Bittersweet - New Level to this Cancer Journey

In March of this year- 2016, I beat the death-within-5-years prognosis given to me in 2011.  Our celebration, however, was somewhat muted by a bout in the hospital to have my right lung drained of 3 liters of breath-stealing fluid. This fluid is caused by the metastasized cancer on the right lung.

I have been struggling more with the pain and fatigue of metastasized cancer this past year. Returning home from the hospital in April, I began a whole new level of this cancer journey- the introduction of hospice care so I could continue my journey at home. I now have home visits from Pathways Hospice to help me at home. They manage my pain relief and oxygen needs. Although I try not to let it get me down, or prevent our adventures, I am getting slower and take more "managing" for my daily needs. Things are going very well with hospice. They are a big help. And they are as committed as I am to be sure my final days are in my beloved SunHaven, and not some institution or hospital. Plus they are committed to providing quality-of-life care which makes me more comfortable, and takes some of the caregiving load off Ken.

I'm pretty housebound now, but SunHaven (our nearly-finished rebuilt mountain home) is a paradise to be housebound in. I do get into town for a weekly massage, and tea time with friends. And Ken and I try to include wheelchair adventures every now and again. He loves to "push me around." 

Meanwhile, I've been letting folks know that I'm at this new level in my journey- the hospice care level. And that I  welcome visitors. Especially this summer when travel to SunHaven is easier. I would especially love to have some sacred/ceremonial time with my many sister/friends during this time. And Ken and I are planning to pull together a birthday open house on Sunday July 24th.

While at home, I am continuing the Tennant Frequency treatments and still follow a very careful, supportive diet. When I stay quiet and don't exert much, my energy is lighter and my spirits stay up. Meanwhile, I trust my weekly hospice nurse to monitor my body and she will let me know when I enter the "actively dying" phase of hospice care. Of course, no one knows when their final days might be, and I never want to discount the power of the body to heal itself in miraculous ways. I know many success stories where people far worse than I currently am, still recovered fully. Meanwhile though, this summer would be a good time to check out the new SunHaven, and come up for a visit.