She's home

We brought her home on Tuesday, and Hospice pretty much met us at the door. After we got her set up in her new bed, they spent quite a bit of time talking to us and getting to know us. She was in and out, sleepwise, all of Tuesday and Wednesday. During one point of awakeness Wednesday morning, Erica asked if she wanted to "get up today and sit in the chair." Her response? "Well, aren't you just a la-dee-da!" She hasn't lost her feistiness!

Wednesday, we gave her a bath, which was very humiliating for her, since it took five of us. Her comment was, "How embarrassing!" It also wore her out. I came home Wednesday night for Quartet practice because we have a wedding next week and must learn three new pieces. I also needed to get laundry and grocery shopping done before surgery/school starts. I called late Thursday afternoon for an update. They said she was awake around 6 Thursday morning and wanted to sit in her chair. At about 8 am, Dad helped her back to her bed, and she had been asleep ever since. At least when she's asleep she's not experiencing pain or humiliation.

Today, I had my own surgery - minor. Dr. Brandewie believes I have at least one uterine polyp, and wanted it removed via D & C. After I came out of surgery ok, Bob called everyone to tell them I was doing fine. He told me afterwards that Dad didn't sound like himself, and that just before they hung up, Dad told Bob he loved him, which threw Bob for a loop - Dad had never said that to him before. This worried me, considering Eva had slept all day yesterday.

When I came home, I slept some more. When I did wake up, I was hungry for lunch, so Bob made me a sandwich and got me some grapes (which, if you know me, you know they are my absolute favorite fruit!). After I ate, I just needed to know what was going on in Marion, so I called Mandie. She answered the phone quite upbeat, which was a surprise and relief right away. She said that Eva is not totally awake yet, but is sucking on ice chips for hydration. Mandie's positive attitude really made me feel better about not being there right now. I told her I had decided to pick Morgan up from Tar Hollow tomorrow and go straight to Marion, and since Bob will be in Indianapolis for the day, I will have both kids for the first time to see her since this all came about.

Heavenly Father, I ask that you give me the words to explain to Morgan and Aidan to help them understand what is going on with their beloved Grandma. I pray that I will be a vessel for your peace and comfort to them. I pray that, in our time of grief, we will be open to receiving and experiencing your blessings beyond measure. Thank you, Lord, for the love and comfort you will impart on our family in our time of need. Amen.

Hmmm...

While I haven't stressed the seriousness of Eva's illness to the kids yet (Morgan left for Tar Hollow yesterday), Aidan still seems to understand. He said last night, "Well, that makes two." I said, "What do you mean?" "Well, first Spike, and now Grandma." Spike is my mom's Yorkshire Terrier, who had to be put down just a few weeks ago because of his old age - 13.

His comment really made me think about the belief that things like this happen in threes. I soooo hope there's not a number 3 anytime soon - these are hitting just too close to home!

As an aside, as I was putting him to bed last night, he said, "I don't feel well," and threw up. Luckily, I grabbed his shirt and pulled it up, so there was nothing to clean up in his room, and just a little around the toilet. After we cleaned him up and brushed his teeth, he said he felt better, and went to bed ok. He seemed to be feeling fine this morning as we went to church, too. Must have just been a bug that didn't agree with him!

(4:50 p.m.) Erica just came out from Eva's room and said she was awake and joking around. She said, "Let's get out of here!" Apparently, she still has some sense of humor!

Diagnosis: Glioblastoma

Eva went in for a biopsy on Thursday, and I came over yesterday to see how things were. The results of the biopsy are that she tested positive for Glioblastoma. Basically, chemotherapy is not an option, and radiation would only prolong the length of her life, not augment the quality. She was awake, just finishing her lunch (she didn't eat much, and struggled to eat what she did), when I arrived. She said to me, "You know, I'm not well," to which I answered that I knew that, the girls had been keeping me informed. She spent most of the rest of the day sleeping, and when she was awake, she was not very coherent.

Today, when I came in, she was more alert, and was able to call me by name (sometimes she recognizes everyone, and sometimes she can't think of our names). Dad mentioned something about being there, and she said, "Good, because I need you." She is very scared. I went to the side of her bed and held her hand for a while.

Dad seems to be very strong, but we're all worried about him. He won't leave her side unless the nurses kick him out for a procedure. I think he knows she's scared, and doesn't want her to wake up alone.

Please lift up not only Eva, her mental capacities, and her sense of peace, but also the following:
-Dad, for his sense of taking care of himself as well as Eva, now as well as when/if she is released from the hospital (if she is released, they will be calling Hospice in right away)
-me and my sisters (Mandie, Heidi, Carrie, & Erica), as we cope with the shock of how quickly this has happened
-my parents' financial situation - they have no health insurance for Eva
-praise for somewhat of a resolution between my two sisters who were at odds. I just wish it hadn't taken this situation to bring them back together.

Watch out, villains!

Friday, August 1st

We left our cabin today, our home for the past week and a half. I was sad to know that our vacation had come to an end. This just means that the start of school is looming!

We first drove up to Gettysburg because there were two things we had not seen and wanted to on Wednesday. The first was the actual spot where Lincoln gave his Gettysburg address - duh! We found out it was not known for sure, but thought to be inside the cemetery. We had not gone in the cemetery the other day, just drove past it. The other thing we wanted to see was the Friend to Friend monument, commemorating the meeting of two Masonic friends, one from the Union and one from the Confederacy. When Confederate soldier Captain Bingham was mortally wounded, Brigadier General Lewis Armistead stopped fighting to help him. The whole story can be found here.


This monument also happens to be in the cemetery. If you go, don't pass by the cemetery - it can tell as many stories as the rest of the area!

From there, it was a long trip home. Since we had food this time that we hadn't brought on the trip to DC, there wasn't as much room in our little bug of a car. This time I had to sit Indian-style all the way home. A little uncomfortable. I would just as soon left the extra food there or given it away, but Bob didn't want to. Anyway, the drive was uneventful, and we were appreciative to see our own beds (and all the other amenities we're used to (read=video games for the kids!)).

"No villain is the match for me; I'm tiny, and I'm powerful!" - Aidan, while playing the part of Yoda in Star Wars Battlefront.