What a day... Found out this morning that my maternal grandmother passed away the previous morning in Korea. She was in her upper 90s. God rest her soul.
I was worried about how my mother would take this news, with all that is going on with her illness.
I called her today. She was at the oncologist's office. I talked to them and the oncologist. She had her PET scan and they found another growth in her abdomen - about 1/2 inch in diameter. They are planning a biopsy on this new growth on Thursday, June 21st. If it is cancer, then surgery is not an option. If it is not cancer, then we visit a surgeon to see what options my mother may have to remove the tumor on the pancreas. Whew... tough news to take. I was worried all day about mom's mental state. I called her again in the afternoon. She is always telling me not to worry, and "what can we do?"
The whole aspect of wanting to do everything, and then being powerless to do anything is such a defeating feeling. I'm just drained at the emotional expenditure. Half of me thinks that if time passes, we will return to the typical cycle of holiday visits with the folks and our weekly phone calls. Can that happen again?? We all want more time. However, in this case, I'm starting to think I just don't want mom to suffer.
I'll try to post more upbeat items soon.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Pancreas tumor biopsy June 12, 2012
June 12, 2012
My mom, Cecilia Whacha Kim, is a cancer patient. Wow, that's tough to say. It's something you really never want to utter. But it's here, and now you have to tackle it head on.
A quick background on my mom:
Cecilia was born in South Korea on September 18, 1946. She married my dad and has two children, my sister, Angela Roelofs, and me, Thomas Kim.
My parents immigrated to the United States - Chicago to be specific - around 1975. She worked various jobs to make ends meet, including owning a dry cleaner and operating a Korean restaurant. We moved to Huntsville, AL around 1984 because my dad relocated within General Motors. Eventually, my parents retired and made their way to Atlanta, GA, where they have been since 2006.
My mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma early 2009. It was a big shock since no one in her family has had cancer, and her mother is still alive at the ripe old age of 98. She responded well to chemo and radiation treatment and went into remission. Earlier this year 2012, the oncologist determined the recurrence of the myeloma cells and planned for chemo treatment and then an autologous stem cell transplant. However, there was a discovery that stopped that plan.
My mom started developing abdominal pain approximately early June 2012. She went to see the gastrointestinal doctor and they performed a CT scan. They discovered a 7 cm x 3.5 cm mass in her pancreas, spread between the body and tail regions.
She is undergoing a biopsy today June 12, 2012.
This is a start.... I will try to expound on some of the background later, while updating the situation as we move forward. All the while praying to Christ our Saviour for strength and support, and for any miracles He may have available for her.
A quick background on my mom:
Cecilia was born in South Korea on September 18, 1946. She married my dad and has two children, my sister, Angela Roelofs, and me, Thomas Kim.
My parents immigrated to the United States - Chicago to be specific - around 1975. She worked various jobs to make ends meet, including owning a dry cleaner and operating a Korean restaurant. We moved to Huntsville, AL around 1984 because my dad relocated within General Motors. Eventually, my parents retired and made their way to Atlanta, GA, where they have been since 2006.
My mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma early 2009. It was a big shock since no one in her family has had cancer, and her mother is still alive at the ripe old age of 98. She responded well to chemo and radiation treatment and went into remission. Earlier this year 2012, the oncologist determined the recurrence of the myeloma cells and planned for chemo treatment and then an autologous stem cell transplant. However, there was a discovery that stopped that plan.
My mom started developing abdominal pain approximately early June 2012. She went to see the gastrointestinal doctor and they performed a CT scan. They discovered a 7 cm x 3.5 cm mass in her pancreas, spread between the body and tail regions.
She is undergoing a biopsy today June 12, 2012.
This is a start.... I will try to expound on some of the background later, while updating the situation as we move forward. All the while praying to Christ our Saviour for strength and support, and for any miracles He may have available for her.
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