We are having a very difficult time managing mom’s pain. We know prednisone and oxycodone work to control it for the most part, but none of the doctors are willing to prescribe the needed dosage. Dr. Lin even tried giving her a cortisone shot in her back. Nothing is helping. We tried the palliative care route but still no one will prescribe the medication needed in the dosages we know work. We were hoping after the hysterectomy that much of the pain would go away but it hasn’t.
Our good friends Paul and Suzy are a wonderful source of support. Suzanne is a nurse who is more like an angel to us. She is helping us along by offering up options and suggestions. Since mom has decided not pursue anymore treatments for her cancer, Suzy and Dr. Lin suggested it might be time to go onto hospice.
We have a family pow wow (oops, I’m sure that is not politically correct) and we are in agreement that hospice is the next step. We also have decided to bring on some extra help for me so that I can get a break once in a while during the week.
Enter Montanna, or Monti as mom likes to call her. If I am mom’s angel then Montanna is mine. She is so good with both mom and Verne.
I feel confident that when I need to go do something that they are safe and in good hands with her. I didn’t realize how much I need her help and support, but I will be forever grateful to Montanna.
Our hospice nurse Lori is so wonderful. She understands exactly what we want for mom. She asked mom what her goals are from now and until the end. Mom said she wants to be pain free, be able to cook in her kitchen, and go out to eat whenever she feels up to it. Lori said that she thought they could make all that happen. That makes us all very happy.
Leslie is our aid. She is the one who is going to care for mom’s physical needs like bathing, and general hygiene management. Mom is not excited about this right now because she is still doing her own bathing. That is okay, Leslie said she will come when we are ready for her to do those things for mom.
The final member of our hospice team is Andrea our social worker. She is going to help us navigate the system, help us with any family issues, and just make sure everyone is doing their job and working towards the same goal: mom’s wellbeing in her final days.
So that is our team. And we are quite happy with them. It is amazing the difference hospice is making so early in their treatment care. Two days after we are on hospice mom’s pain is controlled and she wants to go out for breakfast at the Pepper Tree. Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Look at that smile.
