12-5-20

It has been awhile since Mom's last update...mostly because there hasn't been much new news to report. This week, though, she had another CT scan and yesterday she saw the oncologist for the results. He shared that the cancer growth was holding steady...with some possible shrinkage, which is good news. He wasn't sure if this was due to her latest rounds of chemo or just the nature of the cancer itself.

The current plan is to continue her chemo for the next few weeks and then take a break before scanning again. This will give her a welcomed reprieve from the side effects of the chemo and hopefully more information about how to proceed going forward. 

Overall, she is juggling the medication and the physical effects as well as possible. While I've been in Holland for the last month, she has really enjoyed special one on one time with Eric, Shawn, Chelsea, & Riley. She is currently enjoying time with Zack again, who is back for two weeks (able to do his training online from her house). I arrive back on the 14th so we will be celebrating an early Christmas while we're all together.

We're sure grateful for FaceTime which makes it possible to visit with each other from across the world...and that it enabled her to be part of of my wedding day from over 4,000 miles away: a real cause for celebration for our family amidst this challenging year! We can't wait to get her over here in person to celebrate as soon as the world opens back up again!

She appreciates family and friends keeping in touch and is sending lots of love during this holiday season!

9-30-20

Just a quick update to share that Mom is doing as well as can be. She has completed 6 weekly treatments of chemo and has 3 more to go. This round of treatment has had less side effects. It seems to have helped her cough and to have given her more energy. But, her pain level is still high. She's having to manage that by taking a lot of medication, which is tricky to stay on top of at times. It has also caused her to lose her hair.

Throughout it all, though, she is still very much herself: keeping up with world events...enjoying the home she has put so much of her heart into over the years, playing (and winning!) lots of Rummikub...watering her giant, beautiful, garden....and staying connected with family and friends over video, phone, email, texts (and sometimes even in person visits!).

We recently came across this old photo album my grandpa made while he was away in the Navy, separated from my grandma and mom.

How sweet to see how beloved she has been from her earliest days.

❤️

Until next time!

Happy Birthday!

 Happy 77th Birthday, Mom!

I hope you feel all the love coming your way today-from all around the world!

You are definitely my superhero.

Celebrating you today.

And every day.

Happy, happy, birthday, Mom. 

Ik hou van jou...with all my heart!

❤️❤️❤️

8-15-20

A quick update to share that Mom has started her latest round of chemo. The plan is for her to have weekly infusions (three weeks on/one week off) for the next few months. The hope is that it will stop or slow the growth of the cancer and that she will feel less pain as it goes.

As some of you may have heard, I am taking off for Holland today (!) for a month. Happily, Zack is still off work and is able to stay with Mom while I'm away. He'll be taking her to all of her appointments and I know they will enjoy this special time together.

 Mom shared this poem with me today and it seemed fitting to share it here.

Allow

There is no controlling life.

Try corralling a lightening bolt,

containing a tornado. 

Dam a stream and it 

will create a new channel. 

Resist, and the tide

will wipe you off your feet. 

Allow, and grace will carry you 

to higher ground. 

The only safety lies in

letting it all in-

the wild and the weak;

fears, fantasies,

failures and success. 

When loss rips off the doors of the heart,

or sadness veils your vision with despair,

practice simply becomes bearing the truth.

In the choice to let go 

of your known way of being,

the whole world is revealed to your eyes. 

~Danna Faulds

7-24-20

Mom, Eric and Chelsea have made it home from their trip safe and sound. They had a great time seeing so many sights and visiting with loved ones along the way. The wifi wasn't great on the road, so Chelsea will be updating the blog now that she is home. We're looking forward to that!

Today was a big day. Mom had her appointment at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and really liked the doctor she met with. She recommended a different form of chemo: one that can be administered weekly and is supposed to have less side effects. She also recommended radiation. So, it is hopeful that these two paths will help Mom feel as comfortable as possible going forward. 

Also, my grandma's house (which we just put on the market on July 7th) closed today. We had 14 offers and accepted an all cash one from a buyer who waived the inspection and paid $35,000 over our asking price! For it to close less than three weeks after we put it on the market and for everything to go so much better than we could've imagined, is such a gift.

That's it for now.

Till next time, take care All!

❤️

On the Road!

This has been a big week. Zack took off last weekend, after three months of being here....

and Mom, Eric, and Chelsea departed on their two week trip down the coast on Thursday. Zack was just ahead of them on the path and they will all meet up in Long Beach next week. How fun to see everyone so happy and open to new adventures!

Chelsea will be documenting their journey

 on a blog of her own, which you can follow here:

Road Trip with Nana

❤️

6/26/20

Finally an update: Mom had a CT scan on Monday and went in for the results today.

She was scheduled to see the doctor and have an infusion today but the doctor said the scan showed the current course of treatment was not working. He cancelled the infusion and is ordering a molecular study of the mass in her lung. She is being referred to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for a second opinion and to see if she qualifies for clinical trials. She is enthused about this plan.

The good news is that he approved Mom's plan of renting an RV and driving down the coast with Eric for two weeks. They'll leave two weeks from today. This is a trip that has been important to them both so it's a huge spirit lifter to be able to make it a reality!

We've been enjoying Mom's beautiful deck and had this surprise visitor recently!