FWIW, Tami, my Medical Oncologist was reluctant to let me have my port removed right away too mainly because I was both severely anemic (even after taking procrit!) and neutropenic from the chemo and they wanted to reserve the option of IV antibiotics (much easier with a port) and a blood transfusion (also much easier with a port). If there's a possibility your mom would still need either of those, that's probably why they are wanting to keep it in.

Nelie