We Can't Say Thank You Enough

Greetings FoMmies,

It's been a long time since Your Faithful Correspondent reached out to you and if truth be told there's a reason for that. You see, Loyal Readers, YFC was tired. Not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally too.

Mom's passing has taken YFC and his trusty Sidekick (that'd be Michelle, who's been elevated from #2 status) on an emotional roller coaster. And not one of them new-fangled roller coasters either, we're talking the low-tech, extra-rickety variety where you wanna vomit immediately upon disembarking from the ride. In other words, the no fun kind.

Some days are better than others. On Labor Day I spent time with my friend Sue and her family. Chloe, Sue's 3-year old daughter, asked me several times where Mom was and Yours Truly got pretty choked up. Later, we took a walk to the park and YFC asked Chloe who her best friend was. "You are," she replied (it goes without saying that Chloe is exceptionally bright for her age, this statement merely confirms it). YFC then asked "who's my best friend?" to which she responded "Sharon."

From the mouth of babes...

In other news, good friends Kim & Nathan, who did a yeoman's job of supporting YFC when he needed it most, will be making a return to the Windy City this weekend. Also, YFC will be volunteering at the Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk on Sunday. Kim, like the trooper that she is, has offered to volunteer as well. It should be a bit emotional, but Your Faithful Correspondent is tough (though if worse comes to worse, Kim will just have to carry him home).

Things on the home front have been...erm...challenging. It's interesting seeing how people respond in a situation like this. Some people fold like a deck of cards (certainly not YOU, but that guy 3 names down on the e-mail list...simply awful), whereas others are like a rock (and still others are like a giant cliche from Clicheland, which attacks much like Godzilla attacked Tokyo, except instead of breathing fire, the weapon of choice is trite analogies). Hmm, there must be a point to this somewhere...ah yes, people. Well, the rock people have really, erm...rocked (note: find new editor/copywriter). The cards and phone calls of support that we've received are still so very much appreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And YFC thanks YOU especially.

(The Sidekick would want me to express her thanks too, but she can write her own blog)

Ah what the heck, our most heartfelt thanks.

Faithfully,
Corey

It's been a while...

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Well, as always, the title says it all. It's been a while since we last got together, so I figure that an update, of sorts, is in order.

Michelle and I were so busy in Mom's final days and the days that followed, that it was as if time collapsed onto itself. Days blended into one another with little distinction. It was pretty hard resuming a routine that had any semblance of normality. Instead, we were busy trying to attend to the many tasks which needed to be handled in the aftermath of Mom's passing. Many friends and family rushed to our aid, which made a terrible process just a little more bearable.

It still doesn't seem like things are quite real and I'm not really sure that I want things to sink in. Being in a state of semi-denial has its advantages, I suppose. Given the reality of the situation, I think its a safer place to be right now.

These days, the hardest time for me is when I'm praying. In the Jewish tradition, mourners are supposed to say a prayer called the "Mourners' Kadish" every day for eleven months minus a day (I have no idea why it lasts for such a seemingly odd amount of time, but my Cousinie Scott, the über Jew confirmed it). I often have a difficult time getting through the prayer, despite its brevity. Still, I say the prayer faithfully every day, sometimes more when I'm thinking a lot about Mom.

Actually I thought about Mom a lot over the weekend, which I spent in Cleveland, Ohio (the 33rd largest city in the U.S. in case you're wonderin') visiting my friends Kim and Nathan. Kim, who celebrated her birthday on Sunday, ran/biked in a charity biathalon and raised over $3,200 for a Jewish social services agency in Mom's name. I was extremely proud of Kim and I know that Mom would have been too.

Many thanks to those of you who sent photographs of Mom. It means far more than I can express. Our family is also deeply appreciative for everyone's support in what continues to be a difficult time.

Faithfully,
Corey

P.S.
I recently received the remarks spoken by Rachel Rosenberg, who officiated Mom's funeral service. I've pasted them below.

----

Our rabbis teach us, that when a parent who has taught her children passes on, that passing is not a death. As long as the children live, there is a part of the parent that cannot die. When alive, a parent rejoices with children; in death, that parent will not grieve.

This is the case, I believe, with Sharon Novick. During her lifetime, although it was cut short by her illness, she was able to teach her children, extended family, and many, many friends, so many valuable lessons – above all, to live each day to its fullest and to love life. As we share some memories of this remarkable woman,

We extend to all of you our sympathy and support, especially to you -

Her children, Michelle and Corey
To Roberta and Marc
Aaron and Haley
Judy, Larry, Zack and Jake
To her mom, Beverly
To Russell
To Ting
and to all of her family and many friends

Sharon’s mom Beverly said “There are not enough adjectives to describe her.” But I thought I’d share just a few of the phrases that you, her family, used to describe Sharon and I know that everyone here will relate to these words that describe this remarkable woman:

• Extremely generous to everyone she knew
• Always giving, always thinking of others over herself
• Intuitive about other people’s needs/
• Taking ACTION to address other people’s needs
• Never complaining
• Humble
• Accepting of others of all ages, backgrounds, and orientations
• Sweet, kind, warm
• Nurturing
• A second mother
• A Jewish mother
• Always reaching out to help you – and your friends - and the friends of your friends
• Respectful
• Always teaching
• Always learning
• Artistic
• Spiritual
• Strong
• A fighter
• One in a million

That Sharon gave so much of herself to others, to all of you, has been especially evident over the last several weeks and months with the tremendous outpouring of love and support she constantly received from so many people, from her family and friends, from her building’s doorman to the waitress from the restaurant – so many dozens of caring individuals -- that her doctors were constantly saying she had too many visitors and needed to rest. The blog that Corey lovingly has maintained was read by so many, and these last few weeks have truly been a tribute to her as family, friends, neighbors, and people from all over have flocked to be with her.

Sharon grew up on the North Side of Chicago, went to Senn High School and the University of Illinois. She was married to Ivan for 14 years and together they had their children, Michelle and Corey.

Some of you may not know that when Sharon was only sixteen, she had her first bout with cancer. She needed surgery and was given a 5% chance for survival. She was strong then as she continued to be her entire life. Perhaps this experience can partially explain how much Sharon appreciated her life each and every day, and put so much care and nurturing into her relationships with others.

Sharon was constantly reaching out to people, forming relationships with whomever she met. On Kim’s first day of work when HR forgot that she was starting, Sharon took her under her wing and they became fast friends. When a new neighbor would move into her building, Sharon would send cookies. She would throw parties for the people who worked at Treasure Island to show her appreciation. She helped Aaron cope with the loss of his eyesight helping him to become self-sufficient. She accompanied Roberta to the California Health Institute to help her heal from her cancer. She would take food to a sick neighbor or take the initiative to accompany them to the doctor even if they wouldn’t ask. She would always go out of her way to say thank you as she did with her nurse in the hospital. She would hold her nurse’s hand, say thank you, smile, want to give HER food. Corey said that his mom’s true character emerged when she was ill – she became even more sweet, kind and generous.

To show how truly special Sharon is to so many people, her cousin Scott wrote these words on behalf of those who knew and loved her:

We always knew we were Sharon’s favorite anything – child, parent, sibling, niece, cousin, friend, acquaintance…. Not to be conceited but because every time you saw her or spoke to her she made you feel this way. I humbly acknowledge that she did that with everyone. I am sure that looking at the people here today that they all think they were Sharon’s favorite -- and we all know she was ours.

Sharon is an inspiration for all who knew her. She never had an attitude of “woe is me.” She fought her cancer head-on with courage and dignity, never really complaining. She always talked about how other people were doing with their lives or illnesses, not wanting to be consumed by hers.

Corey and Michelle were not only her pride and joy but her rock these past 14 months. They could not do enough for her, not out of obligation, but out of love and devotion.

Sharon formed a truly special relationship over the past six years. Zoe was her godchild, and Sharon was Zoe’s fairy godmother. (Zoe’s mother Ting is here today.) Zoe would call Sharon “Shanti,” and other children would also refer to her this way –

As “Shanti” meaning Peace. Sharon would constantly send Zoe mail and packages after she moved away to Reno. When Sharon would ask Zoe if she liked Chicago or Reno better, 6-year old Zoe answered, “Shanti, you live in Chicago, so of course Chicago is my favorite.” Children loved being with her and were another example of Sharon’s intuitive ability to relate to others of all ages and meet them at their level.

Everyone who knew Sharon knows how very spiritual she was and how she shared her spirit with those around her. She expressed herself spiritually through the combination of both yoga and Torah, and also through her art as she loved to paint. She was ordained as a swami several years ago and also began to study Judaism in earnest over the last few years, gaining insight from the teachings of Rebetzin Yungreis and Rabbi Twersky and with her study partner from the “Partners in Torah” program. When Sharon was diagnosed this time with cancer, while she fought it with her characteristic strength and courage, she also said “Baruch Hashem” blessing God no matter what. She would regularly light Shabbat candles, kept kosher, and would say “Modeh Ani” each morning, thanking God for the gift of each new day.

Corey and Michelle described how their mom worked hard to discover herself after she divorced, and how over time she became comfortable with who she was, finding ways to be at peace with herself and with her place in the world. During her last days in hospice, she was especially full of grace and beauty. She had a loving and peaceful transition because of who she was, wrapped in the prayer shawl from her guru and in and her father’s tallis, and being at peace in her children’s arms. When asked if she was afraid, she answered – “of course not – I’m going to dance with God.” And so, at the end, she asked to remain barefoot for that reason.

There are a few people who would like to share their memories of Sharon – first her cousin, Toby, and then her children, Corey and Michelle.

Toby
Michelle
Corey

So – although we so wish that we had more time on this earth with Sharon, hers was a full life that gave so much to those who loved her. Her memory lives on through all of you – her friends, her family, her children. She lives on through the many wise lessons she has taught us through her words and by her example:

- to live life and to love life as fully as possible
- to be real, to be genuine
- To be generous with your time and with your love
- To drink your MILK – m-i-l-k, MILK
- To know it’s ok to make mistakes – it’s ok to be human - Learn to fall, Learn to get back up.
- Make peace. Rise above the fray.
- If you’re not happy with your situation, change it. If you can’t change your situation, change your attitude.
- Believe in yourself.
- Don’t talk, Do.
- Be strong.
- Say thank you.
- Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers – plant your own garden.
- Know that no act of kindness is ever wasted.
- Share the unconditional love that she shared with each of you

I’d like to share this poem that seems to reflect Sharon’s beautiful spirit and marvelous attitude. It’s called:

“Do not stand at my grave and weep.”

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft starts that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Eulogies

Michelle and I would like to thank the many people who attended Mom's funeral (the room was standing room only, which was a tribute to the many people that Mom touched) and the shivah last week. It was a beautiful service for a beautiful woman.

Mom deserved nothing less.

Michelle and I were asked by several people to post our eulogies online...


Michelle's Eulogy:

Baruch Hashem. Bless G-d.

Oh great spirit, saints and sages of all religions, holy Kriya lineage, please bless Sharon, my Mom, today.

Please fill her with love, peace and happiness. Please bring to her that which she needs. And that which she feels she needs. Surely, swiftly and most, most harmoniously. May her transition be a journey of ease. May she be blessed. May she be blessed. May she be triply blessed - As she has been a blessing to others.

Aum tat sa ohm.

My Mother is light and beauty. Of pure love, of pure heart, of pure spirit. I am the luckiest daughter. To be selfish, I would wish for more time with my Mother. But I know in my heart that she will always be with me, with all of us.

She touched all of you in a different way, but you all know her love, and for that, we are truly blessed.

I love you, Mommy. Be at peace.


Corey's Eulogy:

"One sees clearly only with the heart, the essential is invisible to the eyes." That quote, from the Little Prince, in many ways encapsulates how Mom lived her life -- with her heart. She didn’t see race or religion or national origin. She didn’t care about gender or sexual orientation or social status. Mom cared about people. All people.

And when Mom was with people, she had a way of making everyone feel special. She accepted people for how they were, and saw the potential for who they could be --- usually before they could see it in themselves. Mom just had a natural ease around people and she intuitively knew what they needed. Our former neighbor John told me a story that, shortly after Mom moved to her apartment on Lake Shore Drive, he went for a visit. Though he didn’t say anything, Mom could tell that he was just a bit uncomfortable. Mom said, “I know what you need” and excused herself to the other room, only to return in a robe, thereby putting John at ease. Mom wasn’t about appearances.

Her grace was effortless because it was innate. Mom used to tell Michelle and me that, “no act of kindness is ever wasted.” It’s a beautiful sentiment, and it’s one that Mom lived everyday. Michelle and Mom used to buy make-up together and one day they heard that the girl that used to help them was in the hospital. She asked if the girl had any family with her and when she was told no, she took Michelle to the hospital because she didn’t want the girl to be alone. As it turned out the girls her mother was there and she asked Mom why she had come. Because, my Mom explained, as a mother, I’d want somebody to do the same for my child. As fate would have it, the girl – Betsy – and her Mom – Mary – would later become Mom’s neighbors and friends. Mom gave without thinking because it was the right thing to do. And she didn’t know how to be any other way.

I received so many wonderful gifts from my Mom – my love of reading (the Little Prince was one of our favorite books), my love of whimsy, and my sense of humor (sorry Dad). I remember one time, when I was just a young boy and we were still living in Florida; my tooth fell out but I didn’t tell anyone. I placed it under my pillow and was extremely disappointed that the tooth fairy hadn’t arrived. I told my Mom the next morning and, without a moment’s hesitation she reached into her purse and pulled out a piece of paper. I was told that it was a note from the Tooth Fairy that read the following “Dear Mrs. Novick, I had some difficulty getting into Corey’s room last night. Please give him the enclosed dollar bill. Signed – The Tooth Fairy.”

Mom loved to travel and she took Michelle and me on trips across the globe. One of my favorite memories from our travels was from a trip to New York. We had taken some breadsticks with us so we could have a snack as we walked around the city. Michele was surprised to see Mom eating the breadsticks shortly after we started walking.

“Mom” she exclaimed, “are you eating your breadsticks already?”

“No” Mom replied. “I’m eating yours.”

Michelle and I were so lucky to have our Mom for a Mother. She showed us how to deal with adversity. Mom had many ailments in her life and when she was a teenager she had cancer of the thyroid and the parathyroid. When she worried that an operation would leave a scar, my Bubby told her that she had to be strong and Mom never complained after that. And later when Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she again refused to complain. Instead she said Baruch hashem. Bless G-d. She was more than a Mother; she was also a role model.

But perhaps most of all, Mom was our friend. Mom would always be there to listen and to laugh, to give advice without judgment and to encourage us. She would support us in whatever we attempted and we knew that regardless of the outcome, Mom would be proud of us just for trying.

Michelle and I were Mom’s pride and joy, but by no means were we her only children. She became a second mother to many of our friends. Often times they’d call Mom or want to spend time with her even when we weren’t around because they loved her too. When Michelle’s best friend Ting gave birth to her daughter Zoe, Mom was in the delivery room. Zoe called Mom “Shanti” which means peace in Sanskrit. And when Michelle was named Zoe’s godmother, Mom became Zoe’s fairy Godmother. And Mom loved her very much.

When she was working at Arrington travel, Mom’s co-workers made a plaque for her that said “Mother Novick” because our Mom was always the person that people could turn to when they needed a sympathetic ear. Or a shoulder to cry on. Or just a hug.

Our Mom was a mother to so many people and her friends were like an extended family. As everybody knows, families spend holidays together and Mom would use such occasions to open her house to her friends, some of whom had no other place to go. And if they had friends, well, they’d be welcome too. And invariably, they too would fall under Mom’s spell of warmth, and compassion, and grace.

When Mom realized that she had taken a turn for the worse, she didn’t worry about her own condition. Instead, she asked my friends to take care of her boy. That was Mom, selfless to the end.

When Mom was hospitalized it became stunningly clear that Mom had touched so many, so deeply. The visitors -- Mom’s extended family -- poured in from everywhere: Nevada, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, Ohio, Taipei and London. It became hard to keep track of everyone, as Mom’s visitors overflowed from her room and soon took over an entire waiting area as well.

One of the things that really struck me was that Mom’s visitors came from every walk of life. I was particularly moved when one of the doormen from Mom’s building came by to see her. He had changed into his street clothes and sat by Mom’s bedside. He held her hand. And she held his. And he kissed her hand. And Mom kissed his back. A waitress from the restaurant in Mom’s building came to visit on her off day and cried at Mom’s bedside. Mom’s impact on people was very deep and everlasting.

I was always close with my Mom, but when she got diagnosed with cancer, we became that much closer. We worked together on a blog called the chemo chronicle. And when I was a bit late in putting up a posting, she’s ask if I’d written her blog yet. Although I didn’t even realize it at the time, even as we were posting details of her battle with cancer, she was still mothering me, helping to re-ignite my love of writing, which had been dormant for so long. Even in her time of sickness Mom was still trying to help me and to guide me.

Though the past 14 months were incredibly difficult, they were in many ways the best time of my life because I was able to spend so much time with Mom – going to chemo and doctors appointments, working on the blog, having dinner, running errands. It wasn’t so much what we were doing, it was that we were doing it together. It was such a blessing to be with Mom and to be able to give back to her because she’d given so much to so many. And she was always thankful. And gracious. Because that’s the only way she knew how to be.

Mom died peacefully while Michelle and I were holding her in our arms. At the time of her passing, it seemed like the world was coming to an end. And at that time I wish it had. But we’ve received so much support from those who loved Mom and from those who love us – from Mom’s family, biological and extended alike -- I know that, although we're going to miss Mom dearly, we're eventually going to be ok.

There’s another passage from The Little Prince that I can almost hear Mom speaking to us now. It reads, "People have stars, but they aren't the same. For travelers, the stars are guides. For other people, they're nothing but tiny lights. And for still others, for scholars, they're problems. For my businessman, they were gold. But all those stars are silent stars. You, though, you'll have stars like nobody else.”

“When you look up at the sky at night, since I'll be living on one of them, since I'll be laughing on one of them, for you, it'll be as if all the stars are laughing. You'll have stars that can laugh!"

And she laughed.

“And when you're consoled (everyone is eventually consoled), you'll be glad you've known me. You'll always be my friend. You'll feel like laughing with me. And you'll open your windows sometimes just for the fun of it... And your friends will be amazed to see you laughing while you're looking up at the sky. Then you'll tell them, 'Yes, it's the stars. They always make me laugh!"

Though Mom’s body is no longer with us, we can take comfort in knowing that Mom will remain forever in our hearts. We are all better people for having known her, for having been touched by her, for loving her and for being loved by her. And when time goes by and you find yourself thinking about Mom, just remember to look up at the stars in the sky.

And laugh with her.

I love you Mommy.

Arrangements

Funeral:

July 15, 2008

12:00 p.m. (noon)

Weinstein Funeral Home

111 Skokie Boulevard

Wilmette, Illinois 60091

(847) 256-5700

Interment:

(immediately following the service)

Westlawn Cemetery

7801 W. Montrose Avenue

Norridge, Illinois 60706

(773) 625-8600

Shivah:

(July 15-17th)

4460 W. Hutchinson

Chicago, IL 60641

(773) 205-6030

Shivah

Shivah Call

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

The Temple of Kriya Yoga
2414 N. Kedzie Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 342-4600

-or-

The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Research
To Donate Online

Transition

Dearest FoMmies,

This morning, just after sunrise, Mom peacefully transitioned.  Michelle and I were holding her at the time.

Mom was a beautiful, kind and gentle woman.  Her love knew no bounds. 

Our family will be forever grateful to those of you who have laughed, cried and been there for Mom, especially over the past 14 months.  We can never thank you enough.

Keep Mom in your prayers.  Baruch Hashem.

Faithfully,

Corey and Michelle

A Surprise Twist (You might want to get the Kleenex)

Good afternoon FoMmies,

Many of you know that Mom is an extremely spiritual person.  She's had her chart read many times and several things appeared repeatedly, including the fact that Michelle and I would each be happily married and Mom would re-marry.  When Mom was first diagnosed she said that she knew she'd beat cancer because she wasn't married yet.  She repeated this refrain many more times, most recently, during her stay at the hospital.  

Then, last night something magical happened.

Mom got re-married.

Perhaps it's necessary to take a step back for a moment.  Russell (Mom's BFF) and Mom used to talk about how they should have been married.  Then a few days ago, Russell was talking to Michelle and me and again said that Mom was the closest thing to a wife that he would ever have.  Then he asked Mom to marry him.  

And Mom smiled.

Last  night, Mom wed Russell underneath my Papa's (maternal grandfather) tallis (prayer shawl; see photo at left).  The gathering itself was small (in attendance were: Bubby, Berba, Carol, Michelle, me, and the bride and groom) but the impact was immense.  Michelle, who like Mom is an ordained swami, performed the service.  After the vows Mom and Russell sipped coconut milk mixed with honey to symbolize the fact that their union should always be sweet.  Then we feasted on wedding cake -- technically two wedding cakes, a carrot cake and a turtle pie -- a sweet end to a very sweet evening.

When I used to attend weddings with Mom, I'd often be caught mumbling "Mom!" under my breath because, inevitably, she'd cry during the ceremony.  Mom's spirit must have been with me, for last night it was yours truly who provided the waterworks.  I think that the wedding was especially important because I believe that Mom can now go in peace.

...

This afternoon the hospice nurse informed Michelle and me that Mom was actively dying.  She doesn't have much time, she's unlikely to make it through the weekend and can probably hold out a week at most.  Needless to say, this has been an incredibly emotional time, and we are especially thankful that so many wonderful people have been there to lend their support.  In fact, just moments ago, Mom's neighbor Nina volunteered her home for use by overnight guests.  Of course, this brings to mind the logistics of the coming days...

I will try to post the details of what's going to happen online.  It will probably be far easier than trying to call everyone, so please check your e-mail frequently over the coming week.

Please pray that Mom has a swift and painless transition.

Faithfully,

Corey

Thoughts

Dearest FoMmies,

Mom is sleeping more and eating less, but she does not appear to be in any major pain.  Most importantly, Mom appears to be at peace, which is a great comfort to Michelle and me.

Michelle and I have been spending most of our time with Mom, including nights.  It's very difficult to see Mom in her current state, but at the same time she looks positively angelic.  And despite feeling very tense these days, seeing Mom sleeping fills my soul with a sense of tranquility.  I suppose that holding opposite thoughts simultaneously are par for the course these days.  I cherish every moment with my Mother and want her to be with us as long as possible, while at the same time, I am hoping that she goes swiftly and harmoniously.  I'm trying to take solace in knowing that quality of life has always been more important than quantity of life to Mom.

Still, it's the hardest thing I've ever faced.

Michelle and I ask that you say prayers for Mom, so that she may have a peaceful transition.

Much love to all.

Faithfully,

Corey

P.S.

We have a Filipino caretaker named Aloma who is helping us these days.  Aloma is great with Mom and is extremely nurturing, just like Mom.  Yesterday Aloma asked Michelle, "is your Mom Asian?"  Michelle, a bit confused, replied "no, we're not Asian, we're white."  Aloma responded, "oh, you Mom is so beautiful, I thought she was Chinese."

Well, I certainly agree that Mom is beautiful, but those of you who know me will understand why this exchange tickled me on several levels.

A Dinner Party

To all the FoMmies out there, I send you greetings...

Mom has been sleeping a lot lately.  Her appetite has waned a bit, but she managed to eat a bit yesterday.  Cheerios with banana remains her favorite breakfast meal and she has very small snacks at other times.  However, last night we decided to shake things up a bit and decided to host a dinner party.

The party was a small, dignified affair.  In attendance were Russell (Mom's BFF), Michelle (who has been promoted to 1B), YFC and the guest of honor was none other than Mom herself.  It's been a while since we all sat down to a nice meal together, so the party was a welcome respite to the hectic pace that we've been keeping.  

The soiree was held in Mom's bedroom, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion.  The attendees all wore their Sunday's finest (actually, I suppose that term isn't really apropos, but you get the gist of it) and dined on a meal consisting of braised short ribs with vegetables in a tomato reduction sauce (a YFC specialty) and spinach sauteed with garlic and lemon.  The wine was a 2000 Napa Valley Silver Oak (courtesy of Uncle Rusty's cellar), which proved a lovely pairing with the richly flavored beef.  Mom was rather entertained and it will come as no surprise to those that know her that she reveled in being the center of attention.

Of course, Mom deserves nothing less.

The stream of well-wishers continues, though the pattern has changed just a bit as more people are coming in the early evening (post-work) hours.  A little birdie told me that some of the folks who came by from out of town will be making a return appearance next weekend.  It's hard to say enough good things about our friends and family -- they've truly been heaven sent.

Michelle and I are praying that Mom has a peaceful transition (Dr. Mellott said that Mom would most likely go in her sleep and without pain).  This has obviously been incredibly difficult, but we know that Mom loved us more than anything and that she will forever remain in our hearts.

Much love to all...

Faithfully,

Corey

A Busy Weekend

Greetings to the FoMmie Nation,

Last weekend was, well, busy.  Of course, the weekend only ended a few hours ago, but concepts such as time and sleep seem pretty foreign these days.  Actually, that's not entirely true, Mom has been sleeping fairly comfortably, especially yesterday.  I imagine that she probably slept for 22 hours yesterday, though she did wake-up to have short visits with the many people who came by the house to say hello.

And I suppose that's where the busy comes in -- Mom has had so many people stopping by that, at times, it's seemed a lot like Grand Central Station around here.  Still, it's been far more manageable than it was at the hospital.  It's really heartwarming to see so many people stopping by because they love Mom so much.  And even though she lacks physical strength, Mom still manages to give a smile and a kiss to all those who have come to visit.

There were a lot of tears shed over the weekend and we said goodbye to the many people who came from out-of-town to spend time with Mom and to provide help to all of us.  Our family and friends have done so much; we truly could not have survived without them.

It's strange being in a quiet house right now.  It doesn't seem quite right, but then again, this entire journey has often seemed surreal.  Still, Mom is resting comfortably now and I know that, before long, another stream of people will come through the doors to her house.  It's readily apparent that Mom has had a great impact on so many people of all different backgrounds.  I've always loved and respected Mom, but I've never been more proud to be her son.

Please keep Mom in your prayers.

Much love to all...

Faithfully,

Corey

Mom at Home

Dearest FoMmies,

Mom has been at home for a little over two days now.  She is doing a bit better in familiar environs, though it took her a bit to fully process the change.  Mom has had many visitors, though it's far more manageable here than it was at the hospital because we can close off the door to her room and people can mingle in the living room area.  Mom has 24/7 care right now -- an aide who can help her get comfortable and look after many of her needs.  We've also been visited by nurses that are provided by the hospice and they have been very helpful too.  Of course, Michelle and I also help look after Mom and we are concentrating our efforts on ensuring that she is as comfortable as possible.  

I would be remiss if I didn't mention a few people by name.  Ting, Michelle's best friend, has been like a second daughter to Mom.  She has been incredibly helpful around the house and helping with Mom's care.  Ting's daughter Zoe has brought Mom great joy.  Michelle is Zoe's Godmother and she knows Mom as Shanti, her Fairy Godmother.  Ting's extended family visited Mom in the hospital too -- the Lien's are very special people.

Kim had been a blessing for me.  She has attended to my needs before I even knew that I had needs.  She's also been great with Mom.  Just tonight, she and her husband Nathan made a special trip to Chinatown to get Mom the bulgogi (Korean meat) that she was craving -- no mean feat either, when dealing with July 4th traffic.  Mom really enjoyed the bulgogi, which just goes to show that, even in times of difficulty, the Pawlow appetite will not fail.

Many others have helped too:  Margot, Maria and Wendy from Florida: John, who made 2 trips from Phoenix in a span of less than a week, and Anna Claudia, who changes her name as frequently as some people change their socks.  There have been literally scores of people who have been helping out -- it's really been a fantastic thing to witness.

And I suppose that's one of the silver linings to this whole ordeal, that so many people have come together to show their love for Mom and to be there for our family.  It's really been quite tremendous to see so many people showering us with so much love and affection.  We are truly blessed.

I will try to send another update soon.  On behalf of Mom and our entire family, we thank you for your kindness and your prayers.

Until next time...

Faithfully,

Corey

A Very Big Day

Greetings FoMmies,

Once again, the title of the posting should give you a clue -- today is a VERY BIG DAY.

Mom had a Pleurx Catheter inserted in her belly.  The catheter is essentially a tube that allows Mom to remove the liquid that's been collecting on her belly without going to the hospital.  The procedure itself was relatively quick and painless.  Moreover, Yours Truly learned how to do the draining, so in case I need to step in there won't be any problem.  But though the catheter is a big deal, it's still not the REALLY BIG NEWS.

The big news is that MOM CAME HOME TODAY!  She is in a home hospice program that is focused on making her comfortable.  We set-up her bedroom with a hospital bed and an oxygen machine so that Mom could be cared for at home.  Still,  getting her home was not an altogether easy feat and many people helped to make the transition.  Special thanks to Kim, John, Margot, Maria, Ting, Honey and Uncle Phil for helping with the process.

I understand that many of you will want to call and/or visit Mom.  If possible, please e-mail before you come by so that we can limit the number of visitors who show-up at any given time.  Also, in general try to keep your visits upbeat, as we'd like for Mom to have as many happy moments as possible.  Finally, please be mindful that Mom is not doing well; accordingly, we are trying to limit visits to 20 minutes each with no more than 2 visitors in Mom's room at any given time.

Thank you for your understanding, your support, and most importantly, for your prayers.

Be well...

Faithfully,

Corey

Is it July Already? -- An Update

Greetings FoMmies,

I regret to inform you that we've had a few setbacks.

We thought that Mom would be home by now, but that hasn't happened.  When Mom was admitted, she was told that she'd probably by in for "a couple of days."  On Thursday they were ready to discharge her, but that didn't happen.  They also told her she'd be going home Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Needless to say, she was getting pretty antsy to leave the hospital.

Yesterday, after being disappointed (again) about the fact that she wasn't going home, I started to work with the medical team to attempt to arrange a transfer to Prentice Women's Hospital, a considerably nicer facility.  This process started at approximately 7:00 a.m. and we probably consulted about a half-a-dozen doctors and an equal number of nurses/social workers/others.  At 5:00 p.m. we were told that 3 beds opened up, that she was #1 on the list and that we were just waiting for the rooms to be cleaned.  I offered to clean the rooms myself -- after all, Mom was asking me when the transfer was going to go through approximately every 30 minutes or so.  They didn't take me up on my offer and around 9:00 p.m. Mom was told that there would be no more transfers for the evening.

Suffice it to say, Mom was not pleased.  Mom rightly felt that she had been lied to.  However, we continued to work at getting a transfer and at 9:40 p.m., we got the good news -- Mom was going to get a room at Prentice.  I hugged the nurse and the doctor who relayed the information (and would have kissed them both, but thought better of it) and we went to tell Mom, who expressed a great deal of relief.  Just after 10:15 p.m., they came to transport Mom to her new room and she, and her entourage of 7, were on our way.

The new room at Prentice is significantly nicer, but Mom wants to go home.  She will have a tube inserted in her belly so that she can drain the fluid that's been collecting without having to go to the hospital.  We hope that she'll be able to be discharged tomorrow.  However, we're not really sure whether we'll be able to care for her at home, even if we get the assistance of a full-time (24/7) home healthcare aide.  All the same, a hospital bed will be delivered to Mom's home in just a few minutes.  We want to be ready, no matter the direction we choose to go.

As you might well imagine, we are running on fumes here, but we have more support that can be imagined.  Mom's friends have come from far and wide (WI, OH, IN, AZ, NV, FL, etc.) and they have been tremendous in providing us with help and moral support.  

Special thanks to the FoMmie Nation for all of your support and prayers that you have provided to us.  Please keep Mom in your prayers and know that she loves all of you so very much.  As much as this is a difficult time for our family, we take solace in knowing that Mom has so many people that care for her so much.  We are humbled by your outpouring of love and affection.

Be well...

Faithfully,

Corey

Is It Friday Already?

Hey kiddies...

So I'm here at the hospital with Mom (she's asleep now).  Here's the latest...

Yesterday was a pretty crazy day...my sincerest apologies for the failure to provide an update.  We were led to believe that Mom was going home yesterday and Michelle (that's 1.5's real name, in case you didn't know) and I got caught up trying to coordinate such things as home health care, oxygen delivery, out of town visitors, etc.  It's mostly squared away now.  Mom also had another draining and she only was able to give up 2 Big Gulps (or 1 Double Big Gulp) worth of fluid.  That's a good thing really, because it means that there's less fluid collecting on her belly.

Mom will be having a CT scan of her abdomen soon because her white blood counts are a bit elevated.  They switched Mom's antibiotics medicine to see if that will help get her numbers down.  Also, an infectious disease doctor will be stopping by to do a quick consult to see if we can get to the bottom of the white blood cell mystery.

Unfortunately, it looks like Mom will be here at least another day, pending results of her CT scan and her blood tests.  I'll try to provide another update soon.  Mom is definitely a lot more lucid than when she first got here, but she remains a bit weak.  However, she's not in any real pain, just some discomfort.

And speaking of comfort (well, technically I was speaking of discomfort, but I'm sleep deprived too, so grant me a little leeway), the many prayers said and candles lit have provided a great deal of comfort to Mom and to our family.  Mom has been inundated with an outpouring of love that has taken many forms: a call and special blessings from Mom's guru Goswami Kriyananda (it GREATLY brightened Mom's spirits), flowers sent (special thanks to Lisa and Kim), food deliveries (too numerous to list), hospital visits (like a zillion of 'em), calls & e-mails (apologies because Mom/I can't respond quickly enough) and of course your many, many prayers.  Please keep praying and Mom will do her part by fighting the good fight.

Mom sends much love to all...*

Faithfully,

Corey

* - I'm cranky, so I'm only sending a bit of love...deal with it

A Particularly Specific Request

Hi there campers,

Ok, things are a bit better than yesterday but Mom is not out of the woods yet.  We saw Doctor Mellott this morning, in addition to the resident that's monitoring her case at the hospital. Here's what we know:

• Mom is getting a chest x-ray today, mostly as a precautionary measure (she's actually there now). 
• Mom should be seeing a physical therapist today.  The PT should help Mom, especially with her walking.  Mom has been pretty much confined to her room since she's been admitted, so this will be excellent.
• Mom's potassium levels, which had been elevated, are now ok.
• Mom's sodium levels are better too.
• Mom's white blood cells are elevated (25,000) BUT the doctors are not worried because she is not running a fever.
• Mom's hemoglobin is 11.3 -- good numbers.
• Platelets are at 124 (I'm 99% sure this means 124,000 per mm3 of blood).  This is a bit higher than a previous test, so that's good too.
• Mom's bilirubin has dropped from 4.0 - 3.5.

Now here's where that particularly specific request comes in.  Please say a prayer/a novena/a mantra/light a candle -- or better yet, all 4 -- for Mom's Billy Rubin...err bilirubin...to drop to 2.5 (or lower).  At this level she should be able to resume chemotherapy and get back on the road to wellness.

So when you think of it, Mom's already 1/3 of the way there (for the less mathematically inclined among you, Mom's bilirubin levels would ideally drop from 4.0 --> 2.5...a total of 1.5.  She's already dropped by .5 in the short time that she's been here...if you can't figure out the rest, just start your prayers).  So do your bit will ya?

Well, what are you waiting for?  Stop reading and start praying, ok?

Faithfully,

Corey

PS

Why are you reading a PS?  Just PRAY!

Tuesday Morning Update

Dear FoMmies,

A quick update from Mom's hospital room...

As you know, Mom was admitted to the hospital yesterday evening.  She's had some blood tests (Mom's potassium level has dropped a bit -- which is a good thing because it was too high -- though her saline is still a bit low), a brain scan (no problems) and is having an ultrasound as we speak (they are going to get a good look at the liver).  Later today, Mom will have another ultrasound, which will allow the doctors to locate the fluid that has been collecting on her belly.  Then they will draw a small amount of liquid and test it, to see if there's anything irregular.

Mom's been given some medicine (lactulose) that encourages her to move her bowels because that will help to flush the toxins that have been building inside her.  As Mom's toxins decrease, she should have increased lucidity (thus I find myself "rooting" for Mom to go #2...what a strange position for a son to be in).   

Already I can tell that Mom appears stronger and somewhat more lucid than she was yesterday.  Her appetite is a bit better too.  By no means is Mom all the way back to normal, but she is definitely making progress.  Mom didn't sleep all that well (it's kind of hard when you're in an uncomfortable bed, hooked-up to a slow saline drip, with nurses that come in every 4 hours to take your blood pressure) and I am sure that when she gets some additional rest (and makes some additional BMs) her lucidity and strength will continue to increase.

Please keep praying for Mom's recovery.  It is the single greatest gift that you could give Mom and our family.  I will update you as soon as more information becomes available.

Be strong...

Faithfully,

Corey

It's Corey again.  Here's the latest...

Mom had a paracentesis (draining procedure) again today.  After giving up about 3 Big Gulps worth, we went to see Mom's oncologist.

Dr. Mellott said that Mom's liver was failing.  At this point, we do not know whether Mom can "bounce back."  Mom will be admitted to the hospital fairly soon (we were waiting for a room to come open as this e-mail is being composed -- update: Mom was admitted to Northwestern, Feinberg Pavillion).

Please keep Mom in your prayers.

Faithfully,

Corey

Difficult Times

Greetings Loyal Readers,

This is Corey, filling in for Your Favorite Correspondent.  Unfortunately, the title of today's post is not a double entendre; these really are quite difficult times...

Mom seems to have taken a turn for the worse.  Last week she went in 3 times (Monday Wednesday, Friday) to have fluid drained from her belly, the side effect of a blood clot.  Mom has been especially uncomfortable this past week and she has not been sleeping well at night. However, Mom is sleeping a fair amount in the morning and afternoon. 

Mom is also a little bit incoherent.  This could be a side effect of the disease, the medicine, the lack of sleep or, most likely, a combination of the three.  She does have her lucid moments though, and lately she seems to be doing best in the later afternoon/early evening.  While Mom's appetite has diminished somewhat, she is still eating.  Still, Mom is noticeably weaker than when she started this battle.  Hopefully she will regain some strength so she can proudly rule as Warrior Woman.

Last Friday they ran some blood work on Mom and the tests came back ok, save for elevated potassium levels.  Mom will see Dr. Mellott tomorrow.  We're hoping to get some unexpectedly good news.  As it stands now, Mom hasn't been able to receive chemo because of the fluid build-up, though there's some question as to whether she's strong enough to take handle the side effects of the medicine.  Mom thinks that there's less fluid building-up inside her lately, so perhaps that means that the blood clot is dissipating and that she will be able to resume her treatment.

I will send a follow-up report tomorrow; hopefully I will be able to bring you good news.  I know that many of you will are fairly anxious, but it's probably best not to call Mom because she is tiring pretty rapidly these past few days.  I know that many of you want to help (and I also know that many of you have been so wonderful already), so please pray for Mom.  If you can, please say a special prayer for Mom at 1:45 pm Monday, which is the time of Mom's oncology appointment.  At this point, prayer really is the best thing that you can do for Mom and for our family.

I hope to bring you good news soon.

Faithfully,

Corey

A New Regimen

Greetings Loyal Readers,

So here's the scoop, Mom saw the Cotton Troll last Friday and was prescribed Lovenox to help stop the fluid build-up in her belly.  Don't let the name fool you though, there's very little love in Lovenox.  It's actually a medicine that Mom needs to shoot into her belly 2x/day.
Ahh, YFC heard that collective groan from his Loyal Readers.  He appreciates your empathy.  More importantly, Mom appreciates it.  Don't ask YFC how he knows, he just knows.

As if Friday wasn't enough, Mom also saw The Troll today.  She said that the fluid build-up was due to a partial blood clot in Mom's inferior vena cava (or "IVC" to those in the know).  Your Faithful Correspondent wasn't going to hear of it though.  He said that Mom's vena cava wasn't inferior to anything or anyone.  Then the Troll explained that she wasn't judging Mom's vena cava; rather she explained that the IVC is the vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower part of the body to the heart.
Apparently Mom also has a superior vena cava and believe it or not, you do too!  So for my Loyal Readers who are more scientifically inclined, feel free to refer to the handy-dandy diagram that's provided for you, at right.

After Mom was poked, prodded and given the once over, the Troll decided to put Mom on a new regimen of sorts. Henceforth, Mom will have a standing appointment for paracentesis (you kiddies might prefer to say "draining" cuz it's significantly easier on the tongue) every Monday and Thursday.  Hopefully, this means less time spent at the hospital.  Unfortunately, Mom needed to be drained today and since she was an "add-on," we had to wait about 2 hours before she could go in.  That's the bad news.  Thegood news is that Mom tied her record and had another 3.75 liters of fluid drained away.  With any luck, Mom should be done with this draining nonsense in 2-3 weeks.

It's fair to say that Mom is extremely anxious to end this whole water collection nonsense.  Lately she's been feeling a lot like Ms. Violet Beauregarde (in case the name's not ringin' a bell, that's her at left) of Willy Wonka fame, with the major difference being that Mom didn't turn blue (of course, she didn't get to feel like she was eating a blueberry pie either).   So, if you've called Mom and she didn't get back to you, please realize that it's nothing personal; she just hasn't been feeling her sprightly self as of late.  You do understand don't you?  Of course you do.  And that's just one of the 37 reasons why YFC loves you so.

Well kiddies, you're all caught up now and YFC is sleepy.  Whaddya say we call it quits, eh?

Much love to all.

Faithfully,

Corey

Yuck

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Today's title pretty much summarizes the way Mom's been feeling lately.  Yuck. But let's take a moment to explain how she got there...to yuck.  

As you recall, when we last left Mom, she was getting her belly fluid drained (a side effect of the TheraSpheres radiation treatment -- we think).  Well, it's been a week since we last checked in on her (well, last checked in on her in a blogadocious kinda way...if you include telephonic updates, YFC checks in in his Momma an average of 12.93 times a day).  Since then, the news has been, well, yucky.  Mom had more fluid drained on Tuesday, a whopping 3 liters worth (slighty more than 3 regular size Big Gulps).  Me and Mum celebrated her draining by heading to Opera.  After a nice tasty meal, we thought that Mom was well on the road to recovery.  Sadly for Mom (and rather shockingly for the rest of humanity), for the first time in a VERY long time, YFC was mistaken.  Mom started filling up with fluid again and today she was drained of nearly 3.8 liters of fluid -- that's nearly a gallon, or 4 Big Gulps if you're so inclined.

So you probably wanna know how Mom feels, right?  Well, through the marvels of modern science, you can know exactly how she feels in just 3 easy steps!  

Step 1.Remove full one gallon jug o' milk from refrigerator (note: it's important that the milk is full, preferably unopened).

Step 2.Duct tape the jug o' milk to your belly.  Make sure it's nice and tight.

Step 3.Attempt to resume normal activities.  For best results, leave jug in position for at least 24 hours.

After today's draining, Mom had a CT scan, which should hopefully allow the doctors to determine the cause of Mom's problems.  We're hoping to get some results by tomorrow, but we expect to know something by Monday at the latest.

Oh, YFC probably should have mentioned that the duct tape is going to hurt a bit when you rip it off.  Good luck.

Be good...

Faithfully,

Corey

Mom's Feeling a Bit Drained

Greetings Loyal Readers,

A happy Wednesday to all.  Your Faithful Correspondent is bringing you a quick chemo update 'cause, you know, he does that sort of thing.

Mom did have chemo today and she was joined by returning Chemo Buddy Trudy who came all the way from Santa Fe.  Having Trudy accompany Mom was a true pleasure, but somewhat less pleasurable was Mom's quick trip to interventional radiology.  Once again she had a paracentesis procedure (for my Loyal Readers who are somewhat less technologically inclined,when you see a word of phrase that's underlined and/or in a different color, you can click on it to link to more information).  This time the doctors drained about 1.6 liters from her belly. For those of you who are having a hard time visualizing what that means, the amount of liquid drained from Mom's belly was more than a Super Big Gulp, but less than a Double Big Gulp. 

Kind of draws things into focus, no?

Other than the unscheduled pit-stop, Mom is doing well.  Many thanks to my Loyal Readers for their loyalty to Mom.  The other bloggers are all jealous because it is well-known that my Loyal Readers are the most loyal of 'em all.

Be good, my friends...

Faithfully,

Corey 

Success...

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Your Faithful Correspondent must apologize for being just a wee bit lax with the updates -- kind of like some of you have been lax with your words of support for Mom (no, not YOU...this is being directed to the other readers of le blog).  Thankfully YFC is far too big of a man to "go there". 

Well, so much for pleasantries, onto the news...a number of you have inquired as to Mom's post-procedure condition.  YFC can confirm that everything went both okey and dokey.  Mom was a wee bit tender and groggy afterwards, but otherwise all was copacetic.  Dr. Stork said the procedure went off without a hitch (or words to that effect).  Mom was quick to let him know that she's be perfectly pleased if the radioactive seeds would hurry-up and finish working their magic, so that she wouldn't have to deal with this nonsense anymore thankyouverymuch.

Melvin the Wonder Sis joined YFC and helped him tend to the brave little patient's every whim (and be assured, there were plenty of whims to attend to).   In fact, because she was such a good little helper (not to be confused with Santa's Little Helper, at right) Sis will go back to being #1.5, instead of her customary position as #2.

Give it another week or so and Melvin will undoubtedly be anchored in second place (incidentally, that's her, at left).  Of course, my Loyal Readers are probably wondering how YFC can tell the two apart so easily.  It's quite simple really; it's the tail.  As anyone can plainly see (well, maybe not in this picture), Sis' tail is much, much longer.

Today (Monday...yeah, most of you will read this Tuesday, but if you read on, you'll see that Your Faithful Correspondent had a very rough day) Mom was scheduled for chemo.  She met with the Cotton Troll, who gave her the ol' once over.  Mom admitted that she wasn't feeling well because she felt a lot of pressure on her belly.  Well, turns out she had a water build-up, so chemo was pushed back to Wednesday,  Instead, we took a trip to the hospital (Stork's office is just across the street) so Mom could undergo a paracentesis procedure.

Now, I know my Loyal Readers are probably thinking "pair of saint what's this?" but allow YFC to explain...paracentesis is a procedure to remove a fluid build-up from the belly.  First they start with an ultrasound to locate the fluid build-up.  Then, the fluid is withdrawn with a long, thin needle.  Mom went in with hardly a complaint.  Approximately 50 minutes and half a gallon of belly juice later and Mom was all done.  

(in case you forgot what she looked like, that's Mom with her friend Maria the Wolf, above right)

Kinda crazy, right?  Oh don't worry, there's more...while all this was going on, YFC got a message from Auntie Berba that Bubbles the Clown was in the emergency room because she burned herself when her nightgown caught on fire.  About 2 dozen unanswered phone calls later, YFC can report than G-Mom is doing ok.  Now, this is a bit unconventional but YFC would like to ask a teensie-weensie favor for himself.  Here goes: Loyal Readers, Your Faithful Correspondent implores you...please do NOT get sick, injured, maimed, bruised, hurt, harmed, wounded, etc.  This is becoming a wee bit taxing so if you could see to it that you take care to take care, YFC would be much obliged.

Thank you.

Onto happier things, YFC and Mom recently celebrated Uncle Rusty's birthday with him.  It was a very exclusive soiree.  Natch all the most glamorous people were there, namely UR, Mom andYFC (if you didn't get an invite, not to worry...chances are you just weren't pretty enough).  Speaking of pretty, that pic, at left, is Uncle R blowing out the candles of his birthday cake.  Despite turning another year older, he still looks like a young Cary Grant (admittedly you hafta squint a bit).  Note that the glass of wine in the foreground is a 2000 Silver Oak, Napa Valley.  If you're an oenophile, your mouth is probably watering right now (and even if you're not an oenophile, just try saying the word "oenophile."  No really, say it.  It's decadent enough to make you want to become a wine-lover, just so you can justify saying "oenophile" time and time again).  The cake was good, the food was great, the wine was simply mind-blowing.  And the company...even better.

So a quick wrap-up: Mom's doing a bit better and goes for chemo on Wednesday.  Bubby's ok too, but her arm's going to hurt for a while.  Russell's older and has delicious wine.   And YFC..well, he's just happy to be bring you all the news that's fit to print.  Now do your part of the bargain and stay healthy, k?

Wishing good health to all...

Faithfully,

Corey

P.S.

You get a special bonus pic today.  Think of it as YFC's way of apologizing for being a bit tardy with this posting.  Why a cupcake?  Nosy little things, aren't you?  Well, if you simply must know, Your Faithful Correspondent likes taking pictures of food and this cupcake looked particularly scrumptuous.  

It didn't taste half-bad either.

A TheraSpherific Update

Greetings Loyal Readers,

When you need the news, the real news, where do you turn? CNN? Pfft. NBC? Rank amateurs. The New York Times? Surely you jest. Fox News? Well, if you're watching Fox News, YFC wouldn't even know where to begin...Suffice it to say your #1 place for news is right here, The Chemo Chronicle. And here's the latest...

Mom will not have chemo this week 'cause she's getting ready for her TheraSpheres (radiation) treatment next Friday, May 30th (it's also the same day as the premiere of the new Sex and the City movie, just in case you were wonderin'). But the Monday thereafter, Mom will be back on the chemo wagon, so much fun and hijinks await.

That's all the news that's fit to print, no fluff today kiddies.

Be good...

Faithfully,
Corey

Good News!

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Your Faithful Correspondent is coming to you a bit earlier this week to bring you some VERY GOOD NEWS.

Mom received a call from her oncologist today and received a very positive post-PET scan report.  Per the doc, there's not much activity in the pancreas (phew! this is what we were most worried about) and things are looking better in the liver too.  The doctor said that her scan looked much better than it did in June of last year and that she was very happy with Mom's progress.  And as YFC always says (well, always says starting today at least), if the doc is happy, then he's happy.  So, even if complete recovery is taking a little bit longer than we'd like, this is still a cause for a little celebration.  Anyone care to join Yours Truly for a celebratory glass of vino?

In other news, Mom and YFC passed some time at Fox & Obel today.  It's worth mentioning because 1) it's uber chic and 2) they apparently have good chopped liver and good whitefish salad.  Who knew?

In other news, this weekend Bubby turns the big Ocho-Cinco.  For those of you who don't speak Spanish and/or who aren't very good at math, that means that my darling grandmother will soon be entering triple digits.  Or something like that.  So we'll be off for brunch (whitefish salad perhaps?) and hopefully that should be delish.

And speaking of delish, YFC made ice cream for the first time in his new ice cream maker (previously he made a couple of sorbets and some blueberry frozen yogurt, but that's another story).  Anyhow, would you believe he made Nutella ice cream?  Tis true!  And it was only 2 ingredients too -- Nutella (an impossibly smooth chocolate-hazelnut spread) and evaporated milk.  Unbelievably yummy, though a tad sweet (oh, and it looked a bit like poo, but this is a family blog, so we won't get into that).  For his next attempt YFC will use a different brand (lower sugar) of chocolate-hazelnut spread and will substitute maybe 1/3 of the chocolatey-hazlenutty goodness for some peanut butter.  Ah yes boys and girls, it's getting mighty exciting round these parts!  And if you sign-up now to be a Chemo Buddy, you  too might win your very own pint of YFC's home made ice cream.

Well, that wine is a callin'.  Thanks again for all of your kind words, thoughts and prayers. 

Be good...

Faithfully, 

Corey

PET Scan Update

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Your Faithful Correspondent is back!  I'd say "and better than ever" but given how good I was before, being even better would be a theoretical impossibility.  Chew on that for a while...

A quickie update about Mom's PET scan...it went off without a hitch.  In fact, they apparently have some new fancy-schmancy machine so instead of taking 1.5 hours the scan only took about 25 minutes.  

We should get the results by Tuesday so keep an eye out for more news soon.  In the meantime, have a lovely weekend and remember to THINK SHRINK.

Faithfully,

Corey

Happy Mother's Day (Belated)

Greetings Loyal Readers...

...or should I say Loyal Readers of Your Faithful Correspondent? As you know, these updates are most often penned by the mysterious YFC, the nom de plume (pen name...it's already been established that everything sound better in French) of...well, me. This is all getting a wee bit confusing, maybe I should take a step back and explain...

(left: Mom and Sis)

Today's posting is not going to be written by YFC or the Favorite Child or #1 (you do realize those are all one and the same person, right?); instead, it's being written by me, Corey. And let me tell you, it feels mighty strange.

Here's the latest: on Monday, Mom had an appointment with Dr. Mellott (you probably know her better as the Cotton Troll, but today everyone gets to be called by their real names). We received some news that we didn't really expect: the last CT scan revealed that there was a 1.2cm x 1.8cm tumor in Mom's pancreas. Now this was pretty shocking news for a couple of reasons. First, we thought that Mom had rid herself of the pancreatic tumor. For the last few months we've been concentrating on healing the liver. Moreover, when Mom met with Dr. Sato last week, he never mentioned that anything was wrong with her pancreas. In fact, he said that the right side of her liver (the part that was most recently treated) seemed to be responding well to the TheraSpheres treatment (radiation). So what gives?

(above right: Mom at chemo)

Unfortunately, in the shock of the moment I think a little was lost in translation. I can't really report whether the tumor was there all along and it was somehow "missed" (seems unlikely) or whether it grew back. We also don't really know about the state of the cancer itself. Apparently CT scans have limitations, like not being able to distinguish between dead cancer cells and live ones. That's why Mom is scheduled to have a PET scan Friday (tomorrow), so the doctors can get a better sense of how effective her treatment has been.

(above: Mom, Cousin Nanci & Michelle)

Often times YFC will let you know where Mom's been (for example, he might inform you that Mom's neighbor Mark took her to Ruth's Chris to make sure that her hemoglobin levels stayed nice and high) or where she's planning to go (the Royal George Theatre to see some bloke named Mark Nadler perform a one-man show called "Russian on the Side"...edit: we went last night...quickie review - meh). But since this is Corey writing and not my alter ego, I'm not going to get into that (at least not anymore than I already have).

(right: Mary, Trudy & Mom)

Instead, I thought I'd say a few words about Mom, seeing how last weekend was Mother's Day and all. Wow...this is hard. YFC never gets writer's block when penning The Chemo Chronicle, but all of a sudden I'm at a loss for words. Well, instead of writing to you the reader, I hope that you'll indulge me a bit and let me speak directly to my Mom...

Mom,

Over the years you've taught me many important lessons. Be nice to others. Look both ways before you cross the street. Always wear a clean pair of underwear...just in case. But perhaps the greatest lesson of all is one that I'm not even sure you realize that you've shared. In fact, its the one that you're teaching me right now...

It's the lesson on how to deal with adversity. It's a lesson that you teach me every day. You've persevered under the most difficult of circumstances and you've done so with incredible grace and dignity. I don't pretend to understand why you were afflicted with this awful disease; but I like to think that G-d will not present us with challenges that we cannot handle. You are a fighter. A Warrior Woman. A Survivor. And I am incredibly blessed to call you my Teacher. My friend. My Mom.

I love you very much,

Corey

Needless to say, tomorrow is a big day. We should probably get the results of the PET scan early next week. As soon as we get word, someone (be it me or YFC) will be sure to post the results. Now there is a possibility that, depending on the results, the doctors might want to explore different treatment options, but at this point it seems that Mom will be continuing with her current course of treatment. So, we expect that Mom will be continuing with her bi-weekly chemotherapy treatments and that she will be going in for further radiation treatment (TheraSpheres) at the end of the month (we don't have the date yet -- of course once known, it will be posted in The Chemo Chronicle).

(left: Mom at chemo)

Mom's had a pretty rough go of things lately. The doctor put her on a mild steroid to try to reduce some of the side effects of the disease. Hopefully that will be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of her fevers. Unfortunately, Mom's sleeping schedule has been severely disrupted as of late. I know that many of you have called to wish her well. Please try to call between the hours of 9:30am and 9:30pm because Mom's sleep schedule has been pretty erratic. In general, it's best to telephone in the morning, when possible.

Please say a prayer (or two) for Mom and keep her in your thoughts.

Faithfully,
Corey

PS

If you happen to talk with her, please don't mention the contents of this posting to my grandmother, Beverly (you may know her better as Bubbles the Clown), She'll be 85 in less than 2 weeks and to celebrate, we're going to have a small get together for her at The Drake Hotel (many thanks to Uncle Phil for helping out with the arrangements). Anyhow, we're going to hold off on telling G-Mom any details for a while. Plus, she'd kill me if she knew which picture I picked out for the blog.

Thanks for understanding.

(right: Bubby)

The Unvarnished Truth

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Your Faithful Correspondent has the latest, if not the greatest to share with you today. Let's get right to it, shall we?

Of course, you're used to YFC putting a nifty little spin on things, but this here is the cold, unvarnished truth. Since her last dose of radiation (April 4th), Mom's been getting a lot of fevers (at least daily). When Mom gets feverish, she also has a corresponding drop in energy and typically gets the chills. Oh, and we wouldn't want to forget about the night sweats either. So, as you can imagine, Mom's had a pretty lousy month. She had a brief respite right around my birthday (again, thanks for all the cards and presents) but otherwise it's been downright yucky (that's a medical term).

Monday, Mom had a CT scan and yesterday she saw Kent "Cotton Stork" Sato, her interventional radiologist (that's him, at right). We got a bit of a mixed report. Lettuce start with the good news (get it lettuce, let us...c'mon people lighten up a bit. On second thought, you're right, it really wasn't very funny)...it looks like the most recent dose of radiation has been working like a charm. As you recall, Mom got the radioactive seeds (a/k/a TheraSpheres) directed to the right side of her liver last month. The tumor on that side appeared to have a bit of a rim around it and now that rim has gone the way of the dodo (to my non-zoologically inclined readers, that means it went bye-bye). The Doc thought that it meant* (* - more on this in a bit) that the radiation was doing it's job; or, as Zoe might say, the radiation was "kicking the tumor in its butt."

Unfortunately, things don't seem to be going as well for the tumor on the left part of Mom's liver. The left part was treated first and does not seem to be responding as well to the TheraSpheres. Ok, this might seem like odd timing, but YFC just thought of a song that Melvin used to sing...something she learned at overnight camp -- I hate liver/Cause liver makes me quiver/Liver makes me shiver up and die, die die... Finally, YFC and his sibling can agree on something...YFC also hates liver. Come to think of it, YFC thinks all offal is awful (by the by, at left is a Russian offal chart that YFC has so graciously posted for your benefit). Get it, offal...awful? Yeah, we'll stick that in the crisper right next to the lettuce joke.

Now, remember that little asterisk above? Well, it was there for a reason. The Doctor based his opinions on the results of Mom's CT scan. However, the CT scan cannot really distinguish between living tumors and a dead ones. But a PET scan (Positron emission tomography...glad you asked?) can, so 2 Fridays from today, Mom will...you guessed it...have a PET scan (the machine looks like that picture, at right). After the Stork reads the PET scan, we'll have a better idea how things are progressing. However, barring something completely unforeseen, Mom will have more seeds implanted on the left side of her liver (this hasn't been scheduled yet, but we're shooting for the end of May). Most likely Mom will get a larger dose of the seeds than she got last time cuz, you know, she's getting kind of tired of this whole tumor nonsense, so she wants to irradiate that little bugger into oblivion.

Incidentally, Dr. Stork (can't believe this didn't come to YFC sooner...Doctor + Stork = Dork. Coincidence? Methinks not. But to be clear, he's a very likable sort) said that Mom's fevers weren't necessarily a good sign or a bad sign. They might not be a bad sign, but all the same, Mom would just as soon get rid of 'em.

Finally, by popular request, YFC will again dip into his reader mailbag:

Dear YFC,
You are sooo great! I think about you all the time. Your Mom is so lucky to have you...
(Note: the superlatives went on for 6 single-spaced pages, but in the interest of time, this has been severely edited)
Is there any one quality that makes you #1?

Signed,
Your Faithful Fan

Dear YFF,

Thank you so much for your kind words. Now to answer your question: YFC is #1 for oh so many reasons, but perhaps the main reason: selflessness. YFC had dinner with Mom this Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. He also accompanied her to her appointment w/ Dr. Stork and her chiropractor. But does he do it for glory or adulation. Of course not. YFC does it because he loves his Mommy. That alone is reason enough.

Thanks for writing.

Well at any rate, it's soon to be the witching hour (no, that wasn't a comment about my Sister...although it could be). Do your bit and keep Mommy in your thoughts, k?

More soon...

Faithfully,
Corey

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Greetings Loyal Readers,

It seems like it's been forever since we last met. Well, before you hear the latest and greatest about YFC, let's dive right into Mom's World (not to be confused with the 2 guys at right)...

Yesterday was a chemo day. Mom was joined by her sister Berba, who was making a repeat appearance as a Chemo Buddy (that's her at left...way to go Berbs!). Unfortunately, the news from chemo was decidedly mixed. Mom was able to have chemo; however, her hemoglobin level was 8.6 after tipping the scales at 8.85 last time. So Mom will go in for 2 pints of blood tomorrow. Yes, that's right kiddies, it's transfusion time again. Now, I know it sounds scary, but really it's not. In fact, Mom said that last time it didn't hurt a bit. The nurses just pump the blood through Mom's port and before you can say "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" 11x in a row *poof* it's all done.

Not too shabby, eh?

Speaking of shabby, how's your memory? You know that word from Mary Poppins that you just read, the one that's also the title of this post? Wanna attempt to spell it without looking?

Didn't think so. Coward.

Sorry, you didn't deserve that. Your Faithful Corespondent has been a bit on edge cause Mom has had some nausea and high fevers this week. She's also been getting fatigued pretty easily and the low hemoglobin count is undoubtedly a factor. So topping off the tank ought to bring Mom back to her sprightly self. Luckily for YFC she perked up for his birthday bash last Monday. That's right boys and girls, Your Favorite Correspondent just turned...well, let's just all agree that he had a birthday. He celebrated in high style at Hugo's Frog Bar with Mom, Uncle Rusty, Melvin and Nat (of the non-King Cole variety) in attendance. Of course #2 is going to get mad 'cause Nat's her new beau and she will undoubtedly accuse Yours Truly of making fun of him. But you know what? Second Best should have thought of that before she tried playing with YFC's tinker toys when he was 6! Ah yes, the old saying is so deliciously true...revenge is a dish best served cold.

Well kiddies, gotta cut this short. Just be sure to send Mom lots and lots of good vibes tomorrow so that she can get her mojo back. In fact, why don't you make sure those vibes are supercalifragilisticexpialidociously good? After all, Mom would do it for you...*

* - YFC learned the art of the guilt trip (not to be confused with a road-trip, which is infinitely more fun...unless, of course, you're the one doing the guilting) from Mom herself. Jewish mothers rock!

Love to all (but most of all to You).

Faithfully,
Corey