CLAUDETTE

4-28-07

Hello all,

my apologies for the group email- but given the amount that everyone loves my mother- you can imagine how many emails and calls we have received in these past few weeks.

Firstly I would like tho thank you all for your phone calls and emails, and flowers and cards- the support has been overwhelming to say the least and we feel so loved and supported- I cannot tell you.

I am happy to report that my mom is doing great. (all things considered of course). Last week was so white hot in it's intensity. Hearing such horrible news, and having mom go from so so capable to literally, incapacitated, was as shocking as if she had been hit by a bus. One day she was walking around, complaining of a minor cough and a stiff neck, and the next day she was so drugged she was slurring her words and unable to stand. To say we were blind-sided is putting it mildly. I don't think I will ever understand how someone as healthy and strong willed as my mother could contract cancer... the odds seem unfathomable.

We checked into the hospital on Monday morning the 16th of April because the pain in her neck got too overwhelming to take. We were there 8 days. Let me tell you, the hospital totally sucks. It's loud and bright and just fucking miserable- even thought there were great doctors and nice nurses and all of that- its a shit place to spend your days- and it is no wonder to me that since my mother has gotten home- she has improved ten fold.

the basic situation is this:

she was diagnosed with advanced (stage 4) lung cancer. she has a tumor in her left lung and one in her neck. the one in her neck is what is causing her all the pain, and the one in her lung is causing the cough... the prognosis is very unclear. We are waiting to see how she reacts to radiation- and then to chemotherapy. Our hope is that the radiation will relive some of the pain, and the chemo will actually shrink and hopefully kill the bastard little tumors. But no one knows how the tumors will react, and we are still unclear whether we will also do some experimental treatments as well... We are going to two more doctors this week to get 2nd opinions. All we can do at this point is take one day at a time. What a lesson in being in the present. My god.

She began radiation last week- and we are already seeing the improvement. She is much more mobile, and is on far less strong pain pills (only my mother would downgrade herself from dylodin, to oxycontin to vicodin within 5 days...). Her appetite is good, and she is finally starting to feel and look so so much better.

We reorganized the house so that we have one of those automatic beds in the tv room- just about one of the stylist at home hospital rooms i've ever seen- (she is just off her bed and bathroom for those that know the house). And her sister, my Aunt Lois arrived to cook, clean and nurse mama back to health. What a blessing I love that woman! Yesterday i knew mom was feeling better because she stared bossing me around- "those hydrangeas need water, you have to water them every day..." hmmmm- i think someone is feeling more like her old self.

More than anything- the best thing that has happened since we got home is that she has begun to realize that she WILL get better, and there IS a chance she can beat this, and there IS a light at the end of the tunnel.

And that is due very much to all of you who have kept calling and writing and supporting her. I think she realized yesterday that with that many people pulling for her- there is no way that that much positivity can't work. Add she's right.

So thank you all for the unconditional support- keep sending the good vibes this way- it's working.

I will keep you posted from time to time our love to all of you, from all of us,

till next time, we will remain

the carters.