Two years later…
We are about to hit the 2 year mark since Mom’s diagnosis. At first during the chemo/radiation treatment period, I did extensive research on Keto diets helping to prevent cancer growth. This low sugar and carb diet basically starves tumors. I believe this.
Our first Thanksgiving post diagnosis we made gluten-free stuffing, Keto low sugar pumpkin cheesecake, the works. Ultimately, Mom lost her appetite. Stopped eating in general. The meds were just too strong. Her blood levels plummeted and she went to the hospital. She stayed in the Oncological ICU for weeks. We petitioned the president of the hospital to pardon the Covid visiting regulations and let us spend Christmas together as a family with my then 3 year old son.
All together for the first Christmas after Mom’s diagnosis. We spent a few hours together in her hospital room.
Mom still didn’t want to eat. They kept bringing her trays of Ensure. Gross sugar crap. We bought a mini fridge for her room. I tried to at least get her to drink real protein shakes. A few sips at a time. I made her favorites. Pork and Sauerkraut with Mashed Potatoes to ring in the new year. Homemade Pho broth. All in the hopes to stimulate her appetite. “She isn’t losing weight so we don’t need to be concerned,” the doctors repeated on loop. Her blood levels remained low. We signed DNRs and DNIs “in the event.” We cried; we screamed; we begged her to eat anything. Just one bite.
We finally petitioned the nutritionist to consider a feeding tube. We just needed to get some nutrients into Mom. After months of pleading and begging her medical team, they put one in. She left the hospital a few days later. We were able to regularly visit the Rehab center with my then almost 4 year old. Mom was eating again. A few weeks after that they removed the feeding tube. Mom was on the mend.
In the past year since Mom returned home her blood levels have come up. We share many meals together. Her tastes have changed. Who knows if it’s the brain tumor…the chemo…the radiation…or a combo. All I do know is that food heals.
Mom and Dad ready to head to a class reunion. Mom wears her Optune most of the time.