Holding Pattern Continues...

Hi Everyone,
We haven't had any new information to post, but I know that all our supporters out there are eager to hear an update. Mom's blood levels still haven't come up, so we are still in a holding pattern. The good news is that Mom was moved into a private room. Thanks to some artwork from Grace and Maeve, the walls are decorated and colourful. Grace also lent Grammie her favourite pink blanket, and Mom is all wrapped up and cozy in it. She is surrounded by nice flowers and pictures of the family and is rarely alone as one of us is able to be there from early in the morning to late in the evening. She hasn't been up for visitors outside the family. Grace and Maeve came for a visit earlier in the week, and Grace held Grammie's hand the entire time. Grace also bounced in to give Grammie hugs on Saturday and, while she was very impressed with the private room, Grace promptly declared that more artwork was needed. Within hours of that visit, there were new Grace Murphy originals to post on the wall.
We have been glued to the FIFA World Cup, watching it on the itsy hospital screen. It has been a nice distraction, and Mom can come in and out of paying attention (the games are long and there are always replays for important moments!). On Sunday, Mom had on her Argentina ball cap and Dad had on his 11 (Telvez) jersey, and the three of us watched Argentina win together. It was a nice birthday present for Christie (who is currently on a wonderful trip in the Yukon and will be coming back in a few days). I also enjoyed showing her the pictures from my trip to Istanbul. It's hard to believe that she has been in the hospital for three weeks now.
Mom has a lot of down time and sleeps quite a bit. She was very pleased to change rooms but is frustrated with the status quo in terms of her condition. We have been enticing her appetite by bringing her some of her favourite food, and I brought some of her own plates and cutlery in to have a break from the plastic hospital stuff. I even found those yummy Dibs (bite-sized chocolate covered ice-cream) in the cafeteria, and those were a hit.
It is a real challenge to keep spirits up when the Doctors don't have anything new to say. She is being followed by a variety of doctors and departments. We all appreciate the support we've been receiving. Mom reads all the cards, and we read the blog posts to her. Keep the letters and cards coming!!!
As soon as there is any new information, we will update the blog.

Continuing on in Sunnybrook...

Mom continues to be cared for in the oncology ward at Sunnybrook. Her red blood cells are still marginal and the platelets and white blood cells are low, so she is still very weak. She has been getting transfusions to assist her body in curing itself of the reaction to the chemotherapy. We have been encouraged by the fact that she has been acting a little more like herself. The fact that she started to complain about a couple of things and to feel a bit cooped up was a sign that some of her energy is coming back :). It isn't easy to have to remain here at the hospital, but we all know that she is in the best place for the time being. Mom is so kind to the nurses. She knows when someone is due for a break and when it should be the end of another's shift. It is not easy for her to be the one being cared for and even still, she finds a way to be concerned for those doing the caring.
Dad managed to get out for some fathers' day fun. I met him on Bayview Avenue for a couple of beers yesterday afternoon while we relaxed a bit and watched the Brazil match. Then he enjoyed helping Grace with her newly acquired bike-riding skills. It was a real thrill for him.
We will keep updating the blog, but for now, it's a bit of a holding pattern.
:) Karen

Update from Sunnybrook

Mom is still in the oncology ward at Sunnybrook. She finished her radiation on Wednesday. They're still looking at her white blood cell and platlet counts. She's tired but always interested in hearing what's going on in everyone's life. We bring her the cards she receives at home and read them to her. We all know and feel your support.

Monday morning

It's Monday morning. Mom is still in the oncology ward at Sunnybrook.

After a very tense and trying few days, we are happy to report that she is on the upswing. She'll be staying put there for at least a few more days.

Thanks

Since we three sisters have been all over the place lately (Max and I are in Toronto visiting from Canmore having travelled extensively of late and next heading to the Tatshenshini River, Karen's been to Montreal and is off to Istanbul tomorrow - both times to give talks at conferences - Kath's been to Vancouver and back to work...) we realize we've been not keeping regular postings.

Dad, too, has been busy. He and Mom have been at the cottage each weekend since this all broke. He's still working part-time at BLG and busy with clients new and old, and working with his charities.

Most importantly, Mom has been bravely moving through her treatment, including this short term problem which is just part of the reality, we've learned.

We'd like to thank our tremendous group of friends and family who have had mom in their thoughts and prayers, and who have dropped over books, treats, cozy items and flowers.

Dad says his weight up 'thanks to the cookies.'

Mom reads every card sent and comment posted here, and Dad reads her every email sent as well.

Update

Mom is, in a word, 'tired'. Very, very tired. She is being very well taken care of and her team is keeping a very close watch on her health as she continues through this journey of keeping the brain tumour at bay. Her doctors are evaluating and reevaluating where she is at, and making adjustments.

Currently, she is at Sunnybrook where she will stay for a few days since her white blood cell count was very low and she was at risk of a very low immune system (and all the complications this could bring). Any kind of a fever or sniffle could be extremely serious and we aren't taking any risks.

So she is protected there. While she's 'a bit bored', she is in a good place to rest through what will no doubt be the lowest point of the treatment, and still be able to make the short trip to her daily radiation.

Throughout it all, Mom's famous sunshiney spirit has remained high.

We look forward to a week or two from now, when Mom will have rested and rebuilt up the strength that has taken such an extreme beating over the past few weeks of this gruelling, extensive round of treatments.