Update

When Mom was diagnosed just over six months ago, I knew the odds that I would at some point have to write this update. Unfortunately, “at some point” has come faster than any of us thought it would.

Many of you read Adam’s last blog post describing Mom’s progress and improvement. The new treatment was effective for some time, and we’re very grateful for each quality day it gave us. However, as is the case with this type of cancer, the tumor has found a way to work around the medicine. Her condition has rapidly deteriorated over the last three weeks, and an MRI Monday morning confirmed what we had all suspected, and has forced us to recognize that treatment is no longer effective.

We have no idea what kind of time we have left. Hospice came to the house today, which helps guarantee her comfort, and allows us to stop being caregivers and just be her family.

As I mentioned, we’ve all heard a lot about odds over the last six months. I think of how rare this disease really is – I looked it up not long ago. The chance of a woman being diagnosed with a brain tumor (regardless of type) is .005%. Looking at that number, I can’t help but wonder why she had to fall into such an incredible minority?

But if we’re going to talk about odds, I have to acknowledge one that is simply unquantifiable. The odds that Luke, Mark, Adam and I would end up her children are four in … what? Those odds don’t exist. We’ve spent the last 26, 28, 30 and 32 years wandering around with winning lottery tickets in our back pockets. So please know that as horrible as this situation is, we still think of ourselves as incredibly lucky.

I write this note for a few reasons – but mostly because I know word will start to spread, and, as with her diagnosis, I want as much information to come from us as possible. At the same time, I’ve had this conversation with a few of my closest friends over the last couple of days, and I really don’t know how many times I can repeat it. I’m prepared for what’s coming, but I will never be ready.

All of that said, I still begin and end every day praying for a miracle. Whether your prayers are for that – or merely peace for her and for our family, I ask you to keep offering them up. Also, for those who will see or speak to her in the coming days, I make this request: please leave your tears at the door. I know that’s a tall order. We can’t escape the fact that this is devastatingly sad for her friends as well as for us – but she worked so hard to make our house a happy place. I feel she’s owed as many smiles as is humanly possible in the days ahead.

Moving and shaking

Quick update. So I've been out of town for work for the past two weeks - maybe I should leave more often. Upon return, Mom is better than ever, speed walking to the car today as we took a drive around town to see the damage from the tornado. (In your prayers for Mom, please join us in our prayers as well for those families in Sedalia, and especially Joplin, who were devastated by the recent tornadoes).

This past weekend, we had a full house, with Maggie, Mark, Abigail, and Dad. Good food from everyone as we all pitched in, but especially from Abigail. And sister, speaking of, is getting very excited as she hopefully gets to move into her new house in a week or so. Though we are not looking forward to the painting and heavy furniture lifting. "Mom, exactly how strong you feeling these days? Well, grab that side of the armoir then!"

Otherwise, all is well. This week is another Avastin week, and a super combo week as it also will include the once a month Temodar. But we are thankful for both as they and the countless prayers are working beautifully. Thank you all. Love you, Mom. And just because the walker is there, doesn't mean you get to grab a midnight snack without waking me first! Goodnight.

Happy Mother's Day, and other exciting news!

Happy Belated Mother’s Day and hope everyone is doing well. The last few weeks have involved a lot of travel for us. Luke flew in from San Diego. Carrie and I drove to South Bend for the Pre-Cana marriage retreat, and then immediately back down to St. Louis. And it’s probably easier to name the cities Mark hasn’t been in during the past month. On Sunday morning, we all woke up to go check out the newest addition to the Wuellner family (not the baby quite yet, long way to go until November), but rather, Abigail’s brand new house! She is very excited, and Mom has already picked out her bedroom on the first floor. Two more weeks and we can start painting and moving Abigail in. Rest of the day included a non-traditional “brunch” of Lion’s Choice roast beef sandwiches (well, non-traditional for other families, might be a new one for ours), and some R&R around the hotel for Mother’s Day. Everyone was just happy we could celebrate it together with our favorite person in the world.

Then, exponentially more exciting, Mom recently had her MRI pictures taken to track progress. We all hold our breath every time these check-ups occur, praying for the best results. Prayers were heard, and happy to report that it shrank by about ¼ inch! As the adage goes, less is more, and couldn’t truer in this regard. Really, these pictures just proved what we already knew – Mom has been getting better by the day as evidenced by her health (always smiling), appetite (Burger King is the new method of choice), and increased mobility during the past month (we don’t want her to get cocky, but she’s been known to get up and walk around via the walker, alone, with no help or person in sight – Mom, we love you and are proud of you, BUT BE CAREFUL!!!).

That’s all for now. We’re all excited for Abigail’s house, the encouraging MRI results, and even the sunlight and breaks from rain we are now seeing. Patio furniture and outdoor carpet (handpicked by Mom at a recent Lowe’s excursion) are all out on the deck – bring on summer!

We love you, Mom.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I promise to write more in upcoming posts. Lots to discuss as it's been a big week both at home and in the world: engagement shower, royal wedding (which also brought Abigail home for a girls only slumber party), some redecorating of the brothers' room upstairs, pope beatification, and Osama news.

But for tonight, just wanted to say...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY! The whole family can't wait to be in St. Louis this weekend, where we will continue the celebration and welcome in a Mother's Day celebration to top it off. We love you so much!

Goodnight, everyone.

She came, she saw, she conquered

Quick update. For this post, please imagine the opening music from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Mom eyes the walker at the foot of the couch. She moves her feet down to the floor, props herself sitting up, places both hands on the rails, struggles at first, and then hoists herself up on her own 2 feet (with absolutely no help from Dad or me). Ta Daaaaaaaa!

And for her encore, she struts around the room, huge grin across her face. Then Dad and I realize, just as I imagine parents seeing their baby crawl for the first time, Oh no, now she's mobile...

But we're of course thrilled. Love you, Mom.

Have a good day, everyone.

Good News Weekend

This past weekend, Carrie came in to Sedalia for our Engagement Party weekend. Little did we know, that was the tip of the celebratory iceberg. Mark and Maggie drove in from Cincinnati, picked her up at the airport, and then made their way home on Friday night. Abigail followed suit shortly thereafter. Upon arrival, Mark and Maggie got into the Easter spirit and gave us all very nicely decorated Easter baskets. A unique one to each of us. And not unique in just color or types of goodies, but rather, the decoration on the outside of the baskets themselves. One for "Aunt Abby", "Aunt Carrie", "Uncle Adam", "Uncle Luke", and best of all, one big one for "Grandma and Grandpa". Hugs, high fives, smiles, and tears - Mark and Maggie are very proud to say that they will be welcoming a new member to the family come late Fall / early Winter. Congratulations to them and the rest of the family. We all could use some good news this year, and this is just the best kind we could have received. Mom summed up the general feeling that was permeating throughout the house all weekend. As she woke up with Abigail late in the night as is typical, she had a giant grin across her face. "We're going to have a baby soon....I'm going to be a Grandma!"
She has mastered the Mom role for over 30 years, I guess it is time for a new challenge. Can't wait for it. And neither can she.
Love you Mom! Congrats again bro and sis!
Goodnight.

Smile and Wave

Mom's latest go-to moves, no matter when you see her and when she sees you, are to give you a giant smile, and wave. Not a giant arm-flailing wave, or a miss america wave, but just a good Mom wave that makes you want to give her walk over, give her a hug, and ask her what's new, how she's feeling, can I get you anything? And in case you are wondering, typically the answer is either No, or, Twizzlers.
The last 4 weeks have been great on all counts. As of Wednesday, Mom has now undergone 3 full treatments of Avastin. She's getting stronger by the day, mentally and physically, and we couldn't be happier. Moreover, I'm also very proud to say that this blog is being written from the comfort of Mom's giant couch. The reason - Mom just up and said, I want to sleep upstairs. So up we went. No time to even think about it. She stood up, held my hands to the stairs. And then literally bounded up them without letting herself rest by putting two feet on the same step. "One step at a time, Mom, we'll get there". "Yes, honey, but one step at a time will just take longer". Wise. Very wise.
So upstairs she sleeps. For those that don't know, if Mom needs help, she rings her bell. She joked that I should have given it to her so she could ring it in Dad's ears. Yeah, he would have loved that, I told her. She of course was joking. But on a serious note, she went to sleep with an even bigger grin than I've seen in weeks, and now Dad won't need to go far to give her a hug in the morning when he wakes up. She'll be right there next to him, where she belongs.
Love you, Mom. Good work tonight.