because not enough websites start with the letter “Z”
Posted in life on Jul 31st, 2006
On a whim a week or two ago I ordered a package of “LIVESTRONG” bracelets and a bright yellow tee-shirt. At the time my thinking was, I know four people in my immediate family who were either impacted by, or died from cancer. After having the bracelet for a few days it occurs to me [...]
Posted in family on Jun 12th, 2006
As anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one knows all too well, “what if” questions can become the bane of your existence. At every turn you are faced with some thought or question that makes you wonder if things could have turned out differently. Did you miss an indication or opportunity? Was [...]
Posted in family on May 9th, 2006
As expected the oncologist discontinued my mother’s chemotherapy today. The regimen was only killing her blood and not impacting the tumor. Or should I say tumors, as the latest CAT scan revealed at least two.
The transition to hospice begins now, perhaps with slight detours for radiation treatments to ameliorate pain. No one knows how long [...]
Posted in family on Mar 23rd, 2006
Last evening I had a call from my mother. She had been to her weekly chemotherapy appointment and wanted to give me an update on her condition. During the course of the appointment her doctor, who by all accounts seems like a caring and concerned individual, and whom my mother clearly trusts implicitly, asked her [...]
Posted in family on Mar 2nd, 2006
While my mother’s condition hasn’t worsened any in the last week or so, it hasn’t gotten any better either. The lung cancer diagnoses has been confirmed and she has begun a course of treatment designed to make her comfortable. In the doctor’s opinion there is no hope of eradicating the cancer, and an aggressive course [...]
Posted in family on Feb 26th, 2006
Ever since getting the news that my mother’s cancer is back, and will likely kill her this time, I have been searching for a path that will lead me through her death. I’ve been aware for several years now that both of my parents were getting older and that their health was becoming an increasing [...]
Posted in family on Feb 22nd, 2006
This evening, right after I arrived home, my father called to fill me in on my mother’s condition. Almost 14 months after the initial tumor was discovered in her lung, and after it responded so quickly to the chemotherapy and radiation treatments, her breathing was short and labored again. In short the cancer has returned. [...]
With the uncertainty surrounding Michele’s health this weekend, with a full body bone scan scheduled for tomorrow, we have been thinking and talking a lot about quality of life this weekend. Both Michele and I place a high degree of importance of our life’s quality. I’m sure everyone reading this would say that they do [...]
Yesterday, especially last evening, was rocky for both of us. After plumbing the depths of despair on Friday we both came back towards normalcy Saturday. One of Michele’s best friends, Laura, called and they talked for a long time on the phone. Being able to connect to someone outside of our immediate situation was a [...]
Yesterday was surreal; even now it feels like it was happening to someone else. The doctor prescribed some Xanax for us to use to lessen the anxiety of the situation. Around 7 we each took one full tablet. I know that it made me feel vague and floaty, which given the circumstance wasn’t pleasant. Still [...]
