May you be rewarded in eternity for the prayers and sacrifices offered for our family especially my mother during this time.
Her scan last Tuesday did not show as we were hoping for. The tumors are still present so they will move forward with the (as they phrase it), the "Atomic Bomb" of chemos (B.E.A.K). They described it to us as bringing her to a point of death and then back. We have such high regard and respect for her doctors, but those terms sure scare a family. We all were a little weary after last week. Cancer has been such a roller coaster of emotions. You always want God's will to be done, but trying to find your mindset and footing during the ups and downs can prove to be quite the challenge.
This round of chemo is what they have been preparing us for for many months. She will be hospitalized for 4-6 weeks and then will stay in Kansas City for another 4 weeks for monitoring. She might be able to go home around the beginning of next year (She currently is receiving treatments about four hours from her home). They will rescan in March. These are the current plans, but as we have found, plans can change in a day.
She asked me for the first time to ask people to pray for her. She is really afraid for this treatment. We are almost going on a year now since her diagnosis.
My second prayer request would be that Lourdes would take a bottle. I REALLY want to be with my mom next week during chemo and specifically stay the night with her during her treatments next week. If they are what they say they are, I do not want her alone. The catch is that children are not allowed in during this time so I cannot bring Lourdes. She refuses every bottle we've tried to give her, but in order for me to stay with my mom at night, Lourdes needs to take a bottle. I have enough milk stored up from her time in the NICU so that won't be a problem. She is getting up several times at night to nurse so please pray that God will be merciful on this small, but important detail. I wish so much to be with my mom especially during the nights (We live three hours from Kansas City so I can't go back and forth.)
Thank you so much. I know so many people who are suffering from cancer and other illnesses. My heart and mind are often without words when you see the vast suffering everywhere you look.
God Bless You.
Prayers!!
ReplyDeleteABSOLUTELY!! I'm grateful to have have something specific to pray for. I can't imagine the struggle, I can only offer my trials for yours.
ReplyDeletePrayer for you all
ReplyDeletePraying for you!!
ReplyDeleteMy prayers all around, Lindsay. May Mother Mary wrap you all in her mantle.
ReplyDeleteOffering prayers, hope, and love.
ReplyDeleteMay God hold you all in His arms.
Praying for all of your family, especially good health for your mother.
ReplyDeletePrayers!
ReplyDeletepraying!
ReplyDeletePrayers!
ReplyDeleteOh, Lindsay! My heart is heavy as I read this. Your mother means so much to me and to many, many others. Damaris absolutely shines with the light of Christ. We have been and will continue to pray and sacrifice for her. She is greatly loved!
ReplyDeleteDear Lindsay, I am so sorry to hear this. Your mother will be in my prayers, as well as you and your whole family. My mother suffered through cancer when my two oldest were little ones. I can't imagine going through all the ups and downs while taking care of 9 children. God bless all of you with perseverence and His grace.
ReplyDeleteMarianne in CT
oh dear... one of my kids simply refused to drink from a bottle, despite of what was inside. We introduced cereal and milk as an alternative at 6 months, and he keeps his daily bowl of that up to now (he is 3 yo!). He never ever learned drinking from a bottle, but around 6 months ago he decided to try straws and finally - finally! - was able to gobble up some liquid milk. bottle seems to be the obvious alternative, but thinking out of the box might help as well. i hope you dont have to resort to the worst case scenario: a crying baby for hours (a day? two?) until someone is finally able to give her a bottle. best wishes!
ReplyDeletePraying for both of your requests Lindsay!
ReplyDeleteYou dear lovely mother and woman - you, your mother, your edible Lourdes and all of your babies are in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteYou, your mother, Lourdes and your whole family will be in my daily thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeletePraying for all of you. I can imagine how torn your heart must be between Lourdes and your beautiful mama...you want to be with your mama, but Lourdes feels she cannot be without hers, either! I pray that she will somehow understand if you must leave her.
ReplyDeleteLindsay, be assured of my prayers for your mom, Lourdes, and your entire family. My new favorite title of Mary is Our Lady of Hope (Our Lady of Pontmain): "Pray, my children. God will soon answer you. My Son allows himself to be moved."
ReplyDeletePraying hard xx
ReplyDeleteAlong the lines of an above commenter, I hope you can find a good alternative for Lourdes!
ReplyDeleteI just learned that some babies will drink expressed milk from a cup, instead of a bottle which requires a different sucking mechanism. There are videos on youtube showing really tiny babies drinking from cups, which I find so adorable! In Sweden they sell special cups for this purpose at most pharmacies, but I'm not sure if or where you could buy them in the US.
Praying for you.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your family. Our son was born two weeks before your daughter, and he is just starting to take a bottle (a little). He will not do a slow flow nipple, has to be fast enough that he has to swallow, not waiting for his suckling. But even this did not work until he started sipping out of my own cup. I hope you are able to find a way to make it work, and that you can be with your mother.
ReplyDeletePraying for your intentions and for the intentions of your sweet mom in a huge way, Lindsay!
ReplyDeleteBeen praying for your mom since you shared that she was sick. I lost my own mother when I was 16 to Breast cancer so this hits close to home. Will be praying for Lourdes to take a bottle so you can be with your mom during this difficult time as well.
ReplyDeletePrayers for you, your Mom, your entire family - and that Lourdes takes a bottle! One of my sons wouldn't take a bottle or cup for 2 years. I feel that pain. I remember visiting a friend in the hospital and bringing a babysitter to come sit outside because little man just wasn't going to cooperate with that bottle. Any chance you could have a family member or friend tag team with you - so you could meet outside the unit and she could sit with your mom while you nurse? Might want to have that as a back up - but I pray you don't have to. Bless your Mom - what a hard and scary road. May she be comfortable in the process and healed.
ReplyDeletePraying on both counts!
ReplyDeletePraying for all of you, Lindsay.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your mothers suffering.She means so much to us and we love Damaris and your family. We are offering fasting for your mother and family and a holy rosary and masses also to comfort and heal her.
ReplyDeletePraying!
ReplyDeletePraying!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU. You are an inspiration, your mother is an inspiration. For you all do - Thank you. I will pray for you, and offer up my sufferings.
ReplyDeletePraying!! Would Lourdes take a straw sippy?
ReplyDeletePraying for your mom and also the miracle or Lourdes taking that bottle so you can be where you want to be!! - Sarah Mwania
ReplyDeleteyour heart is absolutely magnetic. Our prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteLindsey, I will be praying for your mother as she goes through this treatment, for you as you strive to take care of her, and that Lourdes would take a bottle. I pray you feel God's peace during this difficult time. Thank you for sharing your prayer requests with us so we can lift you up.
ReplyDeleteLindsey, I will be praying for your mother as she goes through this treatment, for you as you strive to take care of her, and that Lourdes would take a bottle. I pray you feel God's peace during this difficult time. Thank you for sharing your prayer requests with us so we can lift you up.
ReplyDeleteDear sister in Christ, praying for you and your petitions!
ReplyDeleteMy fourth babe is 8 months old as well and does not take the bottle...I've heard the recommendation of a mimjumi bottle many times to help those babies that love to breastfeed (dare I say it?) too much! God is good and wants to give his children good things- praying this is one of them!
Emily emkelch@gmail.com
Praying!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear you and your family are going through such challenging times right now. I'll be thinking of and praying for all of you, and especially your mother. May you be with her when she has to go through those difficult treatments. Much love.
ReplyDeleteI am adding your Mom and the gift of Lourdes taking a bottle to our nightly prayers with my babe. I've always felt that kids' prayers are double! Also praying and thinking of you and the rest of your family. God Bless! Please keep us posted as best you can with specific prayers for your mom.
ReplyDeletePraying! It will be a hard Christmas for your family, but a holy and focused one!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry and will most certainly keep praying. I sent you a FB message to see if there is anything I could do for your family. Rachel
ReplyDelete