Migraine

Hi all,

First, I am so sorry that it has been so long since I was last on here. I have missed you ladies dearly. The very short story of my absence is that I went to Sevilla, Spain, to do research; came home and taught a summer course at my university; then when the course ended so did my lease, so I moved East to my folks' house until I could come back to Spain for more research. I'm in Barcelona now. And second, this might be kind of long. Sorry about that.

With that out of the way, I need your prayers and support. My mom has been healthy for her entire life. I never remember her so much as having the flu, even with two kids and working as a preschool & elementary school teacher for years. In May, while I was in Sevilla, she hurt her back and developed debilitating sciatica, so bad that she was almost completely disabled for months. After fighting with the sciatica and its treatment for the entire summer without seeing much improvement, I finally got her to agree to go back to her doctor for more tests when I arrived in August.

They did a variety of tests and the week before I was supposed to leave the country, when my parents came for my birthday, their doctor called to say he saw evidence of cancer in her spine. It was a great shock, since no one on either side of my family has ever had cancer. Heart problems and migraines we have galore, but not cancer. She returned and went into the hospital for tests. They told us they thought it was a blood cancer - either myeloma or lymphoma.

I had to leave for Europe, and my third night abroad, I got a call from my parents saying that the results had come back. She does not have a blood cancer. She has Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, with mets in her spine, pelvis, ribs, and skull. She immediately began hormone therapy and is in the middle of radiation treatment now.

She's not doing well at all. Her pain has increased, she is sick from her medications, and she is having more trouble walking and sleeping now than ever before. She admitted to my dad and to me that she doesn't fear death - she knows she will be with God - but she is petrified of the process of dying. I am scared that she is going to take a turn for the worse while I am 5,000 miles away from her.

I feel so helpless. I am doing what I can - I call and email often, set up a website so friends & family could stay updated and leave notes of encouragement for her, and pray constantly. But I am barely holding it together myself. I work in my archive here in Spain while they're open, but the rest of the day I can barely do anything but think of her. Or my head - which does not at all like the constant triggers I find here (like the massive amount of smoking Spaniards do).

Again, sorry for writing a book. Your prayers/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
~Rachel

Rachel,

I'm so glad you found your way back here--boy, you've been traveling LOTS!

I can't tell you how sorry I am to hear about your Mom. I'll be praying for you and your family, hoping that the doctors know just what to do to help your Mom and control her pain. I'm sure it's awful to be away from her, but have faith that she knows how much you love her and want to be with her.

Please stay in touch and let us know how you both are doing. And let your Mom know that she has lots of folks here who have never met her but are praying for her every day...

Many

jenny

It's good to see you!

I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I know how hard it must be for you, your family and her friends.

My thoughts and positive vibes, everything happy, I am wishing that for you and your mom.

Try to remember to take care of yourself too! I know how hard it is to think of anything but your mom when she is hurting. But you need to take care of yourself too! Try and remember to eat and drink fluids.....it's hard enought to combat those nasty Migraines we can't control - let alone trigger ones we could have!

My thoughts are with you and your family!

Rachel

I'm so very sorry to hear about your mom's illness. I can only imagine how hard this must be for you and your family! I know it must be so difficult for you to be so far away from her when she's so sick.

I'm praying for you and your mother. Particularly that you'll have peace that does pass any understanding, that your mother will experience as little pain as possible, and that you will feel very close to them in the midst of all of this!

Hugs,

Cyn

Rachal,

I am so sorry for all that you are going through so far away from your family. It is hard to deal with. I'm glad you found your way back to us. Always remember we can provide you support anywhere you are.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family.

Hugs and prayers know nothing about distance. You and your mom have my biggest and grandest.

I'm so sorry your mom is going through this and that your work has you physically so far from each other right now. I know that has to be agonizing.

Don't apologize for writing a book, dearheart! You take all the space you need. We don't mind a bit. We're here for you!

Having been in a similar position with my father, I empathize with you. You have my prayers and support.

It sounds like you are being a wonderful to support for your entire family, despite the distance between you.

As has already been said, don't forget to take care of your needs too.


Peace and prayers,
Liz

Sending tons of prayers and support your way.

Best.

Thanks, ladies.

I got word last night (well, my night; your mid-day) that Mom had to be taken to the hospital because she was hemorrhaging. The bleeding finally stopped, but she now has to go see a gastroenterologist and talk with her oncologist again. They said it might be a side effect from the radiation, but weren't sure.

*sigh* Thank you again for all the prayers. I had a better day in the archives today, so that helps. But I'm exhausted. Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday.

~Rachel

Rachel,

My heartfelt prayers are on the way, along with lots of hugs

I'm sorry about your mom's latest speed bump. I'm gonna ratchet up the prayers and vibes and hopes some more. Hugs, too.

Oh Rachel,

I'm so sorry about this new complication for your mom. My heart goes out to you as I pray for you and your mother!

Cyn

Rachel,
I am so very sorry that your mom is having to go thru this. I am a breast cancer survivor and the process can be frightening and painful. So, I will be praying for your mom to have peace as she goes thru the chemo and radiation and for the pain to be as little as possible.

And I will also be praying for you to have peace and comfort since you are so far away from her. Sometimes, in the midst of pain, we find our greatest strength, with the help of God, so I pray when your mom feels she is at her weakest, the good Lord will lift her up!!!

Take care
Pam

Thanks, ladies.

Today was a bad day. For my parents and for me.

I was supposed to get a call from my mom tonight, once my grandparents had arrived. But no call came, and when I tried calling the house, no one answered. After an hour, I finally called my dad's cell phone. Mom's back in the hospital. The bleeding hasn't stopped, so they admitted her this morning.

It's hard not to worry that this isn't just a side effect from radiation, but maybe it's something more substantial. I feel so helpless being here. I know my mom wants me to do my research - she told me that before I left. She wants me to be here and to do my work so I can get my PhD. But right now, I don't want to be here at all. I could care less that I'm in a beautiful, ancient Spanish city.

It doesn't help that today I had a horrendous migraine that needed most of the day and multiple medications before it started to go away. I haven't had to take my abortive since I got to Spain, but this was a doozy. Now my stomach is fairly upset from the meds. Ugh.

~Rachel

Oh Rachel, bless your heart!

I'm praying that God's mercies, love and peace will surround you and sustain you!

Gentle hugs

Cyn