Merry Christmas to The Mean Aunt...love, the Pace's/DeCoria's/Owens'

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Week 6 Countdown

Almost there!

I drove Mom up on Monday.

Monday wasn't a good day.

She has a new pain in her upper stomach.

This is a very intense pain.

Her labs were good and back to almost normal.

But..the Doctor looked at her and told her that just from looking at her, he wasn't going to do the infusion.

He told her that she could start the chemo pill again.

So we did.

He called 10 minutes later and told us never mind.

Too late.

He told her that he wanted a CT scan and a EGD to see if they could see what is causing the pain.
Today she has had a great day.

She vacummed the floor and took out the garbage.

She said it is the best she has felt in weeks.

Figures...the day she feels great, why not put her out and do a huge test???

That is where she is now.

Tomorrow is the CT scan.

We are counting down....

3 more treatments left!!!

Weeks 4 & 5

Week four was tough.

Mom has been so sick!

Dr. Rich ordered blood work which showed that her liver enzymes were way too high.

So he ordered no chemo for week four.

Mom received lots of IV fluids.

It sure is nice to have a nurse who happens to be your Aunt come and help take care of you. Thanks LaNeeta.

Today the news was the same.

Liver enzymes are coming down but still too high... so no chemo for week five either.

This is a relief but also a little worrisome, we want to make sure we kill this beast.

The Dr told her not to worry.

He feels confident that we have been treating the cancer so aggressively, that the first 3 weeks of chemo have already killed everything.

So she can enjoy the week and have a good Thanksgiving.

She is feeling much better this week.

If the liver looks good next week, they will start chemo treatment again.

She has hated being so drugged up...so sometimes she tries to tough it out and not take a pill.

Not a good idea.

I think we have convinced her that she needs them.

She has been well loved these last few weeks.

So many meals, cards, and phone calls.

Thank you so much for loving our Mom too.

We appreciate all you do for her and for us.

Radiation

Only 7 Treatments left!!!

We will be so happy to have this part of treatment behind us.

If you have to go through a trial like cancer,
it sure does help to have a great team giving you care.

We have been so happy with the great care the Radiation Team has given mom.

The girls there are so kind.

Katie is on the left next to mom and then Brooke and Melaine.

Then another Brooke with mom.

They let me take these pictures so mom could always remember them and this machine.

This is a molded pillow that holds her in the exact position so they can deliver the radiation in the right spot.

Picture Of The Day

I like Julie's theme of "You Could Be This Guy".

So....just think, today, you could be this guy.

Week Three

Week Three has been a busy week, also the hardest so far.

We have had many people come and go.

Dad spent the first couple days, followed by Melanie, Katie and Haley and then finally me.

Dad told me the days go by slow.

You have a twenty minute treatment and then you get to rest for 23 hours and fourty minutes till the next twenty minute treatment..........

so bring something to do.

I kept busy knitting and crocheting mom even helped out.

Katie, Haley and Melanie decorated Mom's room with pictures and thoughts and even a count down chain.

This is so great it really brightened up a dull room and really inspires her to fight on everyday.

Thanks guys you are the best!!

I am sure cancer looks just like this.

Mom is still serving others even though she was having a tough week.

Joe and Lilly are her next door neighbors at the guest house.

They are both well into their eightys.

Mom recieved a call from the hospital asking if she could go knock on their door because they couldn't get them to answer the phone.

Lilly is fighting bone cancer and needed to go over to the ER.

So Mom and Haley loaded them up and took them to the ER. She helped her into her gown and picked up all the money that fell out of her socks while taking them off.

Mom waited there with them until thier daughter arrived.

After this mom was exhasted. This is just like mom always putting others needs before her own.

Next week will be a long one.

She has to have treatment 6 days because of the Thanksgiving Holiday the following week.

I am thankful for the time that I got to spend helping out.

I wish there was more I could do.

I am so thankful to everyone who has called, dropped by, sent cards, and brought meals.

Mom has such wonderful friends and so many people who care for her.

Thank you so much it means so much to our family.

In Optimistic Pursuit

Last sunday, we had a special stake conference in which Pres. Eyring spoke. He repeated a phrase several times throughout his talk that has really stuck with me.

"Optimistic Persistence."

In finding happiness we can not sit by passivly waiting for it to find us. We can be happy and find joy even in times of trial.

Les, you have never been one to sit back and watch the work. You are the first one to grab a shovel and dig in. Times that I have worked beside you, either cleaning a house or laying grass or whatever it may be, humor always seems to go hand in hand with the job being done. Its the attitude, the laughter, and the optimistic persistence.

During this ugly battle in your life right now, I think the same idea applies. Being discouraged and negative don't have to take over your life. I don't think that you'll let them. That's never been your style.

I hope that during this time you are able to laugh every time you cry, and cry everytime you laugh.

SDLY