Mom visits her sister

1/25/2010

Mom wants to see her sister before her surgery.  We are flying to El Paso Wednesday (1/27) and driving to Marfa on the 29^th returning on the 31^st to El Paso then to Phoenix on Monday. I did not want to go to Marfa through El Paso, but I had no choice. I’m hoping that she does not get too upset with the condition of her house or her cat. We all know that she is not in the condition to live alone anymore, yet we struggle with that choice everyday. She wants her home, but realizes she can’t handle it anymore and doesn’t want or trust anyone to live with her. I will be making a list of her furniture since she wants you (all) to have it. The house must be emptied sometime early summer, if all goes well.

Her heart is strong and she should do fine during and after surgery. I don’t know if you have googled mouth cancer, but it’s not a pretty sight. I continue to explain to her that not having surgery and living the next 2-3 years with the pain that will come, etc. is a poor choice. Her surgery is planned for Friday, Feb. 5^th. She will only stay one night unless she needs extra care. She will not be able to eat normal food for about 2 weeks and be on liquids and pain medication.  Those two or three weeks will be the hardest either of us have faced. I’ve tried to get her to eat more, but she is eating less and less unless it’s cheesecake, but even that she makes last 4 days!!!!

I don’t know when you start arriving in El Paso for the shindig, but we will be at her house on the 27^th 28^th and the night of the 31^st. Give me a buzz if you have any questions. I’d love to party with you, but I don’t think I can, who knows?

2/5/2010

Mom went through surgry with flying colors according to her doctor. He was able to remove the cancer with the least loss of her tongue. She will be able to talk. He also removed the cancer from her lip and the black mole from her forehead.  She is in recovery right now so I haven't seen her. It was decided to keep her the night for observation and at 8am tomorrow Dr.Weiner (like wine not weener) will most likely release her.

She has a private room, but I haven't decided whether to stay the night or not. I may leave her sleeping and return early tomorrow to be here when Dr W visits. I'm not very decisive at this moment. I'm just so glad that the hospital provides internet hookup so that I can let you know without having to make all the phone calls.

I will keep you informed as the day(s) pass.

2/7/2010

Before I brought mom home at around 10 am Saturday she had the nurse remove! the dried blood on her upper lip around the stitches. Oww. Anyway when we got home she was hungry and ate a salad, squash. homemade chicken soup and drank Dr. Pepper. She refused pain meds and slept a few hours. When she got up she thought it was morning and wanted breakfast. After we convinced her that it was 6pm and not 6am she wanted solid food for dinner, none of it soft or liquid.

She woke up at 5:30 am totally disoriented and thinking I had moved her to a home and wanted to call Josie to move her to Marfa. It took a good while to calm her down and convince her she was in my house and that the man in my bed was my husband. Scary. Early on Sunday she wanted to go to the store and buy more food because she wanted to cook chicken, creamed potatoes and asparagus, along with that came a salad and more Dr. Pepper. She is upset with the bruising around her mouth and really expected everything to be better today. We constantly explain that swelling and bruising is normal especially on the 2nd day after surgery.

I gave her a pain killer and put her to bed.