Ta-Da! Here's a quickie!
During therapy yesterday, Mom received a gorgeous plant from " her girls" Jen, Kay and Kaelin. She told me to specifically " Put a thank you on the blob" there it is and to you girls I thank you too. Knowing how much you love my mother is a great comfort to me and I think of you everyday and know you are in our corner! Also bearing a bunch of gorgeous photos of Mom and a beautiful flower arrangement, was Toni Rogers Jones. She and Barbara Fugate came to see Mom lastnight and they had a look of relief as they left.... We really are taking good care of her if I do say so myself. Chemo will resume Friday evening, after the big mail-order controversy with the insurance. Thank God in heaven the co-pay is minimal. My boys are being so sweet and Jordan is enjoying making his "Memaw" Jell-O every night. My husband is also designated lifter and shifter when he is home in the evenings. We will figure it out soon! My sister was here and had a hard time leaving, she started for Oklahoma at 5 and made it out the door around 8:30 p.m. She even treated Mom and I to mani-pedi's! I was so glad Mama was able to sit thru and actually enjoy it! She was a big help this week and I hated to see her go, but her kids need her more than I do right now. She will be back next week. Adam is coming out Saturday so that Merk and I can go to Holli's 40th. So So glad I don't have to miss it, I haven't in many many years. For you SOC folks, Holli is my Eileen, or my Pat....We have been friends since Jr. High and I am proud to say that I have several of my Kimball Knight Alumni that I speak to at least weekly. Friends are so important to us all, so thanks so much for being such good ones.
Wow what a love fest this thing is....I am grateful for all the love coming from so many places. Keep it Up...PLEASE!
Love,
Amy

Home

Well, so much for doing better at updates...but we got Mom home and all is relatively well. We are working out the kinks and working on some semblance of routine. Mom has physical thereapy all morning and radiation all afternoon, so visits after that are best. I will give directions when you call, so just give a shout when you want to come out. My number is 214-460-3180. If I don't answer, just understand it is probably because I am with Mom, I WILL call you back. Thanks so much for all the love and I look forward to seeing bunches of folks!
Amy

pix

Hey SOC Golden Bear peeps.....who took these photos of Mama? (the ones posted) We would be so grateful for a print. She loves these pictures of herself and they motivate her! Please respond and let me know how we can solve this mystery of the gorgeous pix!!!!
Thank You!
Amy

Update

Well, as if y'all did not know...my Mom is sooooooo brave.
She took her first chemo pill lastnight, despite her immense fear of nausea. I shook as I held it out to her and she took it and was not ill all night. 1 down 41 to go.
She begins radiation Thursday and then hopefully discharged to my house on Saturday!!!
The effects of the radiation we are told, will not be negative until at least a week or so into it, so we want to get her home, settled and hopefully have a chance to get her nails done, and anything else she wants to do before she gets too tired to run around. Visitors will be welcome, but make sure you call us first, as we might just be out shopping!
I want to thank DREAM fund, and Kaelin, and Kay for the generous gift card to Albertson's. I hope to start cooking to order as soon as she gets home! We are encouraged that she will feel better than she does in that tiny room in the hospital. Rehab teams are going to be working with her as well, each day at the house to help with her mobility.
Thank you all for your prayers and sweet wishes and she loves the funny cards!!! I will do a better updating job when I don't have to coordinate driving to the hospital, and the like!
Love,
Amy

Chillin'

Still bed resting, having a bout of upset stomach, and fighting an infection or two...still have not lost all hope for a pass for a few hours this weekend, but if it does not happen, it will be for good reason...Need to be sure the clot is dissapating and that there are no setbacks.
Mom is scheduled to begin radiation and chemotherapy on Thursday the 20th. She is very apprehensive and we are trying to keep her spirits up.
We are hoping to move some things to my house this weekend after we paint the room where Mom will be spending most of her time, we are trying to replicate her living room at home as much as possible, by bringing her beloved rocker and her table full of "stuff". Alyssa found a really pretty comforter and sham set that should make her feel nice and girly, I am sure Daddy is thrilled...There is plenty of room for him too, so we feel so blessed about the decision to have them at my house during her treatments. Everyday for 6 weeks is tough and Dad needs the help so this was the logical choice.
Mom has been urging us to shop for inspirational bangles or rings to wear for solidarity in this ugly fight, when we find just the right thing we will post a link so if anyone wants to get one, she would really love that!
And last but not least....she has officially become part of the crew....the crew cut club that is....a nurse helped her unify her hair do by clipping off the patches and now it just looks like she has verrrry short hair all over....she likes it and Adam, Alan, Ramon and Merk as well as all my sons are going to honor her with the same cut soon! ( I told her this was a really elaborate way to get Brandon's hair out of his eyes!) hee hee...
We have lots to do to prepare for her arrival, as well as the rehab at home people coming to train us on safety and things like that.
Thank you for your support, we love you all.
Amy

Wednesday 3/10

After therapy this morning, Mom was sent for a test, which determined that she has developed a blood clot in her lower left leg. She has been ordered to bed and will begin some anti coagulation medications to help ensure that the clot does not get worse and wont go anywhere. We are hoping the delay in physical therapy will not keep her from earning her day pass this weekend...yew, that's right....there is a possibility that she will get a few hours outside the hospital this weekend!!!I will be more diligent with the "blob" so visiting can be planned.
Special thanks to Ada Ann for the sweet and thoughtful gifts, and thanks also to Kaelin, Jen and Kay for the yummy food. Susan sent chicken & dumplings...ate em all!!!Thanks for all the cards and flowers too!
We feel your prayers and all the positivity!
Amy

Rehab

Mom is progressing nicely and all the cards, letters, flowers and gifts have really thrilled her! Thank you all so much! Visits are also a treat for her, however she does have therapies for most of the day, 9a-3p so be aware that if you visit during those times your chances of seeing her might be slim! This weekend, we plan to have more grandkids up to visit, and that will be on Saturday. Again, be sure to tell her how proud you are of the progress she is making....we sure are. Maybe staples out of incision today...cross your fingers!
Love,
Amy

Come on down...

Mom has settled into her own room at the rehab hospital and has started her daily therapy, which is proving intense. She is doing great and working well with her therapists. She has 3-4 hours of therapy per day which includes occupational and other types. We are all very excited to see her get more and more independant every day.

We are also looking forward to having visitors this weekend. Today some grandkids are coming up as well as some others. Please come on by when you can this weekend, she would love to see you.

Alan Torbett
214.450.7160

Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation
3505 Gaston Ave.
Dallas, TX 75246

Directions, parking information and phone numbers