LINDA'S THANKSGIVING VIDEO

Mom is so grateful for everyone who has mailed her letters, sent flowers, emailed messages and prayed for her health. The power of love has been overwhelming. It's been difficult to talk on the telephone with her lack of energy. Everyone that know my mother knows that she never likes to be the center of attention - so this has been tough for her to accept. I asked her to say a few words of thanks from the bottom of her heart.

Thanksgiving has a new meaning to me this year. I still have an anger inside of me towards this dreadful cancer. So part of me says "why should I be thankful?" I realize that although I know I'm loosing my dear mother soon, I have so much to be thankful for. I have a loving and wonderful family and I was raised by loving and caring parents. I am so very thankful for what I have learned from my mother throughout my life. I see that what goes around comes around in life. I see that so many people are deeply concerned about mom's health maybe because she has always been there for others and truly is interested in the well being of her friends and family.

Wishing all a happy Thanksgiving.

Pain, Pain Go Away...

The second nerve block was successful for mom. Finally, the never-ending cancer pain has left however mom's level of energy is pretty low. She has very little energy to walk and runs out of steam just walking a few steps.
Today mom and I went to the Cancer Center. She is dehydrated and needed vital fluids. Her Biliruben count is still high and her liver is just not functioning. The oncologist has decided to take her off her chemo since it has been determined that it will not benefit her anymore - cancer has conquered.
The goal now is to be at peace, without the pain, without the poisons from the chemo, to rest. Actually, the body will start slowing down and sleep will take over.... My mom is strong event though her body isn't strong. She hasn't given up but she is a realist. So many milestones coming up - my parents 50th anniversary on 21 February and my son Jacob's bar mitzvah on 28 February. Mom still worries more of others than herself - she feels she's disappointing others with her fate.
I'm going to loose one of my best friends, my mentor, my business partner. However, mom will always be with me. This is the strength that will get me through these next few days, weeks, months...

Linda Almeas - Current Events

Pancreatic Cancer Sucks!

It has not been an easy journey for my mom since being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer this past June.

Mom had not been a patient in the hospital since my birth and rarely ill all these years.

We have all learned more than you can imagine about this cancer. I know:

• It's not genetic
• It's difficult to detect
• It moves very fast
• Normally it's terminal

We did the due diligence routine and received opinions from the best New York City oncologists. The course of action was all the same - nothing radical going on in pancreatic cancer studies...

The pain, the pain, the pain...

Mom has been in constant pain for the last few months. Tomorrow she is receiving her second dose of nerve block. We are praying that this procedure relieves her agony and allows her some quality of life. The pain medication has not agreed with mom. She eats very little and food doesn't excite her anymore. Is this my mom?

Pancreatic cancer spreads...

The initial chemo regimen worked fine in slowing the growth of cancer in the pancreas, however it didn't do much to curb the spread of the cancer in her liver. Mom has advanced metastatic cancer on the liver - not too good. The chemo regimen needed to be changed this week. Her wonderful oncologist was able to get a chemo drug that isn't FDA-approved for pancreatic cancer. This direction is her last hope to slow the damage to her liver and prolong her life.

So, what's next?

We're all hoping that this course of action - the new chemo regimen and the nerve block gives my mom the much needed quality of life she needs and deserves. We all know the outcome and realize that this is not what anyone ever expected from a healthy 69-year old woman. Personally, it pains me to see my mother in pain. I feel helpless - what can I do? Mom has little energy to get on the phone, she only goes out for treatment and barely eats meals. I want her friends and family to know that she is aware that people are praying for her & wishing her well.

I promise to update this blog and provide updates to all her well-wishers.