Betty,

Thanks so much for your kind words, I really needed them today.  As for my
grandmother, she's really afraid of a group care situation.  She's going to
be coming home sometime next week, and they'll have a hospice nurse visit a
few times a day.  She called this morning before I left for school, crying,
and asked if my mom was on her way yet.  She's scared to be alone, so all of
my family is taking mornings off of work to be with her.  It's really
painful to watch her go through this, but I can only imagine how it is for
her.  Keep fighting... Sometimes that's the only way to get what you need.

~Joy~
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http://www.geocities.com/joy0823
"Forget regrets, or life is yours to miss." - Mimi in RENT

----- Original Message -----
From: "Betty Alfred" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2000 3:03 AM
Subject: Re: May I vent? Personal/off topic


> Joy, I can see why your parents gave you your name.  You are a joy and a
> blessing in this world.  Thank you for your prayers and kind offer.  I
will
> keep your family, and especially your Grandmother in my prayers as well.
I
> can imagine the frustration you must feel with your Grandmother's doctors.
> Under the circumstances you've described, I don't understand why they
would
> want to continue chemotherapy.
>
> This sounds very much like my Mother's situation.  Hospice care is an
option
> when
> the patient has been given a diagnosis of six months or less.  Aggressive
> treatment is stopped and hospice gives palliative (comfort) care at that
> point.  It seems as though your Grandmother is a candidate for that.  Not
> knowing the situation exactly, perhaps I shouldn't offer that comment, but
> maybe this will be an option offered to her in the near future.
>
> You've touched my heart Joy, and my hugs go to you too.
>
> In a message dated 06/03/2000 11:55:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> >
> >  I can definitely empathize with what you and your mom are going
through.
> My
> >  grandmother is dying of ovarian cancer... The docs give her anywhere
from a
> >  few weeks to a few months.  Yet, they're still pushing chemo.  She has
told
> >  them several times that she just doesn't want to be in any more pain,
yet
> >  they keep talking about it.  Go figure... these people need to take a
class
> >  in listening.  They don't seem to understand that it's her life, her
body,
> >  and she's the one that decides.  Anyhow, your mom and you are in my
> thoughts
> >  and prayers.  I'll add your mom to my minyan's prayer list.  Hang in
there,
> >  and feel free to e-mail me if you want to talk. <hugs>
> >
> >  ~Joy~
>