Starting Radiation

Mom starts her daily treatments on Monday.  She had her initial treatment "simulation" last Monday.  The technicians said she was very cooperative and was able to lie still as long as was necessary.  The radiation oncologist is confident that the size and nature of the tumor make it very amenable to this somewhat abbreviated course of radiation.  She will have about 20 treatments instead of the more typical 30 or so.

Mom's appetite has been good and she's putting on weight.  Unfortunately, some of the weight is fluid retention and we're not clear on what might be causing that.  I am hoping to get a visit in with the cardiologist in the next week or two.

Things are going pretty well at Southampton Estates.  She seems to be adjusting fairly well but it's hard to say if she's really happy there.  She does engage in some of the activities but the majority of the residents in her section are not as high functioning.  We'd like to get her into activities with the residents of the assisted living section but the psychologist feels that those folks may quickly tire of Mom's memory problems and she would be left out most of the time.  Sadly, Mom is in a sort of a gray area in terms of her cognitive abilities.  For now it appears unlikely that she'll be moving again soon.  That may change if a bed opens up in a facility that's closer to her children.  She will have a phone starting Monday or Tuesday.  She spends a lot of time out of the room so reaching her may be a challenge.  I'm not sure if we'll get an answering machine.  We'll see how things go.  Her new number will be 215-396-8579.

Aunt Ginny and Uncle Joe were in on Thursday for a visit and took Mom out to lunch.  It went well and Mom seemed to enjoy the visit although I wouldn't say she was in her best form.  Her level of perkiness seems to vary quite a bit and there's little to account for it except the unpredictable nature of Alzheimer's Disease.

I think the staff begins to get the residents ready for bed shortly after dinner so Mom tells me she hasn't seen much of the Phillies.  Hopefully she'll see some this weekend. GO PHILLIES!!