This is my mom's struggle with Cancer. She was dx in the spring of 2006 with Stage IV cancer. She began radiation and chemo. In September of 2006 she took a turn for the worse and spent many weeks in the hospital. We did not know if she would make it or not. She pulled through and continued with Chemo and Radiation.

In the year 2007 she began to feel better, her hair and CEA levels were back to normal and everyone was so optimistic. In the fall of 2006 her lungs began to fill up with fluid on a regular basis. She had her lungs drained several times a month and in December 2007 had surgery to remove the fluid build up around her heart. She really began to go downhill in terms of her energy, blood pressure and the CEA levels were rising again.

2008 began with her spending many weeks in and out of the hospital to have the fluid drained from each lung and this began to take its toll on her yet she has not given up. She weighs a hearty 96 lbs and really needs to gain some weitht. In April of 2008 she was hospitalized twice to have her lungs drained and had a chest tube put in to help decrease the fluid build up. The question of the centruy is WHY there is this fluid build up. Four doctors cannot tell her why. So she is battling the fluid build up which causes her to stop breathing at times. She still has not given up although this is really taking its toll on her emotionally as well as physically.

2006

May 2006 ~ Mom was just starting to feel sick at this time June 2006 ~ Mom on her way to radiation torture
Mom resting after radiation torture June 2006 ~ Mom resting on another day after radiation
July 2006 ~ Mom and I
June 2006 ~ Big Hugs from Jake
June 2006 ~ Jake, Mom, Dave and Lori July 2006 ~ Nana giving Jake some fun stuff
August 2006 ~ Papa, Jake and Mom
September 2006 ~ mom in the hospital
November 2006 ~ Dave, Lori & Mom