As promised more photos

Whole Famdamnly!

 

 

Biological kids. Left to right, Charleen, Karen, Missy, Jason

  

Kids and Spouses



Grandkids & Great grandkids

Daughters



Charleen & Bobby's Family

Karen & Corey's Family

Jason & Tara's Family

Chad & Missy's Family

Say Cheese!

We are all doing great! 

I'll post more later, we have some great photos.

Thank you to the ward who has brought over dinners. Thank you for the friends who have visited, phone calls, texts, flowers and everything else. People are good.

Our dad is an amazing man. Each step of the way we watch him become more kind, more patient, more sentimental and even more strong. We have watched our mom fight with the determination to have health and strength. She fights to improve her quality of life and reaching goals that she has set for herself. Every day we see improvement. 

Our mom is doing great!

Yes I Can!

She is one determined women, don't tell her she can't, not unless you want to be set straight. Every day she is improving. We are grateful to spend quality time with her. Everything that make her mom has not changed. 

Home sweet home is bitter sweet

It almost seems surreal packing her up this time. I thought it was wired taking her home last time when she was "done". 

I knew that we would pick her up. Yet it usually isn't till 3 or 4. So Colton and I got the front lawn mowed and yard work done. Then we got a call from mom that they were ready to discharge her?! 😳 quick shower!!

When we got to Huntsman, she was loaded up and ready to go. I so much as pulled up to the valet, came upstairs and grabbed her and her stuff and we left.  

This time is more bitter sweet. I know for a fact that we won't be back. It is a strange thought and this has been our schedule and way of life for 7 months!!  I won't be sitting in this chair watching her sleep. On to a different chair to watch her sleep. 😬😳

Feeling inadequate for the job. So glad that we all have each other to help lighten the load. Love you all. 

-Char

Mom wants to go home. Our family agrees with her, that that is the best thing. We are comforted knowing that we can enjoy our mom for the next few months in her home surrounded by her family.

Gather Together

This morning we meet with the doctor, as a family, to find out the results of our moms biopsy. Results, primary nervous system lymphoma is back. It has spread to her whole brain and has visably spread comparing last weeks MRI to this weeks MRI. 

We have been given our treatment options that as a family we are discussing. This decision we are faced with is not an easy one especially because of our moms impairment. Her lack of understanding leaves it completely in dad's and our hands.

I add these sweet words from a family member that I want to always remember.

I’m fasting today for Barbara’s return home after a valiant fight.  As a mom and grandma, I know she would not want you to continue to suffer alongside her.  She has been the light of your lives and now needs to return to the light where there is no more pain and where she may be whole once again.  Celebrate her with the happy memories she has left for you .  She will always want what is best for you including letting her go so true healing may begin for you as well as for her.  Saying “good-bye” is hard, but it has always been part of the plan.  Rejoice for the beautiful spiritual daughter Barbara is and for her life well-lived in loving service to her family and her Heavenly Father.  May you have the strength and unity to help her return to her eternal place of peace.  

-Toni C.

Post surgery report

Mom is out of surgery. Everything went well is what we were told. We do not have any information from pathology. It could be tomorrow or as late as Wednesday.

She has developed a softball size hematoma that after two CT they have decided that there are no neurological concerns.

Charleen spent the day with mom and dad, Chad is now there spending the night. She is expected to be in ICU for a couple of days.

Night before surgery

Mom received a blessing from her husband and her sons the night before surgery. I was not there but I heard that they all had a great time.

Biopsy tomorrow

Tomorrow at 1:15 mom is scheduled for a three hour surgery where they will biopsy only one of many problem areas in her brain. 

This biopsy will give us one of three results. Inflammation without infection, viral infection or lymphoma. They are not leaning more toward one more than another.

Mom generally is feeling well. She has a headache that we are managing. She is tired, and has canker sores in her mouth that hurt.

We are grateful that our mom throughout this is happy, kind and loving. She also is still worrying about everyone else. 

Dr. Cohen said if you ask me it is a virus if you ask infectious disease is is lymphoma. He said that he has ordered one other test in hopes to learn what it is. He said the chances of the test giving us the information we need in unlikely. Because of this he is speaking with Dr. Jensen about how and if we can safely biopsy this spot. 

He said that if it is a virus she will recover slowly especially because she is already weakened. He didn't mention what if it is lymphoma. I didn't dare ask. He also said that she will not be leaving until they know what this is and treatment plan.

Our family this afternoon has started a fast. We welcome you to join with us. 

Love the Whole Smith Family

Today we feel sad. Our sweet mom when she had her brain tumor suffered from cognitive impairment. Today she suffers in the same way. We have spent the last many months in chemotherapy to get rid of the tumor to only come full circle back around to cognitive impairment because of this virus. They are still trying to figure out what type of virus and how to best treat it. The doctor told us that if she doesn't improve in the next couple of days it will be a long recovery. 

Thank you for your love and prayers on behalf of our mom and dad. 

Time and sleep

Dr. Cohen told us that mom needs time and sleep to allow the Brian to heal. They are keeping her until she improves. We have yet to see any improvement. In fact today she seemed to be getting worse and was having a hard time hearing. Our family is taking turns staying with her around the clock.

The MRI shows an abnormality that they think is viral ensyphilitis (form of meningitis) Not bacteria meningitis, which is good. Running Tests to figure out and identify what virus it is. If brain is inflamed can cause seizures, strokes etc, so keeping her thru weekend to watch her carefully. Dr Cohen said this is very unusual. 

This photo is from last night in the ER.

Just when you think your done...

We brought my mom in to get an MRI yesterday because she progressively got worse. It began with confusion late last week and has progressed to complete, um not sure the word. She rambles on and on about made up stories. 99% have no truth whatsoever. She is not able to walk on her own because she will tip over. Her MRI yesterday came back inconclusive. There was a spot however they were not sure if it was caused from her moving. We are back today to try again this time with Valium.