Mom is a wonderful person, inside and out. She has a heart of gold and is always willing to help those in need.
Case and point....both her and Dad learned sign language mainly because Mom was losing her hearing and they found that by speaking with their hands, they could communicate more fluently.
After a few years at their local college and several dinners at their home with some new found friends in the deaf society, Mom took on a job twice a week, an hour each day at a local health center for the mentally challenged. This group consisted of adults with disabilities consisting of terets, spinal issues, mental retardation and many other physical and mental challenging issues.
Mom selflessly offered her talent and love to these people for four years. They became a part of her family and she became a part of their lives. She'd make up simple to complex games for all of them to partake in while also teaching everyone how to communicate with sign language. After a while, it became Mom's rule to her "clients" that they only communicate by sign....no sound was to be uttered in the form of words. They took to her rule rather well and learned so much from Mom, their teacher.
Let's rewind a bit. Mom and Dad are in their 70's. They are both retired from a satisfying business of over 25 years that they started in their garage. Dad is an artist at heart. So, he changed careers from the restaurant business to the sign business.
From large boards and saw horses in the garage and down the driveway, they moved their business to a local building. A few moves later and several years in to their business, they were finally able to purchase their own warehouse that also included two other tennants. God has truly blessed Mom and Dad throughout their years in the business.
It finally came time for Mom and Dad to retire and enjoy the life that they had wished for. Home, projects, hobbies, travel...whatever their heart desired. Time together in their home that they purchased just a few years after they got married with hard earned and well kept money. Careful budgeting, a basic poor mans meals, Mom and Dad put the down payment on a nice family home that was to be where they reared 5 children and eventually retire to spend their loving years together with their growing family of grandchildren and great grandchildren as we all came to visit.
Okay, fast forward a bit....Mom battled colon cancer back in 2001 and after some surgeries, chemotherapy, and several doctors visits, she beat the cancer and was cancer free for over 10 years. Praise God!
In 2012, Mom and Dad had two of their grandchildren fly out to visit from Florida. They were so excited to see them since they lived so far away, visits were not very frequent. Only phone calls or emails were their mode of communication, so to have two of their 11 grandchildren for a visit for nearly a month brought some excitement and interesting prospects for things to do.
How do you keep a pre-teen and young teenager occupied and interested in things to do for a month? You take them places, you show them forever lasting memories...you feed them. ha ha
So, it was. Mom and Dad made all the plans to take them to the coast, walk the beaches. Soft sand in between their toes, wind in their hair, ocean water breezes across their faces and feet while walking over 2 miles of sandy beaches on the coast of Northern California.
The day was fun and fantastic. Then it was off to a boat ride followed by a bus ride up a mountain road to enter the caves north of Redding, California. The kids were so excited to be able to go see this place. Mom and Dad didn’t know what they were in for.
By the end of the journey, Mom was nearly in tears from the excruciating pain after walking all day at the beach followed the next day with the climb up and down several hundred steps in the caves. She didn’t realize just how much they would have been walking, but she didn’t want to miss any of the fun for anything.
Let’s move forward again a bit. It’s December, 2012. My husband, Rob and I came over for a visit. We had planned a month long vacation doing nothing but visiting family and spending time with everyone over the Christmas holidays.
Mom and Dads house was where spent a few days, then off to my sisters place down south near Sacramento.
When we arrived at Mom and Dad’s house, we walked in the door. Dad greeted us as well as their two little chihuahua’s with barking excitement. Of course, that got out little dogs, Gizmo and our newest little addition, Kali, all excited and just as excited to see their little friends. Off they went to the other room to play tug of war or argue over the kibbles in the food bowl.
Our attention diverted from the dogs to Mom sitting in one of the chairs in the living room. She couldn’t get up. She claimed to have a stress fracture in her hip most likely from being too vigerous on the treadmill recently.
That seemed odd….possibly the beginnings of osteoporosis? Could her bones be so brittle that they could crack on a walk like that?
Mom was using a pair of very cumbersome crutches that she borrowed from my daughter, Rachelle. She could get around a bit and walk a fairly well, but the crutches were giving her fits since they weren’t the most convenient mode of travel in the house.
So, after some thinking and watching Mom fumble around the house, Rob and I decided to get her a walker. We went to the local drug store down the road and found a fantastic “Rolls Royce” of walkers that had wheels, could fold down to a suitcase size and even had the ability to extend or retract to any height she pleased. It was quite nice. We also decided to buy her a cane for more choice and mobility to get around. Use the walker or the cane, her choice. But it wasn’t just a regular cane.
Mom had issues with the crutches as she’d lean them up on the counter, they’d inevitably find their way slowly along the counter to the floor with a loud bang that sent everyone, including the dogs, jumping to their feet.
We bought her a cane that could stand on its own. A handle for proper grip and four little legs to let the cane stand right next to her ready to grab at a moments notice without having to bend over to retrieve it from the floor after it found its way out of reach like the crutches.
Mom was so happy and pleased at her new modes of transportation. She moved about the house with the best of ease. Her and Dad went grocery shopping and Mom followed along rather well with her cane or walker. She had a huge smile on her face again.
“Look, I can lift my leg up a little more,” she said a couple of days later while standing at the walker and lifting her knee up to near waist high.
“Well, that’s no hip fracture,” we told her. “Perhaps a muscle, tendon or nerve issue, but definetly not a fracture, Mom.” She agreed and moved her thoughts from the stress fracture to perhaps it was bursitis or sciatica.
Rob and I left Mom and Dad on our way to my sister, Annie and her husband, Chris’ house. We would see Mom and Dad again in a few days for a Mens conference at the local church that Annie and Chris attended. In fact, Chris, a recently ordained minister, had shared a couple of sermons at their church.
Our visit was going very well. It was snowing outside and the ground was quickly being covered by the bright and glistening new fallen snow. The kids and dogs would go outside to play and their tracks were quickly removed and hidden as the snow kept falling and the flakes were getting bigger.
“Oh, hopefully this ends soon, otherwise Mom and Dad won’t come down to the house.” We all chimed in occasionally as we’d go to the window in the sun room to look out over the rolling mountains filled with white covered evergreens. The scene was beautiful, much like you’d see on the front of a Christmas card.
The snow had let up and the dark clouds were lifting revealing bright blue skies to take over. The ground was still covered with about a foot of snow, though, and Mom and Dad only drove a little front wheel drive minivan. There was no way Dad would attempt to get it up the steep driveway, so we were all coming up with plans to have them park below and we’d retrieve them in our Silverado 4-wheel drive pickup.
The phone rang, it was Dad. “Hey, we’re in Sacramento right now. How’s the weather up there?”
We told him of the recent snow and Dad didn’t like the sound of that at all. We assured him that all would be okay and we quickly made plans to meet them in town. Rob would drive the van back to Annie’s house and I would drive the pickup back up the hill. I knew that Rob could get their van up that snowy hill, so the plans were made.
We met them at the local grocery store parking lot in town. Mom was a bit stiff from the long drive from their house, including having their two little dogs on her lap most of the trip. We had her get out of the van and climb up in our pickup so that Rob and Dad could go in the van. Mom did fairly well, but I could see that she was definitely slowing down a lot more than just a week previous.
I got us up the driveway with ease in our Silverado. I helped Mom get out of the truck as we could hear the minivan approaching. It was at the bottom of the hill. Rob at the wheel, Dad in the passenger seat.
After a good start, steady steering and a constant even throttle, Rob got the van up the hill and parked perfectly. Everyone was amazed that he was able to accomplish that. In fact, my Mom even chimed in, “you’re AMAZING” she told Rob.
Mom was able to slowly make it up the flight of stairs at Annie and Chris’s house to the main floor. Their bedroom and bathroom was also located on that floor, so as long as she didn’t want to go outside, she was perfectly content with just walking around and visiting indoors.
The guys spent two days at a mens conference at my brother-in-laws church. It was an awesome and exciting experience for everyone in attendance. Rob even got saved and was filled with such joy and excitement.
A couple of days had gone by, now it’s Sunday. Everyone gets up and ready for church. The snow is nearly all gone. We all gather together in our Silverado and Annie's Subaru and head off to church in town. It was a wonderful sermon. Afterwards, we decided to go out to lunch at a local restaurant.
I rode in Annie's Subaru in the back seat while Mom sat in the front passenger seat. I got out of the car with Mom at the corner so that I could help her walk. Timing was perfect as we got to the door and inside about the same time everyone else in the family did. We were just a little bit slower, but that also meant that we could enjoy the scenery a little longer than everyone else.
Lunch was great. We were all satisfied and full. The kids had fun with their food and they even ate it all.
Then off to a short afternoon at the local thrift store. Everyone walked around looking at all the interesting items available for sale. A couple of small items were purchased and we were on our way back home to Annie’s house.
A couple more days of visiting and everyone parted ways to head to their homes. Mom and Dad headed back north to Redding. Rob and I were actually on our way to Utah to begin a new job at a trucking company there. We had a new found strength through God and were excited to begin this new job under his blessings.
Forward a bit now. Mom wasn’t getting any better. Dad was getting quite concerned now as he was having to leave Mom at home while he went grocery shopping. She couldn’t get in and out of the van as well and her pain was worsening. So, a phone call was made to her doctor. A CAT scan was ordered to see if they could find the reason for her pain.
At first, it looked like sciatica. She was given some pain medication and sent home with orders to begin physical therapy a couple of days later. Mom was a bit relieved to hear that there may be an end to her pain.
Mom went to her first PT meeting to see what she needed to do to get better. After their first meeting, the therapist found that Mom’s issue wasn’t muscle or nerves. There was something deeper, something that he couldn’t take care of with exercise. So the therapist spoke to Moms doctor and ordered a more complete scan to find out just what was going on.
Dad found out that the scan wasn’t going to happen for another month and he was getting concerned. Mom was going downhill fast…really fast. It was getting to the point where he had to dress her. She wasn’t eating as well, either. So Dad got on the phone to the doctors and was able to get Mom in the next day.
My phone rings….”Hey Dad!” I say in my usual intro to my Dad.
“Jenni,” he says. Not his usual answer to me when we call each other. “Hang on, here’s Mom.”
A quiet almost frail voice gets on the phone. You can hear the tears in her voice as Mom speaks out to me. “Honey,” she says, “we are dealing with cancer.”
“Oh Mom,” I say, choking back the tears, but they came anyway. “What did they find on the scans?”
“I have cancer in my hip bone and it has completely eaten away the bones. It’s not even there at all.” She pauses for a moment. “Plus, I have cancer in my spine and my arms and my lymph nodes.” She explains to me the shock of what they had found.
I began crying noticeably now. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.
“Honey, I really need you to be strong for me right now, more than ever.” Mom says to me in a very familiar tone of strength.
I choke back the tears to honor her wishes. I dry my face off of the tears that found their way down my cheeks. The huge knot in my throat finally cleared as I told Mom, “I will. I will be strong for you because that’s what you want and need.”
Dad gets back on the phone and tells me that he didn’t remember hearing the doctors saying anything about her cancer being in her lymph nodes at all. I listened to him carefully processing all this shocking information. I also told him that if he needed anything at all including me coming out to help, all he had to do was say the word and I’d be out there right away.
He thanked me as he sighed and said, “Oh my. I don’t know what I’m going to do right now.” Again, tears were trying to escape, but I quickly dashed them away remembering what Mom had just asked me. “Strong….I must be strong for Mom.” I thought to myself.
Dad said that another scan was ordered to see more of what they were dealing with so that treatment could be put in to order. In the mean time, Mom was given some pretty strong morphine for her pain. She spent the next week basically in bed sleeping as she couldn’t stay awake with the pain meds.
She had all but stopped eating, down to just little nibbles here and there, but not being able to really keep anything down. Could her cancer be advancing at such a fast rate that she can’t even function now, just a few weeks after we had last seen her? Time with Mom seemed to be going in high speed with time slipping away quickly. Life was going in slow motion as it seemed that answers weren’t coming fast enough to find out what was happening to her. The only thing that we could do was to turn our thoughts and energy towards God and ask that he heal Mom and bless her and Dad through this.
The next testing came back. Mom’s cancer is surrounding her hip bones, around her spine and both of her arms. She also has tumors in her hip and arms. The tumor in her hip was so large that it was the source of all of her pain and suffering, so it was decided by the doctors that treatment would begin with radiation therapy concentrating on just that tumor for now.
A biopsy was ordered to find out the type and stage of her cancer and how the doctors were going to attack that and for how long it would need to be treated.
Dad has become Mom’s full time keeper, from getting her up in the morning, to putting her to bed at night and everything in between including feeding and bathroom visits. Dad sounded exhausted several times when I would call to check in with them.
At times, he’d have a slight sound of discouragement as he was so concerned for Mom’s health and outcome.
“I don’t know what to do,” he’d say to me. “Mom can’t even walk from the van to the front door anymore.”
I spoke to our work and told them what was happening to Mom. They were truly touched and offered any support needed. We asked that we get a load with some time on it so that I could spend some time with my Mommy. Our employer complied immediately and we were able to spend 24 hours with Mom and Dad.
Rachelle was able to come pick us up at the truckstop and take us up to Mom and Dads house. They had just returned from a doctors appointment just before we showed up. Mom was still in the van sleeping.
To first see her, I was in complete shock. She was laying back in the front seat sleeping soundly, yet she looked so pale and thin. She wore no makeup and her long beautiful hair was laying over her shoulder and down her arm.
Dad was able to wake her up so that we could get her in the house. He retrieved the wheelchair and placed it next to the door of the van so that Mom could just pivot from the seat to the chair.
Mom woke up, smiled and began the struggle to get from one chair to the other. It was a very slow process that we all took part in helping her.
“Wait a minute,” she says as she reaches behind her ear to relieve an itch. “Bugs,” she says with a little giggle in her voice. Again I choked back tears at the sight of her frail condition. “Strong!” I reminded myself.
Mom stood up while holding firmly on to my arm for support. Rob held the wheelchair steady. Dad was getting the front door to the house open and propped. Rachelle retrieved Moms purse and pillow for her chair.
Mom paused again to rub her nose, “more bugs,” she said. This time we all sheepishly giggled at her ability to have a sense of humor in this situation. Just then, my left wrist began to itch horribly. I noticed two tiny welts just below my thumb. I scratched it uncontrollably thinking that maybe one of Moms “bugs” actually bit me. But, I also noticed that Mom wasn’t scratching anymore of her bugs at all. My itch quickly subdued and went away and we were able to get Mom in her chair and ready to go in the house.
“Look at all these people around me,” Mom says after she sat down in her wheelchair and looks around to all her family around her. I kissed Mom gently on the top of her head and cradled her chin in my hand as I whispered “I love you” in her ear. Mom patted my hand and said “thank you, sweetie.”
“Wait,” she says quickly. “Don’t try to do anything fancy like picking up the chair to get me in the house,” she says in a slow, broken but firm voice.
“I can’t be bumped at all, otherwise my hip will hurt with excruciating pain for hours,” she looked up at me as though to plead her wishes. “I can step in to the house with my walker, I just can’t walk that far from the van.”
So her walker was quickly retrieved and for the next 5 minutes, it was a group effort to assist Mom in to the house and back in to her wheelchair where she drifted off to a slight nap from the pain medications. By now, she had been changed from morphine to oxycodone. This really concerned Dad as he didn’t want Mom to be on that for very long because of its addicting abilities.
“Hey Dad, what do you think about the idea of taking Mom in through the garage from the van? That way, she can stay in the chair all the way in to the house instead of having to go up those steps to the front door.” I said with enthusiasm.
“Uh…the garage,” Dad said with a slight smile on his face. “You know how long it will take to clean that?”
“No, just a path is all we need,” I returned.
So, we went in the garage together and began picking up and moving things to create a nice path from the driveway to the door. It didn’t take long at all and we had a very satisfying and functional access for Mom.
We served dinner which was a small offer of a chicken dinner that we had picked up before Rachelle picked us up. Mom woke up enough to be able to eat about 3 tablespoons of chicken pieces and mashed potatoes. She was so shaky and weak, but was able to enjoy the little bit of food that she was interested in.
Dad was tearing in to the chicken and trimmings like he was starving.
“Hey Bob,” Rob says, “slow down, you look like you haven’t eaten in days.”
“I haven’t,” he said. “I just haven’t thought about it much because I’m taking care of Mom."
“Well, you have to keep your strength up, Dad,” I told him. He took a few more bites and we put the extras in the refrigerator so they’d have some food for later.
“Mom is starting her first radiation treatment tomorrow,” Dad said. “They are also going to do a biopsy to find out what kind of tumor and cancer she has.”
“Are they doing radiation on all of her tumors?”
“No, just the one in her hip, because that is the one that is giving her the most problems with pain and movement.”
Dad explained a little bit about what was to transpire over the next several weeks with Mom and her treatment. The doctors assured that she should be up and virtually pain free in just a few weeks. "She should be back to kicking me around before we know it," he continued.
So, let’s go on to some of the interjections regarding Mom and some of what my friends are offering in return. From here, our journey will continue.
May God bless us all and heal our wounds. Christ died on the cross. God sacrificed his son so that we may all be free of sin. Jesus took our burdens and made them his own so that we may be free.
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March 14, 2013
May I ask of all my friends and family....prayers for my Mommy and Daddy. Mom just got diagnosed with cancer that has totally eaten away part of her hip bone. Her attitude is still upbeat as she has conquered cancer once before and is faced with it once again, in a different place and form. Both Mom and Dad are very strong, but I ask that everyone pray dilligently for them as they both go through the testing and treatment together. Dad is a very strong man as he stands next to his wife and responds to Moms every beckoning call and need. Mom is a very strong woman as she faces possibly another round of Chemotherapy. She says, "If that's what I need to do, then that's what I need to do. I've been there once before and know what to expect now." God says, where two or more are gathered together, he will hear. Please pray for them and ask your friends and family to pray also. Thank you to everyone that know my parents through my growing up years, or from meeting them in my adult years. Anyone that has met them have fallen in love with their personalities. Mom and Dad are strong in Christ and love God dearly. Together we can all help them through this time. Thank you.
Mary Hanrahan of course
Barbara Pearson will do--so sorry
Elizabeth McClellan yup.
John Andrus they are in our prayers
Jenni Reynolds-Kebler Thank you everyone. So far, all the prayers are working. Continue to be diligent as am I. Mom will see healing. Love to all.
Kelly Brannon Ray they are in our thoughts and our prayers.
Christy Bunce Monks Prayers sent!
March 28, 2013
Update on Mom. It was found that she has tumors in her hip, spine and both arms. She also has cancer that surrounds her bones. Here's the plus side, the doctors say that it isn't life threatening at all. Praise God! Mom has to do radiation and chemo therapy and went in for her first treatment this morning. Mom said that she wasn't in any pain during the treatment. She goes in for her next treatment this evening.
Mary Hanrahan wow
March 28, 2013
Mom is back in this evening for her second radiation treatment. Dad sounds a lot better since he got some rest earlier in the day. He couldn't sleep last night and hasn't eaten much at all. He's been worried about Mom, plus doing most of the work helping her to get around and do things. We got to spend the night there last night and helped with some minor housekeeping and prepared dinner for them. My daughter has helped out quite a bit along with my other sisters. Mom and Dad are so happy to have us kids and our husbands to help when they need it. That's what we're for.
Brian Green Keeping you ALL in my prayers, Jennie. I know you and your family have a lot on your hearts and minds right now...
Jenni Reynolds-Kebler Thank you, Brian
Catherine Siino Sending my love and prayers............
Jenni Reynolds-Kebler Thank you, Catherine. I know that your Aunt Betty appreciates it. She's really been up in spirits and hasn't lost her sence of humor, either. She can still make us laugh at the little things. Gotta love Mom.
Juva Moore Sending my prayers and blessings . I think of your Mom often and wish her and your Dad well.
March 29, 2013
Mom is going in for her third radiation treatment this afternoon. Dad says that she should be back to kicking him around in about 2-3 weeks. I laughed and told him that when that happens, he'll be bored because he has been taking vigilant care of her around the clock for the past several weeks. Daddy is so special, even when he gets tired or forgets to eat dinner because he made a meal for Mom and forgot about himself. He still takes awesome care of Mommy. Gotta love them.
March 30, 2013
Mom gets to go outside and enjoy the warm sunshine. Dad is getting her in the wheelchair and going to sit with her in the front yard so they can enjoy the flowers and spring air. That is so awesome. Mom is doing much better, too. Not as much pain. She goes back in for her next radiation treatment on Monday. She'll be ready to do the jitterbug again pretty soon, but she'll still have a long road to travel with the cancer. At least we can watch her get better, though. Thank you for the vigilant prayers, everyone. Don't cease praying. God has already given all of us the faith and blessings, we just need to lean on Gods gifts to us and ask that he heal Mom and everyone else that is in pain and needs healing.
John Andrus Amen !!
March 31, 2013
Happy Easter everyone. Today is the day that Christ rose from the dead. God sacrificed his son so that we may be cleansed from sin. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us all rejoice in it.
March 31, 2013
Mom had some chicken soup this morning with some toast. She asked for the food which is good. Praise God for all your prayers. We need to continue to pray for each other endlessly. Love to all.
April 1, 2013
Well, today is supposed to be a day when you pull pranks and jokes on everyone. I have done my share over the years with my friends and family. Some of them were real doozers, too. But this year, my mind and heart rests on a more serious matter that holds no joke and no punchline. Mom goes in for her next radiation treatment and every day this week. She is showing some improvement but when I spoke to her last night on the phone, she sounded so frail and weak. The tone of her voice was that of a child. Let us pray not only for Mom, but for everyone in need of anything. God said that he has already supplied us with all his blessings and healing. We just need to receive them through prayer. Love to all.
Gary Showalter AMEN my prayers are with you and your Mom
Barbara Pearson will keep it up
April 3, 2013
Today is a rough and grueling day for Mom. She didn't sleep well last night and today had to spend most of her entire day at the doctors doing testing and treatments. She's going to start chemotherapy next week, but this week their going ...to put in the port so that they can just plug the chemo right in without having to keep re-inserting a new needle.
Mom has actually had a few good days, eating food and keeping it down. Sitting outside and even enjoying an Easter afternoon with several of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Dad is doing such a marvelous and tireless job of taking care of his lovely bride. Over being married for over 50 years, they still have a strong love for each other. Today is a rough and grueling day for Mom. She didn't sleep well last night and today had to spend most of her entire day at the doctors doing testing and treatments. She's going to start chemotherapy next week, but this week their going ...to put in the port so that they can just plug the chemo right in without having to keep re-inserting a new needle. Mom has actually had a few good days, eating food and keeping it down. Sitting outside and even enjoying an Easter afternoon with several of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dad is doing such a marvelous and tireless job of taking care of his lovely bride. Over being married for over 50 years, they still have a strong love for each other.
April 4, 2013
Spoke with Mom today on the phone. She sounded absolutely awesome. Full of energy and spunky. Her voice was a little broken, though, like going through a voice change or something, but she said that she felt fine. She said that she didn't feel like she had a cold or anything. Mom told me that she walked from the house to the car using her walker. Praise God, I told her. That is so awesome. Sh...e also told me that she doesn't have much pain at all since doing the radiation treatments for the large tumor in her hip. Tomorrow will be a long day for Mom and Dad. Mom goes in to have the port inserted in her shoulder area for the chemotherapy. Chemo starts on Monday and she said that she's not looking forward to it at all. I assured her that she's been down this road before and she knows what to expect. Mom agreed and said that she's a veteran at chemotherapy now, then she giggled a bit. Love hearing my Mom laugh. I told my Dad that he is doing an awesome job taking care of Mom. He's being so patient and understanding. Never tiring in his care for his true love. Making sure that everything is in order and all. He is such an awesome father and husband.
Catherine Siino, Eileen Richardson, Elizabeth McClellan and 8 others like this.
Liz Sayti Good to hear! Good luck Jenni's momma!!!!
Barbara Pearson Your parents sound wonderful
Robert Kebler There amazing people
Elizabeth McClellan It's such hard stuff. Extra love and healing thoughts your way
April 5, 2013
Today is a down day for Mom. Much pain. She went in for her radiation treatment this morning and is now in surgery getting the port put in her shoulder to begin chemo on Monday. Dad is so worried about her and the pain she is going through.
My daughter, Rachelle, will be with my Dad today to keep him company at the hospital. I love my family so much.
John Andrus and Kay Gross like this.
Nanna Kuan Gebaroff My heart goes out to you. Stay strong Jenni. Thoughts and prayers
Jenni Reynolds-Kebler Thank you, Kuan. My Mom asked me to be strong when all I could do was wipe away tears. I swallowed hard and have stayed strong sing. Still not easy, though.
Catherine Siino Keeping everyone in my prayers.......xoxo
John Andrus Hang tough Jenni, our prayers are with you and your Mom!!
April 5, 2013
Just talked to Dad on the phone a little bit ago. Mom's surgery went well. She is up in spirits this evening and even ate 1/2 a hamburger patty, a little cottage cheese and sliced tomatoes. My daughter, Rachelle and her husband Bill both spent the afternoon with my Dad at the hospital to keep him company while Mom was in surgery. How sweet my daughter and son-in-law are. My sister, Becky, went to my parents house and did a little cleaning and took their dogs out. Friends have sent cards, letters, visits and phone calls to my parents offering such awesome, loving encouragement. They are so truly blessed. Thank you to all, also that support me and my parents as we go through this.
Donna Krenzke glad she is doing better prayers sent
Nanna Kuan Gebaroff Awesome news!
Rachelle Custer Becky did a pedicure and manicure on grandma, her toes and fingernails look really good. Grandma said it Becky went all out and massaged her hands and feet also. :0)
Jenni Reynolds-Kebler Yeah, Grandma told me about the manicure and pedicure. She was all excited about how her fingers and toes looked and how Becky spoiled her. That's awesome.
April 6, 2013
Had
a wonderful conversation with my Mom today on the phone. We got to
talk for almost an hour. Her voice sounds a lot better and she
sounds like she's got some energy. Her body, however, is not as
energetic as she sounds. She's been slowed down quite a bit and just
getting around to do anything has become quite a chore. Dad brushed and braided Mom's hair this morning, too. He said that her hair was looking a little ragged, so he helped her do that. What a sweet man he is. I gave him a hug through the phone and I could hear the smile on his face.
Mom will start chemo on Monday now. She will continue her radiation treatment for another 12 days, Monday through Friday. Not sure how long she will need chemo yet.
Rachelle has been over to help out quite a bit, she even took over a nice spaghetti dinner for her grandparents.
Becky has been over to help out, too. She and her entire family (5 children, husband and Mother-in-law) all stopped by to visit this morning. Mom was so happy to see them. What a great family I have.
Shirley Kregear Prayers to you and your family!
Liz Sayti That's cute that he did her hair. :)
April 6, 2013
I would
like to thank everyone that is following my posts regarding my Mom.
The support that all of you show is fantastic and really helps out a
lot. Keeping this little "diary" of my Moms journey helps
me to go through everything as though I am right there next to her.
She totally appreciates me calling her or Dad every day, asking all
the questions that I do about the treatments and how her li...fe has
changed because of this. Although this can be a traumatic time in a
persons life, Mom is taking everything very positively and that
helps to keep all of her children positive right along with her. She
is a super strong woman. Dad is less fearful every day as he helps
Mom with everything that she needs. He is learning so much about
what this cancer and has not faultered in any way at any of Moms
needs or desires. Dad is a very strong and loving man. Smooches and
group hug to both of them and again, thank you to all my friends and
family on Facebook for their love and support.Liz Sayti and Brian Green like this.
Donna Krenzke thats what friends are for
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