Hi again. Elyse here.

My mom is still at UCLA.

She sounds much clearer and much more like herself when we speak to her. She says she’s feeling better each day, but progress is slow.

The doctors are pleased with the way her diverticulitis has healed with antibiotics and don’t believe she needs major surgery. Her other infections appear to be better, too. Her white blood cell counts are still high, but much better than they were when she was admitted to the hospital last week.

She was able to stand next to her bed a few times yesterday during physical therapy according to her doctor. This is a major improvement over where she was at home.

The doctors want to try an epidural style nerve blocker to deal with the pain, but it’s been delayed now several times. Last week, there were some delays for reasons I’m unsure about. Yesterday, the procedures were scheduled, but it was too painful for her to be awake. Today, her risk of bleeding was too high. There’s always something. They will try again tomorrow. They are very hopeful the nerve blocker will help her get more out of physical therapy, and super importantly give her relief and hope.

Medically, the doctors feel her cancer is controlled and that she is moving in the right direction. She’s obviously very sad and it’s been difficult being in the hospital and struggling to do such basic things the last month and a half with no visitors allowed. The mental health component of all of this is a huge issue and the doctors are taking it very seriously. That’s absolutely not to say that her pain is in any way less real. The physical pain is there, but with it comes very difficult psychological and emotional hurdles.

We don’t know what comes next. We have a meeting scheduled with the team that takes care of my mom on Friday. Hopefully we can get a clearer picture during that time. We can’t have the meeting in person, but it’ll be over video call. The doctors have mentioned a return to rehab, but last time, that didn’t go so well, so we will need to be diligent in our research. I’m grateful for the copious doctors, therapists, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, etc that are working together to get my momma relief. It’s a complex issue, but I do feel confident we have a caring, competent team on our side.

Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out to me over the phone or on here. I appreciate hearing from all of you so much. Even if I haven’t met you (or met you when I was a baby), I’ve heard all of your names so many times throughout my life. My mom really cares for all you: clients, friends, family. As a little kid, I used to think that a person’s accountant was an extremely important person in one’s life since that was obviously my only connection to any of you. I grew up and realized that many of you actually don’t spend all of your time with your accountant. 🙂 Kids, man.

I told my mom that many of you had reached out and some of you were very emotional. She started crying and told me that she hated to make anyone upset. That’s very her. She likes to hang back in the background. It’s very uncomfortable to her to be the recipient of so much attention and care. I’m sure she’ll get better at it.

Again my number is 805 404 9853, and you can call me anytime to check in or ask questions. It means so much to me to see how many people love my momma.

That’s all the news for now. Please keep sending love and positivity. She’s not good about answering her phone, and her voice mailbox is full, but you’re always free to call or text me, shoot her an email, or leave a comment here. We need all the support we can get right now. Thank you so so much.

Elyse