My cousin Marian is still in hospice at MD Anderson in Houston. They have her sedated so she can't communicate with anybody and that part is hard, but, they tell the family this is easier on the patient than being on morphine. Apparently, from what her husband told my mom, when the cancer reaches the brain there is alot of pain and bad dreams and things like that and this is easier on the patient to be sedated and sleep. They have told the family there isn't anything more they can do, so it's a sad waiting time now. She has fought this cancer, which started as ovarian cancer 6 years now, and I think she is just tired of fighting anymore. Still, 73 is too young.
On a somewhat comforting note, the PAWS foundation was able to facilitate the very first pet visit to MD Anderson and the first pet visit was Marian and Lonnie's beloved springer spaniel Penny. Last week they allowed Penny to come visit Marian, and she got up on the bed and laid with Marian for awhile. They filmed it and Lonnie told my mom it might be on national television in order to promote the PAWS foundation's mission. They are a Texas organization that pushes for pet visits to their owners in hospitals or hospice or nursing homes as a way of therapy or comfort. So since Marian's Penny was the first at MD Anderson I think its a nice honor for her if they put it on tv. Here is the website if any of you are interested in the foundation or something similar in your own town.
http://www. pawshouston. org/index. htm
Please continue to keep Marian and our family in your prayers or thoughts. This is really hard time for everybody and giving up hope has been the hardest part of all.
Thanks
Susanna
