This is probably the hardest blog I've ever written thus far, but with so many wonderful friends sending well wishes and the fact that I don't want to miss anyone who has sent them, I felt it needed to be done.
As many of you know, my mother was taken on Monday, by ambulance, to the hospital. Her heart rate was over 300, her BP 275/180 and she couldn't breathe. After spending time with her both yesterday and today, and speaking with two of her doctors, I have some updated information.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer about 12 years ago. After going through the required regimen of treatments and a radical mastectomy of one of her breasts, it went into remission for almost 7 years. Then about 4 years ago, the drs discovered that the breast cancer had metastasized to several areas of bone. Once again, she went through treatment and they declared she was once again in remission. After speaking with her oncologist today, they have discovered tumors on a few of her organs and said that this metastatic cancer is Stage 4. NOT a good prognosis at all.
This fact, coupled with the fact that she had a mild heart attack and her lungs are not clear are complicating the issues with her health. So, at this point, they are going to do more cardiac tests and see if they can figure out if they can get her heart rhythm back to a relatively normal state before tackling any of the cancer issues. Again, not a very good prognosis, but she is a fighter and will do what she must if she is to have a life that borders on normalcy.
My father spent the better part of last summer in the hospital for blood poisoning. It was discovered during that stay that he has only 40% renal function, which definitely was a primary cause of the poisoning. He recently had blood work done and when the dr called him with the results, he was told he needed to go to the ER immediately as the poison levels were getting dangerously high. This was on Monday. He took the call with my mother in the room and said to the doctor "F" the ER, just let me die at home. This triggered my mother's reaction and caused her heart to react in the manner it did and she was taken to the hospital that night.
My father, should he live through this, will be 81 in March and my mother, 75 in May. They have both had long lives and although no one wants death in their family, death IS a fact of life. I certainly am hoping that my mother can win this battle and that my father will "get over" his episode of stubbornness and get treatment, but I don't think anyone can tell them what to do.
So in closing, I am sorry that this is like an epistle, but I wanted my friends, who have shown such wonderful love to me, to know what has been going on this week. That, combined with the fact that my 25th and last show opens on Friday, has put extra strain on my family and me. Therefore, I will be here for the good distractions that the "FU" offers and will hopefully be able to start sending out my usual comments again in the near future. Again, thank you so very much!
Ed
