So.
It turns out I have lung cancer that will require the removal of the left lower lobe of my lung.
Cirrhosis of the liver. (No, I don't drink, never have.)
An internal bleed that even after extensive GI testing among another things, drops my hemoglobin between 4 and 7, 12.5 being the norm. I was hospitalized twice for this within 15 months and over both stays rec'd 7 units of blood.
Diabetes/Type 2. Managed by oral meds and diet for now. High Blood Pressure.
Atrial Fibrillation/Heart Disease.
*"It's all part of life's rich pageant(ry), you know?"
I've heard this saying all my life and when I do I fall out. lolol
Addendum:
To those of you who have requested PayPal access for your donation, the email address is: Account/email address is Mehdique@aol.com. This is Jacque's account as I don't have one.
If you prefer to donate directly by snail mail, please use the same address Mehdique@aol.com or Kos mail to request physical addresses, phone numbers or other relevant information. You can also email me at my Kos mail address.
Sorry for any confusion this has caused.
Love you guys,
Cheryl
At any rate I've rented an apartment in Greensboro, NC near my daughter. It opens October 10th. I'd been on their waiting list for two years. In the eye of this hurricane a call comes from the apt mgr. to ask if I still needed the apartment in Greensboro. Wow.
What happens next medically speaking will be the transfer of all medical records from KU Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital. I must have current testing of my heart, liver and some other things I can't remember just now. The objective is to determine if my heart and other organs will even be strong enough for surgery.
My daughter has been in touch with [University of NC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC and has managed to (with Lineberger's help) open a file in my name before I even arrive. Also, thank god for Medicare.
I'm going to need a way to transport my few belongings to Greensboro, plane fare back to Kansas City for whomever drives the U-Haul. Gasoline for my daughter and her husband to make the trip to pick me up. Then again we may decide to have the Blazer transported by an auto hauler.
I haven't the slightest idea what any of these things are going to cost, Jacque will know so much more.
My daughter, Jacque has just lost her job and is now looking for another. Ray, her husband is employed and thank the gods they have health insurance. It's more than a struggle for them to pay the bills as they have a grown son who battles OCD along with a myriad of other diagnosis. She also has her eldest daughter and her darling baby living there with her. I don't know how she does it, (Jacque).
Oh, gosh you guys. I'm so scared. All my brave flew away ten years ago with breast cancer, but I beat that one~! :) Please pray for my family. Please pray too I won't be a raving chemo bitch. :( And if I am help them forgive me.
Please meet my daughter, Jacque. She will be answering any questions you may have. Frankly I don't have the strength I had three weeks ago. Got out of the hospital last Friday. But I'll be checking in.
See Jacque’s communication below:
Hello KOS Friends,
I’m Jacqueline Rider, Annalize5’s- also known as Cheryl to many of you, daughter. She has had such amazing things to say about KOS, sometimes I think it’s been the only thing that has kept her sane, living alone in a very small town. Truth be told, she’s quite the city personality, but when security, living in Kansas City proper became precarious about six years ago, my sister Elizabeth went to KC and moved her to that tiny little town so that Mom could BE safe and Elizabeth could know that she did what she could to keep Mom safe. I’m certain that most of you who were around 5 years ago, about one year after my sister moved her to Weston, Mo, remember my sister’s passing away in San Francisco.
You see, Elizabeth would go to KC twice each year to spend time with my Mom, she had no children and she traveled a lot. Her lifestyle was completely opposite of my own. When my Mom had breast cancer, Elizabeth was there for all of it when I couldn’t be for all of the reasons stated above in my Mom’s letter to you and more. I’ve not seen my Mom since Elizabeth’s passing, simply because of all of the enormous preparation it would require with a mentally ill child and finances.
It’s no secret now, that this country is insane. Families are having to come together and care for one another for reasons so much less than this. But especially when illness strikes. I cannot tell you how horrifying it is, the thought of my Mom being alone with literally no one to care for her. I’ve had to call ambulances from 1000 miles away upon more than one occasion. Then all that we have between us is a phone.
Call me paranoid, but I’ve become very concerned on occasion because when she’s in these hospitals and they come to realize that she’s physically alone, I don’t feel that they hear her and her concerns until I call them myself and make it clear to them. It’s not until then, sometimes that she gets what she feels she needs.
My Mother has been extremely strong in years past, physically and emotionally. She’s taught us well the importance of love, care, and caring for family. Now we’re down to just she and I and my kids who are all here in NC and we’re eager to have her here. We love her and want to be here for her during a time that is going to be incredibly difficult. No matter what the outcome, she needs her family. She’ll have all of the caregivers she needs here, it’s getting her here that is the problem.
The all inclusive cost of this move will be $4450.00 The least expensive will be the apartment which will be $800.00 (first and last month’s rent and deposit for electricity) Nice little place for Seniors, wonderful and well monitored in a place that is safe and only 300.00 monthly with her senior/disability sliding scale rent reduction.
The rest is transportation, fuel, one night for an inexpensive motel, food to and from and so on. That’s it. From there I’ll be dealing with everything once she’s here. She will spend a lot of time with us during treatment etc… We’ll find our way around, we’ve never been well off, so we’re wonderfully creative otherwise! Ha!
Absolutely anything at all that you’re willing to help us with, we will, with extreme gratitude use wisely. I know you’ll most likely like to verify all of this. I will be more than happy to provide any information you would need from me to for verification. I’ll put together an extensive list of information for you.
If you e mail me, I will send it to you for your review. I would be more than happy to speak with any of you on the telephone. I know the importance of all of this and there is no way I would be willing to ask for a penny without making certain you know that all of this is sincere and real. My contact- private email address is mehdique@aol.com. I don’t spend loads of time in KOS so Cheryl will show me how to get into KOS email. I do have an account and have for years, just need to learn my way around again.
Thank all of you, from my heart, for being there, for being good friends to my Mom over the last 8 years or so. Although we speak every day, it’s still wonderful that she has kind friends in the KOS community. Not to mention KOS has been my Mother’s source of great amusement, always one of the most important elements in life. For our family especially! We’ll do all that we can to return the favor one day.
Kindest Regards,
Jacqueline