Tuesday, 22 August, 2006 11:35 AM

Well, She came back from the Doctor today with not good news.

The tail into her chest hasn't disappeared it is still there along with the main tumor but has gotten a tad smaller. She said the doc described it as " It used to feel like a hard ball now it feels like a soft mound so it has gotten smaller." BUT

There is a spot on the back of her neck by her spine that lights up. So it looks like it's spreading. So chemo again but different kind. Will keep you all updated.

Monday, 21 August 2006 8:50 AM

Well as promised I would post updates.
Mom had a pet scan last week to get a better look at what was there.

Results are. She does have something on the neck but he is not sure if its the bone or soft tissue. Doesn't sound like anything new. and she wasnt sure if it was something new besides the tumor that was there. PLUS she has three spots of interest on her liver. SO shes is going into the Doctors tomorrow to discuss further treatment.

Will keep all upto date.

Friday, 11 August, 2006 3:12 pm CDT

Well she found out about the catscan. The two little tumors on the bottom of her lungs are either so tiny or gone, so the doctor isn't worried about them. The main tumor looks good. The Tail going down into the lung area is either gone or radiation scare tissue There is another thing at the top of the main tumor , which he's not sure about it could just be a radiation scare.
she is going to have a pepscan to see what they all are. But so far everything looks good.

She is starting to get some hair back. Not a lot mostly baby fuzz. If any one remembers Mary when she was a baby into her toddler how her hair was just fuzz. Its the same.

Friday, July 28, 2006 3:33 pm CDT

UPDATE
Well she is done with Chemo. Well atleast this first round. She had her catscan yesterday. THE preliminary of it is The main part of the tumor looks the same but the tail going down towards the lung has shrunk. HOW much I do not know. This is coming from the initial reading of the Film. She still needs to go the Doctor and get more information. But he says all looks good.

She is even starting to get some hair back. We are teasing her its like baby fuzz. Like my niece Mary had when she was little. WE keep telling her its going to come back in Neon Green. But she's doing good. Still out and about all over town (WHEN she can remember to put her hair on : ) ).

Will keep all upto date. As it all comes in.

With Jay when he was home on Leave From Iraq

Friday, July 7, 2006 10:51 pm

I haven't posted in while so I thought I better.


Mom is doing ok. Had a run to the Emergency room last friday when she ran into the open dishwasher door and the door won, Really took a chunk out of her bad leg.

Shes got one or two more chemo treatments left on this rotation. Then they will take a catscan to see whats its doing. Then they will leave it alone for a month or so. Then take another catscan to see if its growing or going into remission. LETS pray for the later.

Good thing is they are planning on taking their cruise again or retake it again in January. They are working around the oxygen thats that big thing but it will.

Sunday, 28 May 2006 7:17 PM

Well I thought I would write and keep up the flow.



Mom is doing good. She is getting tired a lot lately but doctor says that's cause of the Chemo.
All her hair is almost gone just a few strands here and there. Plus eye lashes and brows. Her Eyes are puffy due to they believe she now has an allergy to something. NO IM not going to be mean and post a photo.


But other then that she's doing rather Good. Nothing is keeping her down still going out every day shopping. She is reading her emails she's not to good on answering but she is reading so keep the encouraging words.


will keep yah all updated as it all goes along.

Thursday, May 4 2006 5:40 PM

Well. She started her 3rd sesson of Chemo Today? Think thats right.
Well she had a MRI and a Pepscan (not sure if thats what its called) and the Doctor today said that the cancer is Shrinking and " It's a GREAT Improvement" Now exactly what he means by that not sure. and don't know how much it has shrunk. so Keep the prayers going and hope it goes fling right outa hear.
They have decided to plan another cruise same one same time, Still have to find out about the oxygen and all but alteast they planning planning and planning.

:D If I felt mean I would post one of the photos of her without her wig :D But Ill be nice.

Tuesday, March 28 2006 9:03 am CDT

WEll just to keep all in the loop. Mom is doing good. Shes just finished up here Second wave of Chemo with no problems. The only thing is loosing the hair and that seems to have stopped. She still has some but it's splotchy.



I have added a new notice onto this blog. Its a mailing list. the changedetections dont seem to be working. so I decided to go mailing list. so To receive updates simply put your name and addy. YOU will receive an email from me to confirm the subscription. and every time its updated Ill send out a mailing.

Sunday, 26 February 2006 11:22PM CDT

Well, nother long week. She could not get Chemo this week. WHY cause she had a small cold and had a fever and her white blood count was up or down don't recall. So Until the fever and cold goes no CHEMO. WHY does she have a cold because she refused to listen to the Doctors. Plus others in the family aren't helping by saying she can. Doctors told her to Limit herself from going out because of being able to catch sicknesses easy. Social worker and doctor on the Day she left sat her down and told her this. BUT she just goes not wearing hat or zipping up her jacket. Me myself am tired of trying to knock sense into her, when I do IM told to stop. When I shouldn't since I was there and heard the Social worker and Doctor. PLUS me and pops are around her all day. Well hair is definitely falling out now. At first didn't look like she was going to loose any but has definitely started to fall out. Now she's talking of getting a wig in a different color, we told her good Idea go for hot pink.

Saturday, 18 February, 2006 5:35 pm CDT

Well, meant to do this earlier. BUT mom is back. The chest drain is OUT. Oxygen is down to 2 liters now. Chemo is doing great. She has had her second time with it. NO effects as of yet, only trouble was train to find a vein. After next week if they still have trouble finding the vein they will put in a c pas or something like that. Its basically a port that is in the arm under the skin that has a tube going up a vein into the main vein that comes out of the hart. This way all they need to do is find that port and hook in there.

Had her out Shopping today no problems whatsoever. Breathing is good. The Nurse that comes to the house had her final visit on Friday. So all is looking good. She does check her email so if you feel like emailing her please. Link to her email is below the Get well card.


DON'T forget to put your email addy into the little box below the Get well card link. THIS will notify you of updates to the blog if she should change.

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.