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shalannaThis story has a happy ending.
But it starts out very alarming. My cousin's wife, Kris, has been defeating cancer for three years now, ever since she found a small lump--you know the drill. Earlier this year she was completely clear. Three months ago they found that her lungs were "full of small stuff" and started chemo, and two weeks ago they found that her latest difficulties were due to a brain tumor on her brain stem. (!!!) She and my cousin did not call us and tell us this, because "what would be the use of you worrying?" (They were thinking of my mom, because she's old, I suppose.) But this morning Kris had surgery here in Dallas. The tumor was malignant.
We got the call announcing that news this afternoon while she was still in surgery. We were frantic . . . but by the time we actually got hold of my cousin, he said the surgeon had just come out and said, "We got it all."
THEY GOT IT ALL!!!!
These are the words you want to hear.
This is the best news possible under these circumstances. Furthermore, when he went in to see her, she asked for her glasses and her reading glasses! She can see, hear, talk, and move (no complications, looked better than they'd expected from the MRI) . . . so I consider this a complete success. In fact, a minor miracle. She'll have to have radiation. But still!
Anyhow . . . we're still irritated that no one told us in advance . . . but we can't be too angry. We've arranged to take my cousin to lunch tomorrow after visiting Kris (you can only see ICU patients for something like fifteen minutes every three hours if you're not the spouse or immediate family.) I think I know a Tex-Mex hole-in-the-wall he'll like.
My mother and my aunt (my aunt is Kris's mother-in-law) are simply wiped out now. From first hearing the news that surgery was going on to the time they heard that THEY GOT IT ALL was only about an hour and a half, but trust me--little old ladies can do plenty of suffering, crying, and praying during that time. They're both exhausted, poor babies.
I suppose it was the right decision to keep from telling them, because they would've been basket cases for the past couple of weeks. And that's why I was kept in the dark like a Portobello 'shroom--I would have let it slip for sure. I'd have been crying at the sink while rinsing dishes and it would have slipped out. Never tell me stuff like that and then say, "Don't tell anybody." *sheepish look*
Man. Oh, man. This just came out of the blue. It was too late today to send a plant by the time we got off the phones, but tomorrow I'll be sending one. I know how uplifting it is to get a scrawny little African violet when you're confined to that hospital bed.
In other news, hubby went and ordered new glasses today. At first they said they could do 'em in an hour, but as we strolled the mall they called his cell to say that the lenses were out of stock, and so he'll be waiting two weeks. He's squinting at the computer screen even as I type. I told him to go watch teevee or listen to that shiny iPod. I even offered to let him download my playlist, but for some reason he prefers HIS old crappy progressive rock (Just Say NO to 'Yes'). . . .
I think I need to go to the karaoke bar and belt out a few!!
But it starts out very alarming. My cousin's wife, Kris, has been defeating cancer for three years now, ever since she found a small lump--you know the drill. Earlier this year she was completely clear. Three months ago they found that her lungs were "full of small stuff" and started chemo, and two weeks ago they found that her latest difficulties were due to a brain tumor on her brain stem. (!!!) She and my cousin did not call us and tell us this, because "what would be the use of you worrying?" (They were thinking of my mom, because she's old, I suppose.) But this morning Kris had surgery here in Dallas. The tumor was malignant.
We got the call announcing that news this afternoon while she was still in surgery. We were frantic . . . but by the time we actually got hold of my cousin, he said the surgeon had just come out and said, "We got it all."
THEY GOT IT ALL!!!!
These are the words you want to hear.
This is the best news possible under these circumstances. Furthermore, when he went in to see her, she asked for her glasses and her reading glasses! She can see, hear, talk, and move (no complications, looked better than they'd expected from the MRI) . . . so I consider this a complete success. In fact, a minor miracle. She'll have to have radiation. But still!
Anyhow . . . we're still irritated that no one told us in advance . . . but we can't be too angry. We've arranged to take my cousin to lunch tomorrow after visiting Kris (you can only see ICU patients for something like fifteen minutes every three hours if you're not the spouse or immediate family.) I think I know a Tex-Mex hole-in-the-wall he'll like.
My mother and my aunt (my aunt is Kris's mother-in-law) are simply wiped out now. From first hearing the news that surgery was going on to the time they heard that THEY GOT IT ALL was only about an hour and a half, but trust me--little old ladies can do plenty of suffering, crying, and praying during that time. They're both exhausted, poor babies.
I suppose it was the right decision to keep from telling them, because they would've been basket cases for the past couple of weeks. And that's why I was kept in the dark like a Portobello 'shroom--I would have let it slip for sure. I'd have been crying at the sink while rinsing dishes and it would have slipped out. Never tell me stuff like that and then say, "Don't tell anybody." *sheepish look*
Man. Oh, man. This just came out of the blue. It was too late today to send a plant by the time we got off the phones, but tomorrow I'll be sending one. I know how uplifting it is to get a scrawny little African violet when you're confined to that hospital bed.
In other news, hubby went and ordered new glasses today. At first they said they could do 'em in an hour, but as we strolled the mall they called his cell to say that the lenses were out of stock, and so he'll be waiting two weeks. He's squinting at the computer screen even as I type. I told him to go watch teevee or listen to that shiny iPod. I even offered to let him download my playlist, but for some reason he prefers HIS old crappy progressive rock (Just Say NO to 'Yes'). . . .
I think I need to go to the karaoke bar and belt out a few!!
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no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 02:34 am (UTC)I am still torn, because after all it DID spare my mom and my aunt all that suffering, but hey--I could have kept the secret (MAYBE) and I could have gone down there today to sit with them. They had all her sisters, her parents, their kids, and extended family, though, so I probably wasn't needed. Still! Good grief.
Thanks for writing!
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 02:26 am (UTC)What hole in the wall Tex-Mex place did you go to?
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 02:36 am (UTC)I wanna take his mind off things for a while. of course I will ONLY have a taco salad and will ONLY eat the lettuce and beef and veggies . . . no chips. I'm allowed 2 cups of veggies and 8 OZ of meat at a meal. They may have to tie my hands behind my back to keep me off the chips!!
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 04:44 am (UTC)If you go further away from Presby, around Uptown, Herrera's on Maple = love. That place is legendary, and DELICIOUS.
As for the chips, just ask them not to bring them. Hard as that is, it might be the best way to avoid eating them.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 03:14 am (UTC)I'll keep her in my good thoughts and hope for continued improvement and recovery.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 03:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 04:53 am (UTC)You're allowed EIGHT OUNCES of meat? That's pretty generous. I only eat about four at a typical meal. But, what the hey. Enjoy it.
Y'all -- all y'all -- are doing a good job negotiating those health problem-infested waters. Keep up the good work. The payoff is about the most important one you can get.
Anyway . . . YAY!
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 01:39 pm (UTC)Re being kept in the dark, I don't know what the answer is. I wasn't told about how ill my mother was until it was too late to go and see her and show her the new grandchild. On the other hand, it wouldn't have done me any good to be so stressed during the pregnancy (which was their reasoning for keeping the diagnosis of cancer from me).