March 13th, 2025 will be forever burned in my memory

 July 1, 2024 my Auntie, a multiple cancer survivor,  fell trying to get into her vehicle.  That was the start of a downhill health journey. 

It was found that she had metastisized kidney cancer, now in her bones.  A tumor was removed from her spine and she had a rebuilt spine with lots of metal.    Two weeks later due to not being able to move her left leg, another x-ray was done and a tumor was found on her pelvic bone as well as a break.  Tumor removed, and rod was put against her femur into her hip. 

In October we had to re-home her three dogs, as they were not being well cared for by hired people.  She really hated me for that.  

Sepsis settled in, and she went back and forth from rehab to Yale and back again. 

Radiation on her spine.  

Learning to walk again (which never completely happened) was derailed by immunotherapy causing liver function to start failing.   Prednisone caused extreme sugar/glucose levels, insulin started.  It was a back and forth.  One thing led to another problem.  More and more medications.  Back to rehab. Phone lost in shuffle.  No passwords remembered.  New phone purchased, new number.  I eventually got back into her itunes and downloaded her photos.   

Insurance was cutting her off from rehab (and she has amazing coverage so it lasted way longer than we thought it would)  I started T19 paperwork.  That took years off my life. The deadlines.  In the process of all this, we almost lost Pops aka Gpa P.  At several times they were both in ICU.  

Got her approved.  Cleared out her house.  Sold the house.  Filled a storage unit in hopes she could get her own place again some day.  Lots of emotions.  

Then the flu hit her.  I was with her that day when they tested her.  Tamiflu started.  Thought she was doing well.  Then other symptoms.  Ultrasound found deep vein thrombosis in good leg.   Then breathing got worse.  Back to hospital.  Pulmonary Embolism.  UTI too.  Necrosis in lung.  OMG, it was horrible. Down 55 lbs. 

Immunotherapy stopped.  IV antibiotics and oral antibiotics.  More insulin.  More Prednisone. Discussed DNR/DNI.  She agreed, then changed her mind.  I met with several different doctors all saying the same thing.  Quality of Life over Quantity. 

Back to rehab.  On Monday March 10th put in hospice care.  I was there with her.  Free diet, eat anything you want.  All meds stopped except comfort drugs.   Thursday March 13th she asked for Light and Sweet DD coffee and a bagel.  I was with her until 130 pm.  She wasn't hungry.  She was very talkative.  Then in pain, and saying odd things.  Then breathing issues.  More pain meds, higher oxygen level, nebulizer treatment.  I told her I had to get to studio, and would call her later.  

2 hours later she was gone.  This hit me even harder than my Grandmother.  At almost 100, it didn't surprise me.  With my Auntie, I thought I would have more than 4 days of hospice.

Here is my favorite photo of her.  It's probably from 30 years ago.  She was just 16 years older than me. 

She was a licensed animal rehabber, and retired from the State Ag Dept. 

I pray she is now at Peace, and love knowing she is no longer in pain.