Gary,

I too am surprised after reading everything here that she did not get a PEG tube. I often question her ENT because he seems to do things so differently than than the normal. He is a very caring doctor who makes his patients feel like they are his friends. With her first surgery (2/3 of her tongue and part of the soft palate)back in April 03 she had a traik and that was horrible and a feeding tube in her nose when she was in the hospital. My mom is not a huge woman who can afford to loose a ton of weight. She started at 5'8 175 lbs back in April and after the first sugery she lost about 20 pounds. When she could eat again she opted to gain about 15 of 20 pounds that she lost again because she said if she ever has to go through the surgery again she would not have a feeding tube. She hated that thing more than the traik. So when she had her surgery in December she did not get the feeding tube. When she could eat again before radiation she ate everything fattening that she could. She probably weighed about 165-170 when she started radiation. She is now at about 139 lbs which is still not too bad and she is able to eat scrambled eggs and cottage cheese and ice cream etc already so thats a relief. I keep telling her if she doesn't eat they will make her have a PEG tube. She hates the Boost Plus so much it makes her gag too.

Thank you Mandy for that receipe. I'm going to the grovery store tonight to pick up all the ingredients. My mom is climbing the walls with borebdom at home so she is coming to spend the week with me starting tommorrow. I am sooooo excited. We haven't spent much quality time together so this will be so great for me and her and my sister (who will be here to help with the baby).

Her voice is still pretty much gone but she is starting to feel a little better and the mucus is beginning to subside. What a relief that things are on there way to her "New Normal"
and life can get back on track. Oddly enough I am not obsessing as much as I was when she was getting the radiation. I still think about it about 20 or so times a day but it is not the only thing on my mind anymore. Posting on this board has helped me a lot because my husband is the type of person who just constantly tells me my mom will be fine and he cannot understand why I am so concerned for her. He isn't very deep when it comes to stuff like this.

You all are wonderful. I especially appreciate all the help you have been Minnie. You are an incredibly sweet caring woman who has so much to offer on this website.

Danielle