Last week Mom started experiencing symptoms in her legs. We originally thought her muscles were aching because of her new exercise bike. But, by Friday it was evident that something else was going on.
Friday morning Dad and I took her up the ER at Froedtert according to the instructions of her radiologist. Although they scheduled an MRI for Monday to look at Mom's spine, her team wanted to get her seen sooner. The only way to do that was by admitting her through the ER. So, we did.
After many hours of meeting with an entourage of medical professionals and just plain sitting around and waiting, Mom was brought back for an MRI of her lower spine and brain. The initial results show a cluster of small tumors growing on the bottom end of her spine. Although these tumors are quite small, they are pressing on nerves and are likely the culprit for the lack of mobility in her legs. The tests also show a couple of new tumors on her brain, although they are so small that they could not be responsible for the current set of symptoms.
Mom was immediately started on a regimen of dexamethasone (a steroid) to reduce swelling. It didn't take long for the medication to alleviate some of her symptoms. This, I am told, is good news because it means that the damage may be reversible.
The plan to reverse the damage and help her gain back her mobility is a course of radiation targeted at the tumors on her spine. They kept Mom overnight on Friday and radiation was started Saturday afternoon. Froedtert actually opened up the radiology department especially for Mom. (They don't typically perform radiation treatment on the weekends.) Now that is the kind of care that makes one feel...well...cared for! Saturday evening we were discharged. (I say "we" because, like last time, I stayed with mom. Luckily, unlike last time, I was given a cot which made me a content camper.) Today Mom and Dad made the trip back up to the cancer center for her second radiation treatment.
On Monday Mom and Dad head back up to the cancer center for the third radiation treatment. They will also be talking with Mom's radiologist and oncologist to discuss the battle plan. The spinal radiation will continue. They will also likely plan some additional radiation for her brain. This may be another cycle of whole brain radiation, or they may decide to go with a more targeted approach. It is also likely that chemotherapy is going to be part of the package.
Naturally, we are all emotionally taxed. Mom, of course, is also very tired physically. But, she remains in good spirits. In fact, we had some great laughs while we were in the hospital. The following is probably the funniest!
We decided that it would be best if Dad went home and I came back to the hospital to stay with Mom. When I returned, they had just set Mom up in a room. As I walked in her room, Mom was laughing with her new best buddy and medical technician, Dennis. Dennis (who Mom calls Dennis-the-Menace) is a kind black man with a shiny bald head and a huge smile that is parted by a missing front tooth. As Dennis was leaving the room Mom called to him, "Hey, Dennis! You and I must have the same barber!" as she whipped off her wig to expose her own, beautiful bald head. I gotta tell you--it doesn't get any funnier than that.
Below is a picture of Mom during this hospital stay. (The picture quality isn't the greatest because I took it on my Ipod. But, I still love it.)
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