Against Wind and Tide

While Mom has read many of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's books numerous times, for the first time she read Against Wind and Tide, a collection of letter and diary entries. Mom just loved it, highly recommends it for everyone to read. I have yet to read it, but from just the title alone I can see how the book would speak to Mom.

Mom still feels well, but her blood tumor marker continued to rise over the past several weeks. Her doctor ordered a CT scan which showed the tumor in her pancreas is about the same size as it was in January, but worrisome spots on her ovaries. A PET scan was ordered. We just found out yesterday that the PET scan revealed that the spots on the ovaries were not cancerous.

Since her blood tumor marker is higher than it was when she first started her chemo regimen, the doctor in Florida (in consultation with her doctor in Rhode Island) believed it was time to switch to new chemo drugs. Yesterday Mom received her first FOLFOX treatment. It's a longer treatment lasting over three hours. Then for 48 hours she wears a small pump in a fanny pack which slowly administers one of the medications.  There is a whole range of potential side effects; the doctor said each patient is different. The most likely ones would be great fatigue and extreme sensitivity in her hands and feet. Mom continues to remain positive, always looking for any silver lining there might be in a report. She and all of us hope and pray for the best.

Dad and Mom have another week down in Florida. They have had recent terrific visits with dear friends who live there. Mom's sister Patty was with them this past weekend; it was great that she could be there for yesterday's doctor appointments and chemo treatment.  I will fly down this weekend to be with them and then fly back with them back to Rhode Island.

In her walks on the beach in recent weeks, Mom has enjoyed finding sand dollars. With friends and even people she meets on the beach, she asks if they know the legend of the sand dollar.  Apparently many do not, so Mom explains how it looks like there is a Christmas poinsettia on one side and an Easter lily on the other. The people are always amazed when she breaks open a sand dollar open to release the five white "doves" so they can see them.  I smile thinking about Mom, the "Sand Dollar Lady", walking down the beach with her silver sand dollars earrings swinging in the breeze, sharing her joy and the doves of peace with everyone.

Photo of Mom's doves

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