Thursday, August 26, 2010
I have not posted in awhile
It has been sometime since I lasted posted. Ever since mom arrived home she has needed 24 hour care. Mom was adamant about sleeping down stairs on the coach and letting her sister Darlene and friend Glinda sleep in the beds upstairs. We tried to convince mom that she needed to be in her bed, but she would not adhere to it.
Mom was not sleeping at night and a week after being home the nurse gave her another medicine that would help alleviate anxiety allow her to sleep better. The first night she took the pill she went to the bathroom and fell. She was yelling from downstairs and her sister Darlene heard her and ran down and then called for me "Lynn mom's daughter".
The next day mom had a huge baseball on her forehead along with black and blue marks around her right eye. She looked like she got in a fight and the other person won. It has been about two weeks and she is still black and blue, but the swelling and color is slowly disappearing. We have been applying ice to reduce the blood flow to the area and hoping the eye will heal soon.
Mom was not sleeping at night and a week after being home the nurse gave her another medicine that would help alleviate anxiety allow her to sleep better. The first night she took the pill she went to the bathroom and fell. She was yelling from downstairs and her sister Darlene heard her and ran down and then called for me "Lynn mom's daughter".
The next day mom had a huge baseball on her forehead along with black and blue marks around her right eye. She looked like she got in a fight and the other person won. It has been about two weeks and she is still black and blue, but the swelling and color is slowly disappearing. We have been applying ice to reduce the blood flow to the area and hoping the eye will heal soon.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Mom Goes to Her Home and Darlene Arrives
My mom was excited about her sister arriving and she flew in today. I had not seen her in at least 10 years. I came over to mom's house and there she was.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Darlene Mom's Middle Sister Arrives Tomorrow
I know my mom is excited about her sister Darlene arriving tomorrow. They have not lived close by for at least 30 years, but they talk weekly. Darlene was out a month ago. At that time we were hoping mom would get the stem cell transplant, but we were given bad news and her leukemia doubled and that was not an option anymore. So my mom decided to do the 7 days 24 hours a day chemotherapy treatment plan.
Unfortunately that did not work also. It seemed mom was doing well with that deadly chemo treatment but about five days after the intense treatment the effects hit. And they hit hard. Mom's speech started to slur and her appetite decreased tremndously. She would tell us the food tasted like metalic and she would also have a hard time chewing and shallowing. So mom has been drinking smoothies, juices and eating ice cream.
I look forward to Darlene arriving because she has a cheery and funny spirit. I know when I emailed her that my mom seemed to not want to try anymore that gave her the motivation to come out to California and she what she could do. I am also sure our weather is a little less HOT and NOT so humid as Minnesota gets in the summer. My brother Mike and his wife Lisa go to the airport tomorrow to pick her up.
Unfortunately that did not work also. It seemed mom was doing well with that deadly chemo treatment but about five days after the intense treatment the effects hit. And they hit hard. Mom's speech started to slur and her appetite decreased tremndously. She would tell us the food tasted like metalic and she would also have a hard time chewing and shallowing. So mom has been drinking smoothies, juices and eating ice cream.
I look forward to Darlene arriving because she has a cheery and funny spirit. I know when I emailed her that my mom seemed to not want to try anymore that gave her the motivation to come out to California and she what she could do. I am also sure our weather is a little less HOT and NOT so humid as Minnesota gets in the summer. My brother Mike and his wife Lisa go to the airport tomorrow to pick her up.
My mom visits with friends Ann and Fran
Ann and Fran came by to visit mom today. They are two ladies that use to work at Scripps Hospital with my mom back in the mid 1970's. Mom did not sleep well last night and has terrible night sweats. I called her later in the day and she sounded a lot better then she did when I called in the morning. I am not sure how long we will have her around but I know I need to talk to her and tell her I Love Her and how much she means to me.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Monday August 9th Mom's Hospice Dr. and Nurse Visit
Today we received a nice visit from my mom's hospice Dr. Marion and Nurse Misha. Beautiful, compassionate and wise. Dr. Marion had alot of good advice. She told us that my mom's red and white blood count was dangerously low and that everyday is a gift for my mom. She let us know that if my mom wanted a wheel chair that is what we should use.
She told us that we could call anytime and any hour. She asked my mom if things got bad would she like to go back to the hospital and my mom said NO! So if we need medical treatment we are to call Dr Marian and Nurse Misha first. They will then advise us what to do. Dr. Marion told my mom that she does has options regarding her life.
One option is regarding blood transfusions. If my mom does not want anymore blood transfusions then that is her choice when to stop the transfusion. Dr. Marian told us that an infection is likely and could cause alot of problems and what to do when it arrives. My mom's immune system is basically nothing and that is why being in public is not wise.
I felt relieved knowing the Dr. handling my mom's last days. I have been in the dark a little and it feels good knowing what to expect.
She told us that we could call anytime and any hour. She asked my mom if things got bad would she like to go back to the hospital and my mom said NO! So if we need medical treatment we are to call Dr Marian and Nurse Misha first. They will then advise us what to do. Dr. Marion told my mom that she does has options regarding her life.
One option is regarding blood transfusions. If my mom does not want anymore blood transfusions then that is her choice when to stop the transfusion. Dr. Marian told us that an infection is likely and could cause alot of problems and what to do when it arrives. My mom's immune system is basically nothing and that is why being in public is not wise.
I felt relieved knowing the Dr. handling my mom's last days. I have been in the dark a little and it feels good knowing what to expect.
Mom Left the Hospital and Arrived at Mike's House
My mom left the hospital on Sat August 7th, 2010. She went to my brother Mike and sister in-law Lisa's house for a few days. I went to their house in the afternoon after mom took a nap. It was nice knowing she was out of the hospital. That evening my mom was surprised by our friend Paul Raymond who flew in from Florida. She started to cry and hugged him tightly.
Paul came to our house in the late 1970's to swim with my brother and the Mission Viejo Nadadores swim team. At the time they were the best team in the United States. Paul and my brother Jim would get up early in the morning and swim and weight train for 2-3 hours then head to school and after school back to the pool for another 2-3 hours of training.
Paul left and went back home to go to college. Then he returned to my mom's house in the mid 1980's. When Paul arrived he was a little heavier and had longer hair. You see Paul has had a couple near death experiences. One on a electric skate board when he crashed and was in a coma for 9 days and the other a year later he was swimming in the ocean and passed out.
Paul brought a lot of light to the house that day. That evening my brother Mike and Paul barbaqued steaks and halibut. Lisa made some awesome scalloped potatoes and corn on the cob. It was a delicious meal. Mom even was eating and before this the only thing she could get down was juice, smoothies and ice cream shakes. It was nice to see her eat food.
We all sat around and talked about the past and enjoyed each others company. It was a lot of excitement for my mom after being in the hospital for 40 days. But I think it gave her a glimpse of the people that Love her and are thankful she has been a part of their life. You see my mom has done alot for her kids and many other people and she is loved very much.
Paul came to our house in the late 1970's to swim with my brother and the Mission Viejo Nadadores swim team. At the time they were the best team in the United States. Paul and my brother Jim would get up early in the morning and swim and weight train for 2-3 hours then head to school and after school back to the pool for another 2-3 hours of training.
Paul left and went back home to go to college. Then he returned to my mom's house in the mid 1980's. When Paul arrived he was a little heavier and had longer hair. You see Paul has had a couple near death experiences. One on a electric skate board when he crashed and was in a coma for 9 days and the other a year later he was swimming in the ocean and passed out.
Paul brought a lot of light to the house that day. That evening my brother Mike and Paul barbaqued steaks and halibut. Lisa made some awesome scalloped potatoes and corn on the cob. It was a delicious meal. Mom even was eating and before this the only thing she could get down was juice, smoothies and ice cream shakes. It was nice to see her eat food.
We all sat around and talked about the past and enjoyed each others company. It was a lot of excitement for my mom after being in the hospital for 40 days. But I think it gave her a glimpse of the people that Love her and are thankful she has been a part of their life. You see my mom has done alot for her kids and many other people and she is loved very much.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Waiting To Have Mom Home
Today I decided I would create a blog about my mom, her life and AML Leukemia. As I wait to find out when she will be released from the hospital I wonder what lies ahead? How can I best serve my mom in these days. I also thought all the people that know and LOVE my mom would be able to have updates about her through this blog. If any of you have poems, pictures, stories or anything you would like to share about my mom email me!
My email address is webhappy@yahoo.com.
My email address is webhappy@yahoo.com.
My Mom's AML Diagnosis in August 2009
It has been a little over a year when my mom Judy Leseth was diagnosed with AML leukemia. She has undergone numerous rounds of Chemotherapy throughout the year. The leukemia seemed to be decreasing and there was a possibility that my mom could have been accepted into a stem cell research program. But
that chance was taken away by a reoccurence of the cancer at a raped rate.
In June of 2010 my mom decided to try the option of 7 days of chemo 24 hours a day treatment hoping that would eradicate the cancer and unfortunately it did not. The Doctor's will be releasing my mom from the hospital in the next couple of days as a hospice patient. We are uncertain of the amount of time my mom has left and still hoping for a miracle that she would be given another chance at remission.
As I write today it has been a rough and emotional time for my family. Especially for me. I came back to Southern California 7 years ago with specific dreams and wishes. And one of them was to be able to do nice things for my mom. You see my mom raised us for a little while all by herself and would always do for us kids before herself. And to this day when my brother Mike would ask her a favor she would NEVER say NO!
My mom Judy Leseth loved her business "Circle of Friends at The Meeting Place". A place where people with early Alzhiemer's would gather for the day. Drink coffee, tell jokes and read the paper. They woud play card games, board games, video games and put puzzles together. They would take walks after lunch around the business complex and feed the dogs and chat with the people. They loved WII bowling and root beer floats!
Circle of Friends at The Meeting Place is a GREAT and WONDERFUL Place! Expecially at lunch time when all would gather around the tables and talk while lunch was being prepared. And they all knew lunch would be great, because everyday Judy would make a special desert and salad and cut up fruit for all to enjoy along with the sandwich and snacks they brought. Once lunch was served the room got quiet and they enjoyed the food.
that chance was taken away by a reoccurence of the cancer at a raped rate.
In June of 2010 my mom decided to try the option of 7 days of chemo 24 hours a day treatment hoping that would eradicate the cancer and unfortunately it did not. The Doctor's will be releasing my mom from the hospital in the next couple of days as a hospice patient. We are uncertain of the amount of time my mom has left and still hoping for a miracle that she would be given another chance at remission.
As I write today it has been a rough and emotional time for my family. Especially for me. I came back to Southern California 7 years ago with specific dreams and wishes. And one of them was to be able to do nice things for my mom. You see my mom raised us for a little while all by herself and would always do for us kids before herself. And to this day when my brother Mike would ask her a favor she would NEVER say NO!
My mom Judy Leseth loved her business "Circle of Friends at The Meeting Place". A place where people with early Alzhiemer's would gather for the day. Drink coffee, tell jokes and read the paper. They woud play card games, board games, video games and put puzzles together. They would take walks after lunch around the business complex and feed the dogs and chat with the people. They loved WII bowling and root beer floats!
Circle of Friends at The Meeting Place is a GREAT and WONDERFUL Place! Expecially at lunch time when all would gather around the tables and talk while lunch was being prepared. And they all knew lunch would be great, because everyday Judy would make a special desert and salad and cut up fruit for all to enjoy along with the sandwich and snacks they brought. Once lunch was served the room got quiet and they enjoyed the food.
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