Mom’s doctors came to their senses and put her back on IV fluids on Saturday morning.

By the time I arrived at 5:30 on Saturday, she had color in her face, our friend Kaye was visiting and they were having a nice conversation, we all talked and Mom had her normal fight back in her. While on Friday night I took breaks in the hall to cry and try to not let Mom see me upset (because she never sees that – I try to stay strong for her, like the little trooper I am), Saturday was a whole different ballgame. Apparently they gave her the power-pack of IV fluids in the morning and by the afternoon they were back to some basic nutrients, but it didn’t take an rocket scientist (or oncologist) to see that she wasn’t eating or drinking and something had to be done! But what do I know? I’m just a journalist and communicator – not a physician!

So, she did look much better and felt much better. Dad arrived shortly after I did and she ate a few bites of food from the items on her plate, which is progress. She complains about hospital food, but nurse Colleen (see last post) said that nothing will smell or taste good at first, that her body has to get use to eating again, since she has had a bad relationship with food due to digestive problems over the last many months. Time runs together a lot, but when Kris and Magaly (brother and sister-in-law in Panama) were here in January, we went out for a big dinner. That may have been the last time we went out – but throughout the winter Dad brought Mom some great foods to try – and I would try to do every Sunday out at their house with some sort of culinary treat from different restaurants, since they both seemed to enjoy that. But over the last couple of months, Mom could eat less and less and more foods would make her feel bad, so she didn’t really want to eat anything.

Now I know, once she gets home (no idea when that will be) that she is basically allowed to eat anything but seeds (think strawberries are out, but canned fruits are fine as the processing takes seeds out) and while she is talking about eating hamburgers, we’ll see how that really pans out.

My Mom is a tough lady, but that doesn’t mean she is immune to fear. We all have fears, but obviously fear of how her body will react to the colostomy is huge. I think after seeing the difference one day (and IV fluids and food) can make, we are addressing fears together and making strides towards acceptance of her condition and getting her home.

Keep your prayers coming friends!!! We still need them. Please let me know what you think and what else I could address in my blog.