Catching Up.

It is important that I play catchup, thus the two entries in one day. Periodically I will be posting various photos along the way. These are going to be abstract or blunt, just depends on what I can get away with at the time.

The important thing right now is my mother. This journey is getting harder and rougher already. From what I have read the type of journey my mother and family is experiencing right now is not the straight forward, straight line type. Also from what I understand this disease is anything but conventional. To speed things up to real time, on June 6th 2010 my mother was admitted to Oakwood Hospital. She was then diagnosed with Colitis and C. Difficile. This apparently was due to complications from the broad spectrum antibiotics used when she had her hysterectomy at the end of April. After the hysterectomy she had an unknown infection in her which was causing extensive vomiting and fevers. It was necessary to treat it, but they did not know exactly what they were treating.  So due to that we are where we currently stand. Combined with an abdominal surgery, hospital stay, broad spectrum antibiotics, and an lowered immune system this bacteria took control and quickly went out of control.

This was her "bio-box" as of last week. Even her nurses and assistants felt bad. After so many IVs and vein issues they installed a pick-line at the beginning of last week (June 14-17th, 2010).

That's sadly not just where we stand today. After treatment with three different specific antibiotics meant to battle colitis and c.diff, they were unsuccessful. So on June 18th, 2010 at around 4/5pm EST they proceeded with an immediate colostomy. In which the entire colon and accompanying appendix was removed. The surgery is eventually reversible though. Her surgeon Dr. Mehran Mirkazemi was wonderful and did a fantastic job for what needed to be done. The only problem with all of this was it was another extensive surgery for my mother and we are still 2-3 weeks out from the start of chemotherapy.

Obviously as the oldest son I am terrified. I am scared not only for myself but my family. I am only 25 and seeing my mother who is the strongest woman I have ever seen battling this breaks my heart everyday. What's harder is she's only 46 and I get the benefit of knowing everything. The cancer as everyone knows is not a fair fighter, but her spirit and family by her side I am certain she can beat this and beat it with honor. What I feel the worst about is something she said from the beginning, "I am my hair." It may seem superficial, but to me I understand. She has the most beautiful rich red hair with natural highlights you could ever wish for and through everything it's her kids and her hair she cares the most about. (Mostly her kids. Most days, depending on how we are being.)

I love her more than I could ever express. This was supposed to be my day. It's father's day and all I cared about all day was my mother. It's hardest when your toddler keeps asking, "where's grandma?" It's difficult to always be the stable and strong one, but it's the role I must do and I fully accept. For everything she's done for me and all I have put her through it's the least I can do. I love my mommy.