues to fight she doesnt have much fight but we try to encourage her best we can.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Wow Cc! I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. My heart goes out to you and your family right now, and I hope things get better soon.

Sending prayers to you and your family. Stay strong. It's hard not to let things irritate, but this shall soon pass.

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We're off to never never land

Prayers for your family are on the way.

Mom's kidney function is NOT picking up, Ortho did not get there yesterday I dont know.

Keep praying I am freaking out this so reminds me of what we went through with my MIL back in 1997 same scenario to a point, bowel surgery, kidney issues only MIL had other complications and we lost her. Just freaking out.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Big deep breath and relax!

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

So sorry to hear that. Have the doctors given any indication of what is to be expected? Is this common for someone her age who just went through this type of surgery? Ask questions so you can either breathe easier or prepare yourself for next steps. Sorry. It must be very difficult.

__________________
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I'm sorry - this sounds like an incredibly hard time to be in. Please remember to take care of yourself. Thinking of you!

__________________
"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

will continue to pray for healing..hugs too..I'm sure you could use some..

I think she has turned a corner, I know that sometimes you take one step forward and two steps back, but hopin we keep going forward from here on out. She was up in the chair yesterday eating yes eating clear liquids when we got there in the morning. They said her bowels were making noises and her kidney function has picked up to a point, then again I know she has kidney problems as is so she may finally be at her normal. She was supposed to be out of the SICU by now, but in our family nothing ever goes as planned. They are talking about sending her to rehab after the hospital because of the broken foot and I already told them they would have to kill me before they do that I will not allow her to go to any rehab facility I hate them with a passion, what they can do I can do or a home health nurse can do at home, so we will see. If they insist I know I will go postal as will her POA. I better get moving and off to the hospital this morning I am hurting badly I went house hunting because I know I have to move here so much to choose from but not sure what we want.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Got to the SICU yesterday morning and they were readying her to transfer her back to Oncology so she is back in a regular room. YIPEE !!! Although I am still concerned about some things, she is so gaunt looking and when we went back last night her breathing was labored they had to put her back on oxygen, the good news is her bowels are working. I am not going up today there is not a part of my body that does not hurt it hurts to even type this, I told DH today there is no way I can take care of Mom, myself and a family I am going to have to let the professionals do it I am a horrible daughter if two weeks of this has put me into a god awful flare imagine what fulltime care might do to me. I have also lost 6 pounds which is fine I am in need of it but the pain I cant get on top of it and I may yet land in the ER to control it. We are crossing a bridge now toward the good

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Glad to hear she has turned a corner. Take care of yourself. It sounds like maybe a week or so in rehab for her would be best for both of you. You need a break and it won't kill her to be there for a week or so.

__________________
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I'm glad your mom is getting better. My friends mom was in rehab last year and there were wonderful to her. They even paid out of pocket for a few extra days. They knew that once she got home even with two people to take care of her it would be very hard.

I don't understand how her medical problems have caused you a flair up? Her neighbor is "in charge" of her care . You are a visitor.

Yeah, who do you think you are having a medical problem just because a loved one is ill? Who ever heard of stress causing a medical flare up? Sheesh!

__________________
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I shouldn't even give this catty remark a response, but I don't back down when challenged or someone says something hurtful anymore trust me people learned that in the last few days. I don't get how a person can be so caring sending prayers earlier in this thread and then come back later and say something like this, you truly are a hypocrite from where I sit.

FIRST AND FOREMOST I AM HER DAUGHTER NOT A VISITOR, I signed the DNR order not that money grubbing thief who supposedly had my mother's best interest's at heart.

I think if you were in my shoes and running back and forth like I have been, househunting, playing taxi for your son who is job searching and who we just received notification he has a suspended driver's license, (plus he isn't on my insurance nor responsible enough to drive IMHO anyhow). Add that to the stress of worrying about your mother's medical condition because you love her wondering is she going to survive the surgery, what is the next step since she has refused further care. I am taking care of TWO HOUSEHOLDS not one I still have to deal with everything up in Virginia that was left undone because I had to rush down here so quickly, there is a lot up there to be done. My scooter its in Virginia I was unable to bring it with me because I no longer have a carrier to put it on because someone backed into my car and it no longer opens up (they backed and ran and my deductible is more than the carrier even cost me). So I have had to walk across a parking lot, then halfway across a large hospital and back several times a day with my cane, we figure I probably put on about a mile on my shoes everyday with all the walking if not more, Plus I have lost 6 pounds go me !. Its not good on lupus,fibro, RA etc. period especially when I wont take medication that can knock my pain away and make me not so alert during a time when I need to be alert and a source of support for my mother while ensuring her needs are met and properly at that.

I have also met with an Elder rights attorney while I have been here about some issues I wont go into but suffice it to say I got a good lesson on what a POA is and isn't allowed to do and exactly when the Medical POA kicks in and this woman has more than overstepped her bounds since my mother is of sound mind, knows whats going on her only issue is that because of polio as a child and a educational system that did not educate her she cannot do math and she is unable to write checks and her arthritis has made it extremely hard to sign her name it takes close to 10-20 minutes to do it, so she needed help to do these things and this so-called neighbor/friend offered to help, who I have learned only knew my mother a mere 3 months before Daddy died and who has controlled my mother like she is a 2 yr old child, and I am now my Mother's POA.

I truly hope you never find yourself in my shoes with someone you love because I certainly will show no empathy towards you because of this catty response to me, after all aren't we all just visitors in the hospital whether we are family or not, they make the announcements Visiting hours are now over all vistors please leave the building they dont personally say Visitng hours are now over all visitors and sons daughters grandchildren etc leave the building, the hospital knows not who you are.

To those who care THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart we are on the road to recovery and to a new chapter in my whole families life as we relocate everyone to Florida in the next few months to become a 3 generation family under one roof.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

First of all I wasn't being catty I can NOT understand how a woman confined to a hospital bed can cause you such problems. Sorry she has inconvenienced your life . You had medical issues when you got there. She has not caused your family problems with your son or your car.I don't buy into your woe is me act. You had woe is me issues as long as I have seen you on here. It is possible to pray for your mothers health and not give a rats behind about her family.
Anyone that would force an elderly sick woman to have such a radical operation when she doesn't want it is beyond me. Do you expect her to thank you for that?
Your woe is me I have a bad son, health problems, and we can't work in my family and someone has to be to blame for that is beyond boring. You were able with you cain to make a pilgrimage to the lawyers office, funny how you can always make that trip even with a crushed up car.
Yes you are a daughter and are just remembering that because the lawyer told you that there is something in it for YOU ( free housing and food use of her gas,electric phone and t v )
You and your family are not the only ones that have problems or have suffered tragedy or have medical problems.
Three generations under one roof??? I earned the right to laugh at that one. I have have provided EVERYTHING for 3 generations for 40 years and Financially provided a stipend to my parents for years before that. Where were you when I was struggling with health problems and had no hot water or toilet for 6 months, were you reading my posts? I got out of my retirement and off my behind and found a job and NEVER took a cent from anyone to help me.
Since you are not providing health care to your mother in the hospital then yes, daughter you are a visitor.
Oh and by the way when my great- grandchild (and soon to be another) is at my home there are 4 generations in my home.
Now for the polio issue...been there done that....YES I even had polio in MY family. Someone is pulling your leg to tell you that an education was denied your mother because of the polio. She as you have stated is of sound mind and if she didn't learn from school then she could have learned math at home. If her parents didn't teach her math then you could have taken the time to do it.
If you want to compare medical problems my family to yours I don't think you have that much time.
My parents are deceased so I have been there and done that and it is horrible to have to go thru it but I NEVER shirked my responsibility to anyone be they family or friends.

Um....this is suddenly getting more than a little twisted...

How about if one DOES want to read Christine's updates on her mom, and be supportive, one continue reading/posting. If one is really skeptical and feeling sort of bitter and/or self-righteous about ones own stuff, maybe she could leave this thread alone, and perhaps start one about her own particular rough road...

Whatever about your point (I wouldn't know)... your timing and your cruel choice of words are definitely wrong.





Note to Christine - you hang in there.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Christine,
I am so sorry that you have been attacted like that.
While we do all have our own problems, you are one of the few who chose to share your lifes problems with us, your friends. We can choose to read your posts or not. I don't think that gives us the right to attack you. We can read them if we want and ignore them if we want and no one should feel that they have the right to be so mean.
Ignore your enemies and know that your true friends are here for you!!!
Sharon

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

Wow - no kidding! Somewhat psychotic!

__________________
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.