A sad announcement to my V4L family...

[skydragon]

Leaford,
I know it isn't much help but my thoughts and prayers go out to your mother, you and the rest of your family. Hoping for only the best.

 

[Sheryl]

(((Leaford and family))) You are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Trish342]

Leaford, My prayers are with you and your family. ((((Hugs)))) to you.

 

[Nilius]

Your family will be in my prayers

 

[AllCoExPat]

You and yours are in my thoughts, Leaford. Keep the faith.

 

[Desertfremen]

Leaford, you have my symapthies. I hope she pulls through; do what you need to.

I know what it's like to lose a parent in such fashion. (Father - Glucogonoma) You will need energy. Take care of your Mum and yourself.

Good Luck.

 

[mmcall12]

leaford you and your family are in my family thoughts.

 

[ETsmokinandvapin]

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I hope the support of all your friends here will give you strength to make it thru this. You will never regret the time you are spending with your mom. Thanks for talking the time to tell us what is going on with you!

 

[beebopnjazz]

{{{Leaford}}}- I don't know what to say - your mom sounds like an amazing woman. I'm sorry your mom, you and your family have to go through this. I pray that she will regain strength, be accepted into the liver program and recover. May God bless you all.

 

[Blooper]

Taking on kids even with her issues. Sounds like a very compassionate person. We can all learn something from her. Spend time and be happy with her even though it may be hard try and be happy. Laughter is great for the soul.

 

[jude8753]

I send you a virtual hug even though I don't know you. I lost my Son almost 2 years ago, he was gone within 6 months from the time diagnosed, it's one of the hardest times you will ever go through in your life and I just pray she doesn't suffer like my Son did with all the treatment. God bless you and those that are suffering through this loss. I'm so sorry.

 

[leaford]

Thanks everybody for the kind wishes, love, support, and prayers.

Mom's having a rough night. Her condition has improved enough that she is more aware of her discomfort, and she is begging for help. I was with her until we were ordered to clear the room, because our presence was agitating her more, instead of calming her or reassuring her. We can see her again tomorrow, and her husband Frank will be here in the afternoon. It hurts, because I want to spend all the time I can with her in case of tbe worst. But rest does her the most good right now.

Tuesday I will be moving to a closer hotel, only a block away. More expensive, but cheaper than what the cheap rent plus expensive cab fares adds up to where im at. And worth it to have a place close to the clinic. Plus, it has a living room and full kitchen, so the family can also use it as a break room, not just me. Might even get them to split some of the bill. Daily rates, because i just don't know yet whether it will be days or weeks.

As to partial transplants, if accepted into the transplant program, that might be one of the options, I don't know. Of course, the best matches are close genetic relatives, but close genetic relatives are likely to have the same Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency that Mom does. Mom and I have different bloodtypes, so I don't think I'd be a match but would gladly donate if wrong. And Mary already had her own transplant.

 

[dreamchildwest]

Oh, Leaford...I am so sorry you and yours are having to go through all of this...my thoughts remain with you and your mom and I will send prayers up for your family each day as they struggle to cope and deal. Bless you; she knows you love her.

 

[Furius]

I admire your desire to save your mother. And I for one would do the exact same thing for my own. I will pray very hard, every day, to the Lord Jesus to save your mother. I can tell by your posts that you love her very much. I pray you are touched with a miracle that will give you and her everything you want and need.

 

[HzG8rGrl]

Hang in there Leaford. All my love and sympathy for the hard days and nights.
Everyone has to be strong when visiting her. Speak softly and lovingly and show her the strength she has always shown you. She needs that strength right now.
Take her back to warm and loving times through rememberences of story telling. It really does help with pain management. Perhaps even ask the clinic if someone from pain management could come speak with you, so that you may understand a bit more on how to help her while in this most painful time.
Lot's of love and strength coming your way.

 

[leaford]

Hang in there Leaford. All my love and sympathy for the hard days and nights.
Everyone has to be strong when visiting her. Speak softly and lovingly and show her the strength she has always shown you. She needs that strength right now.
Take her back to warm and loving times through rememberences of story telling. It really does help with pain management. Perhaps even ask the clinic if someone from pain management could come speak with you, so that you may understand a bit more on how to help her while in this most painful time.
Lot's of love and strength coming your way.

That's a very good suggestion, and I will ask about pain management techniques, but so far at least she is too confused to actively participate. She us getting, better, though, and more responsive so it's possible.

Right now I'm thinking about placebos, even alt-med woo. They excell at placebos. Active agents are out, or at least very limited, so a non-active placebo might actually be just the thing.

 

[maxx]

Mom's having a rough night. Her condition has improved enough that she is more aware of her discomfort, and she is begging for help. I was with her until we were ordered to clear the room, because our presence was agitating her more, instead of calming her or reassuring her. We can see her again tomorrow, and her husband Frank will be here in the afternoon. It hurts, because I want to spend all the time I can with her in case of tbe worst. But rest does her the most good right now.

I was struck by your description of her behavior and it reminded me of something. My mother has had health problems for many years now. Many trips via ambulance and emergency. The first real bad trip was about ten years ago for a bleeding ulcer. While she was in there, her personality changed completely and even presence of family agitated her to the point of being out of control. At the time, all her doctors believed she had suffered brain damage due to loss of blood and were treating her along this line. One...and only one....doctor got the correct diagnosis. Hospital psychosis. Her brain was fine, but had just checked out for the duration of her hospital stay because the stress was too much. It even lasted after she got home for a few days. Now, whenever she goes into the hospital, we make sure the staff knows she is prone to this psychosis. So if your mom is acting strangely, and not just because her illnesses...make sure the doctors don't overlook this psychiatric possibility. In my mom's case, they had already made matters worse with drugs before getting the diagnosis right. Older patients are much more prone to this condition and it is commonly missed in favor of a physical problem...and it can make the actual illness worse to deal with.

Good luck with everything.

 

[WOW]

Leaford - You sound soooo much better than when you first posted!!! Mayo clinic is very good and placebo's do work - awesome suggestion! Great news they excel at it, also!

You have a full kitchen so keep taking care of you - eat lots of great food and protein for energy. get lots of rest, take in some sunshine w/ room service use the extra time to kick back. You have so much support & prayers here, you're allowed to take breaks. We got you covered.

Good things are already happening....we're all praying they keep getting better.

Thanks for sharing this with us first - that's so thoughtful of you!

Pls keep us posted on all the updates, at your convenience.

She's in good hands and you and your family might want to find out in advance, who to contact to request a second review through the patient advocacy dep't if, heaven forbid, she isn't accepted for a transplant on the 1st - You can do that. It's the same as requesting a 2nd opinion and is your right, though we're all praying you won't have the added stress - just so you don't worry about next week - very rarely would a clinic like Mayo take anyone in they don't believe they can help but, it's good to know. That's alot of stress on you. You'll know, if you didn't already, you do have more choices & that's on everything! That dep't(might have a different name from one to the next) in any hospital can help you and your family clarify any and all things so you can understand anything you might be uncertain about and participate while they're helping her regain her strength. Never let yourself feel helpless. You're not helpless and I'm sure your mom knows this. From the way you speak about her, she's not only kind but a strong person and very glad to know she's showing signs of improvement. That's wonderful news! Mayo Clinic is one of the best!

Keep staying strong - we're not stopping our prayers here for more good news and anything you need, pls. let us know.

 

[JAWS]

Thoughts and Prayers are with you and your family, God bless.

 

[dijohn76]

Leaford, I just went through this the past 9months and understand. My thoughts and well wishes are with you! Do what you need to do and don't worry about other things, just focus on your mother (and yourself).