Kudos to you my friend for starting this wonderful site. I have read dozens of posts.
Joanne,
Thank you for your lengthy email response. I have read it several times and am still amazed that a total stranger would spend so much time and effort to help me out...
Eileen (co-worker and cancer free survivor),
Thank you for letting me know about this board. I appreciate your input and strong conviction.
Lisa,
Thank you for your input... Hug right back at ya!!!
Friends,
My mom is taking Vicodin every 4 to 5 hours in addition to a mouthwash/spray solution that numbs her mouth and throat. She is still sleeping through the night.
She does have a visiting nurse and hospice health care giver coming one day per week. I forgot to mention that in my original post. These visits have been occurring since she was diagnosed back in March. Just last week, the visiting nurse had to replace the "death pack" in the fridge as my mother refers to it because the expire date had passed. She jokes that she outlasted the "death pack"...
We had her over the house on Tuesday for the holiday steak cookout (family tradition since 1966). She was smiling all night as she watched her nine grand kids open up their gifts. Despite knowing that this would mostly likely be her last christmas, she seemed content and thrilled throughout the party.
In addition, she had the added pleasure of having all five of her kids together for christmas. (Last time was 1996). The reasons behind that 10 year gap would qualify me for another type of message board (;-).
