Thursday, 9 February 2006 8:13 PM CDT

Well, She is doing real well. NO problems all week. Her draining has been exceptional no more then half a teaspoon. The doctor said one more week and the cathretar will come out. This is sorta verifying what me and Debbie thought that the fluid was coming from the tumor after the radiation and now that radiation is over will it stop. Well it seems to be.
Well today was her first Chemo. NO problems lol she fell asleep for two hours but why not your sitting there for three hours being bored. SO far she's not feeling effects as Nausea or such. So all is looking good. Saturday is her birthday so atleast she wont be sick on that day.

Friday, 3 February 2006 10:33 pm CDT

Well, She shocked the heck out of her doctors this week or atleast one. Her Cancer Doctor the one that admitted her was surprised she's doing so well. SO surprised that Heck why not She starts Chemotherapy Next Thursday. The fluid is doing good, Did get a good amount on Wednesday but that's because of not being drained since Friday I believe, drew nothing today. Everything else has been ok, Oxygen level was low at 88 today but well if you all know me mom, SHE will not sit down and hard headed as ever. But over all she is doing good. Only thing that's most obvious is one her leg hurts more. And the oxygen line. Other then that she's fine.
REMEMBER I WON'T BE UPDATING EVERYDAY SO LOOK BELOW FOR THE LITTEL BOX TO ADD YOUR EMAIL ADDY TO . WHAT THAT DOES IS EVERY TIME I UPDATE THIS BLOG IT WILL EMAIL YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING NEW.

Monday, 30 January 2006 8:32 pm CDT

Well, Today was first day doing the drain and once again nothing came out. She has an appointment tomorrow with the surgeon. They are going to drain the lung and do an ultrasound to see where the catherator is sitting. The xray shows fluid so it maybe sitting on a different pocket.
She is doing good she is weak, and thats fustrating her she definitly does not like these new oxygen tanks wants her smaller ones back.

Will keep all updated. may not be everyday sinc she seems to be doing pretty good now. PLEASE book mark this so you can keep checking back. I have added a Notifier onto the Blog right below the counter and Get well card. Enter you email and as soon as its updated it will email you letting you know theres an update so you check then.

Saturday, 28 January 2006

Well, MOM is home. Brought here home today. But shes not happy. Why? Well. She has to Hospice and in order for her to have Hospice its either at home or at one. Well in order for Medicare to pay it she is Homebound. That didnt go off to well cause she came home with the attitude of IM home Im fine. She wants to go shopping. But they gave her the warning.
But shes doing good just has to be careful on what she does and more verbal to us on hows shes feeling.
learned today how to take care of the chest drain today didnt get anything out of it. The Doctor says it could be healing on its own. But the Xray still showed fluid. Debbi made point today. This came on with the Radiation so we think the radiation started it NOT saying it couldnt have happened on its own. BUT now that the radiation is over maybe it will stop flowing the liquid. Well have to see.

Friday, 27 January 2006

Today they moved her to the new pulmonary Ward. Which was kinda stupid since she's only there one night. Cramped rooms making a twin out of a single. Atleast that's my opinion. But they are nice.

Well She is doing good. Had her up a walking :) well as far as the leash will let her go. :) knees are hurting mainly cause she hasn't had any of her arthritis meds since she went in. But breathing is good, Numbers have been good. Eating well, you'd think she hadn't eaten in a month. BUT over all good.

Talked to the pharmaceutical company today getting all her supplies in order. She will be home Saturday. Probably by 1 pm but who knows. She will have a Nurse coming in daily and checking on here and physical therapist also. Course pops is complaining who's paying. But that was the condition for her to come out of the hospital. Either go into a Hospice or at home Hospice. Her hands aren't swollen anymore that's good but here legs are back to being swollen. Both me and my brother in law and my dad said tonight. We wonder if it was just the fluid on the lungs causing all this and the Doctors just blew it out of proportion. Since the fluids been drained all has been good. Low Oxygen again no problem breathing. Well have to wait and see.

Thursday, 26 January 2006

Well she had her precedure today all went well. THE good news of the day is She MAY come home on Saturday. I found out tonite I misunderstood something and IM not quite sure I misunderstood it, cause my sister heard same thing. I heard and understood that if she came home now like she is ,she would only last 4 to 8 Weeks but if she stayed in Hospital and got stronger and then came home she would be around for upto 8 months. My dad said tonite that if she was intubated and came home she would only last 4 to 8 weeks. Will clarify this better and keep all updated.

OK, I sorta miss understood. This is what was said > "that's if she went home then without getting stronger than she was at that time she would last 4 to 8 weeks. if she stayed in the hospital and got stronger then it would be 4 to 9 months"

Debbie, Moms sister Marilyn and Her mother visited today. arrived there just before they took her for the precedure. me and pops came after dinner then melody,john and the kids. She was just sitting there with the moose and frogs near by along with crabs and cats. Bet ya wondering what me talking about. Moose are her Moose Slippers big brown and has antlers. Frogs a smacking frog stuffed animal and Crabs and cats Pictures of her Hermit Crab and her cat.

Wednesday, 25 January 2006

Well, Today she is a little Depressed. She found out today that the drain tube isn't coming out that they are putting in a permanent one, which we will have to change every other day. Told her its better off then the alternative. She looks good.

She can drink now Her hallelujah was a good sign :) They have her on a low 4 liters of oxygen now and she's doing good. BUT it makes me wonder if she's ok on this low dose if it was just the fluid on her lungs that was causing all this. But there is an always present if the co2 goes up again.

Monday, 23 January 2006 11:21 pm

Well, News is same as Friday from the meeting. The glue in the lung didn't work. Basically in a nut she'll, She needs the high flow of oxygen to survive.
If she comes home now she would probably last 4 to 8 weeks. If she stays in the hospital or such and gets stronger She'll have 4 to 8 Months. They are not going to even do Chemo or think of it until she gets herself stronger.
They moved her out of ICU tonight and into her own room. She's in Room 466 all can send cards or flowers or such to her here Nancy Kruger c/o Lutheran General Hospital Room 466 1775 Dempster Street ,Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Sunday, 22 January 2006 11:00 pm CDT

Mom was a bit lethargic today and her Oxygen level was down. But over all seems to be doing good. Some pain from the draining tube. She didn't have any drain from 7 am to 7 pm so they were talking of taking the drain out, but as of 10 pm, I guess she was getting some more drain so they aren't taking it out.

She sat up all day today, and slept some. Wonder why when they wake them up at 5:30 am to give them a bath. She Visited with her sister Marilyn and niece Jeni and her mother, then the whole family. She was eating slow today said it took 2 hours to eat Breakfast, just wasn't that hungry.

Tonight I brought Madagascar so we sat and watched that. We have the meeting with the Doctors tomorrow to discuss more about her. Hopefully we will finally get answers, we are finding out that doctors are saying one thing and the nurses others. We are actually getting more questions answered by the nurses then the Doctors. To be honest Its not looking real good, cause if she comes home there's the chance of the oxygen levels rising and we wouldn't know that until it was to late. They are saying she's got atleast 6 months left if not less. Keep praying.

Saturday, 21 January 2006 4:45 pm CDT

Well today she looks good. She feels human again cause she finally got her hair washed and is doing good. Course as all Hospitals she didn't get a good sleep cause they kept coming in and waking her. But Oxygen levels are great. They Put the only to explain this, is they put a glue in through the drain tube of her chest. This glue basically spreads around the lung and glues the lung to the chest wall. When they did this it did hurt a little, she got lucky and was one of the 30% to feel pain they said that most just feel discomfort. They leave it in for two hours and then open the drain.
Basically what this does is makes no room for the fluid to fill it up. The fluid by the way is Lymphatic fluid they said that some of the lymph nodes and veins are blocked most likely cause of the cancer. by blocking the access to the lung its forcing the fluid to goto another lymphatic drain. After the finished putting the glue in her breathing level got to be normal. WE normally are at anywhere between 96 to 100 meaning that anywhere between 95% and 100% of the Oxygen in the blood is oxygen and the remaining 4% to 0 is CO2. Hers jumped anywhere between 96 to 100. After an hour or so it dropped down to 94 which it has been steady at since friday morning. They really wont know if the glue is working for a few hours. When we left she had draing 150ml I think it is so out of 150 120 is the glue so she took an extra 30 ml out which they say could just be some that was in there. So in a few hours we should know if that works. IF it works the drain tube should come out tomorrow and they are talking about putting her into anothe room tomorrow. and possible going home in a week give or take.
Im iffy about that cause of what they were saying yesterday, if she goes home now she would only have 4-6 weeks and understand that they dont have portable units like we have at home to push the quantity of oygen in here that they are using now. so whether shell be around for another 6 months who knows. But shes feeling fine, sitting up they told her that they would try standing her up today but as of the time we left they hadn't. so outlooks good and bad. will keep all updated as norm.

Friday, 20 January 2006 9:24 pm CDT

Well, as normal things change. Now the pulmonary Doctor says she is going to need to be on the ventilator the rest of her life, He says she was falling asleep on him and that's a sign of the CO level rising again. This meaning she would have to be in the Hospital the rest of her life. BUT we have a meeting with the Doctors this afternoon. Something seems funny the last two days she wasn't falling asleep she was awake all day. It could be she was bored or that they kept waking her up all night long and she's tired. But we will find out. And of course will keep all updated.

Well, As we were told today at the meeting. She still can not exhale the CO2 good. But it can change daily at one point she cant then the next hour she can. AS long as she continues to do as good as she was today everything will be somewhat ok. BUT she may need to go on the vent in the future if it kicks up again. One Doctor said that she wouldn't have to be intibated for the rest of her life another said yes she would. Basically as IM understanding it, She could go on and then as she improves be taken off but cant go on and off and on and off cause it would just ruin her throat and then it would go to a trach, but even her Oncologist says don't cause she couldn't be weaned off it, She doesn't want to be on it anyhow. So its a touchy situation cause if she gets worse it's on the vent or slowly let her die. But today She was doing good looks good, she even got out of bed and is sitting in a chair, actually breaths better in the chair but wont sleep like that. She feels human cause I got them to wash her hair :). And she wants a beer. LOL What I have stated here is how I interpreted it to be, but If its not I will definitely change and make it correct. But as I understand as long as she is doing good and gets stronger she would be ok if she's in the Hospital or a Home, but if she was stronger and came home she would only have about 6 months. If she came home now only 6 weeks. So you can see why we are all sort of of stunned.

Thursday, 19 January 2006 9:42 PM CDT

Well, Mom looks good. Her color is fantastic, She is Eating solids just can not drink liquid unless its a think nector or shake type. She hasn't been out of bed yet but to use the facilities but that is with help. She is weak as would be expected.
She is talking better louder so you can hear her, She still doesn't feel good but better then she did. They have not figured out what or where the fluid is or is coming from hopefully tomorrow, but its still draining all together now almost 4 liters worth. For some reason pops thinks she'll be home sunday or monday but I doubt it. Until they get the fluid issue under control I think they are going to keep her. She is sitting up reading her book. Its hard to cause her hands are still swollen. She may be moved tomorrow we think to a regular room and out of MICU. BUT over all She is doing fantastic. I have passed on all wishes and thoughts on to her She says thank you to everyone. But we still have a long way to go.

Wednesday, 18 January 2006 9:55 PM cdt

Well this is a surprise. Grandma Irene and I walked into the Hospital to see my mother Sitting in bed wide awake and Talking. It seems her stubburn side, decided at 10.30 this morning while the nurses turned their back for 5 minutes, she some how got her hand up to her mouth and pulled out the ventalation and feeding tube. THANK GOD she did not do any damage. but Shes been awake all day and back to the old grumpy self.


She still can not eat though she is starving she needs to be evaluated to see if she can eat that should be tomorrow.. She thanks everyone for praying for her. She is still draining fluid from the lung sac, I have not heard if they have any results on it yet. But for breathing, She was normally on 2 liters of oxygen while she was at home they have her on 20 now. really pushing it into her. She is exhaling great the doctor said so the draining and all really helped.


The first she said to me was whats wrong with me. SO I told her, She understood. of course when the nurse came in and asked her the date and year she did get the year wrong at first but that dont matter, she got everything else right, so shes all there. Oxygenation was good, breathing was great Blood pressure was up but I think thats cause of all thats happened today. She was still in restraints cause they didnt want her pullin the chest tube out or the vain tap. They take blood for the blood work and they need it from and Artery not a vain so instead of keep poking her she leave a basically a IV tap in. The whole time we were there she was makin us laugh, She wants her books and games and you knew whe was herself when she said you guys are leaving now right :) and go home paul. Told her we love her and to be good and not pull anything else out.
So over all ITS looking real good, they need to find out what this fluid is and where its coming from first. when they do that they will know what to do I hope. So it all looks good just pray she keeps getting better

Wednesday, 18 January 2006 9:24 am CDT

We just talked to the Hospital and she came through the Night real good. They are going to wake her up again around 10 a.

Tuesday, 7 January 2006

this morning her levels dropped significantly so. Which is good.

Other problem is along with the emphysema and the cancer she has what's called a Pool Fusion. We normally have a lilquid around our lungs that is between the lung and the chest wall sort of keeps a vacuum between when we breath. This fusion is fluid building up at the bottom of the lung and is pushing on the lung which can collapse it so they went in this morning and put a draining. This basically Is like putting a feeding tube in they cut a small 1/4 dia hole on her side and insert the tube. When they did this it started to drain immediately. This afternoon around 230 - 3 they tried to wake her up meaning stop the sedative and see how they do sort of give her a vacation off of it. She woke up around 4. Was really respondent knew everyone and all surprised us all and didn't fight like a Tasmanian Devil. She said she wasn't scared she was worried, no pain but just discomfort in the chest that's cause of the tubes. They put her back into the sedation but not as large a dose. They will wake her up each day. This will go on until they find out what the fluid is and where its coming from. And the Pneumonia clears up, keeping her sedated keeps her from pulling the tubes out.

She did cry a little but we told her don't that all is ok that this is helping her. They are concerned about her urine shes not passing as much as they say she should. And shes retaining fluid. But they said this could be many things including if they cut back on the fluids they are giving her which I myself don't know if they did. But we don't think its a problem with her kidneys. Just not a lot of fluids.

16 January 2006

Today mom had her doctors appointment with the Oncologist to see what is going to come next with the treatment of her cancer. Since sunday she hasn't been feeling good and is rather tired alot. When they got into the Doctors office she told him she was not feeling good. He put a monitor on her finger and found out that the oxygenation of her blood was severely low. So she Admitted her to Lutheran General.
Pops took her over and I came over later. She was sleeping off and on. After a while they came in and told us she has a touch of Pneumonia in her right Lung., then that later turned to not only the Pneumonia but fluid on the lung. They moved her up to MICU (medical Intensive Care) they told us that the CO2 level in her blood is dangerously high. What is happening is. After we inhale the oxygen we exhale CO2 Because of the Pneumonia and the fluid buildup she does not have the strength to exhale so the CO2 is not coming out of her blood. They told us there are two ways to get it out. One is a pressure max which they put on the other is Intibating her and breath for her. After getting upstairs her levels of CO2 weren't coming down and they wanted to intibate. Her doctor said do it. So last night around 10 pm (Central) they intibated her and sedated her, She isn't quite in a coma but this side of it. This will keep her from fighting and pulling out the Tubes.
When we left last night at 1:30 AM she was sleeping soundly and all seemed to be ok.