by Linda
My mom was always a strong woman, never given to laying around "sick". If she would have an ache or pain she downplayed it. So we never knew she felt bad. In August however, she told us she didn't feel so good (a warning sign), but she passed it off as her sinus headaches. She went to a doctor who diagnosed her with a urinary infection. A couple weeks later she went back, again the doctor said she still had the infection and gave her more antibiotics, also he said he was going to get her some tests to see if she had a minor stroke (her mother had a stroke years ago). She never made that appointment because the next day she was vomiting, could not stand up or walk for herself. We rushed her to the ER and they did a CT scan. They told us she had a tumor and moved her to another hospital for an MRI by a specialist. He did the MRI that night, and did surgery the very next morning to remove over 90% of the tumor. That evening (Sept. 30th) he told us that his worst fear was realized: she had Grade IV Gllioblastoma Multiforme and he believed that she only had it for about 2-3 months when he found it, it moves that fast. She went to an aggressive rehab facility after the surgery, but it was of no use for in that month she was there she lost the ability to use her arms and legs, to swallow, talk etc.. She was moved to a nursing facility. A mere 3 weeks later she was given another MRI. They told us the tumor was now twice the size from a month prior. They stopped treatment, told us it would be a matter of weeks at most. Mom spoke up after not being able to talk for several weeks. She said Please take me home. She never spoke again. We took her home that night to her own house. She only lived another 2 1/2 weeks. I along with my dad and my daughter was her caregiver. It was a touching, painful, tender and bonding experience. I will never forget the love that we shared those final weeks as I was able to do for her the things that she did for me when I was a baby. She died on December 22nd (almost 3 months from the discovery)she was buried on Dec. 27th. She is my guardian angel, and I miss her so very much. But now she is happy, healed, walking and talking and singing again, as well as playing the organ.
