Firstly thank you for all the support and kind words during a very tough time. I do appreciate it and I am sure Judy would be eternally grateful as well.
With Judy's service it will be held on Tuesday 9th March at noon, rather than me list all the details here please use the following link to obtain all the details : http://www.obits.com.au/notice/Judy-Mulcahy?offset=1&quick=mulcahy&r=
While Judy may have lost her battle she followed her motto of NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP until the end for which I am sure she hoped would provide inspiration for all that knew her to keep striving in all they do.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
A Short One
Not much happened with Judy today, I was able to spend 8 hours at the hospital for which she would have been dozing for over 7 hours even with loo breaks. The doctors are still happy with her heart rate and are mindful of her deteriorating breathing. She did seem less with it today which is concerning as this is a phase that the doctors said she will pass through along with the increased levels of sleeping. The expectation from the doctors is that these conditions will get worse they just don't know the rate of deterioration.
Based on this plus Judy's limited desire to see visitors we have moved to the stage of only family visiting for the time being. I know this is dissapointing for a number of people but we need to work with the conditions that are being presented. Please keep your prays and good wishing coming as they are appreciated and will be the only thing that pulls Judy through her current condition.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP
Based on this plus Judy's limited desire to see visitors we have moved to the stage of only family visiting for the time being. I know this is dissapointing for a number of people but we need to work with the conditions that are being presented. Please keep your prays and good wishing coming as they are appreciated and will be the only thing that pulls Judy through her current condition.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
This Is Hard To Write
Firstly I will cover off the issue of visits to see Judy, per the note I put on Facebook we have been advised by her head doctor that we should limit the amount of visitors Judy sees at the moment as her energy is sapped if she has too many visitors. Please contact me on my mobile (for those that don't have it I am sure you can contact somebody who does to save me putting it up on the net) if you would like to visit Judy as I can manage when people come to minimise the effect on Judy. Also for those that would like to visit please be aware that visits should be limited to 5 mins so as to not be to arduous for Judy.
In regards to what occurred yesterday as I am writing this on Wednesday morning she was moved from Westmead hospital to a specialist Palliative Care Unit at Mt Druitt Hospital. This facility caters for her care more specifically and provides a less hospital like environment where it is easier for the family to visit.
In respect to her condition we have been advised that the doctors are happy with the progress Judy's heart rate has made but I was pulled aside by one of the senior doctors at the centre who has provided care to Judy previously on her journey who provided me with an update. Unfortunately he advised me that they are no longer treating her disease but working on keeping her comfortable and he feels that she has deteriorated dramatically since he last saw her. The end result of this is medically and logically her disease will get worse as time progresses and her body will start closing down. When pushed on what type of time frame he said it could be days but at the most weeks but the nurses are very good at noticing the signs of progression and wil keep us updated.
While that is the logical and medical side please continue to pray and send your positive energy as while their is life their is hope of survival for which I still hold hope even though the logical side says it's unlikely. My prayer is that she wakes one day free of the melanoma in her heart as a start which medically would be a miracle but you never know.
I don't really know what else to tell other than NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP.
In regards to what occurred yesterday as I am writing this on Wednesday morning she was moved from Westmead hospital to a specialist Palliative Care Unit at Mt Druitt Hospital. This facility caters for her care more specifically and provides a less hospital like environment where it is easier for the family to visit.
In respect to her condition we have been advised that the doctors are happy with the progress Judy's heart rate has made but I was pulled aside by one of the senior doctors at the centre who has provided care to Judy previously on her journey who provided me with an update. Unfortunately he advised me that they are no longer treating her disease but working on keeping her comfortable and he feels that she has deteriorated dramatically since he last saw her. The end result of this is medically and logically her disease will get worse as time progresses and her body will start closing down. When pushed on what type of time frame he said it could be days but at the most weeks but the nurses are very good at noticing the signs of progression and wil keep us updated.
While that is the logical and medical side please continue to pray and send your positive energy as while their is life their is hope of survival for which I still hold hope even though the logical side says it's unlikely. My prayer is that she wakes one day free of the melanoma in her heart as a start which medically would be a miracle but you never know.
I don't really know what else to tell other than NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP.
Monday, March 1, 2010
I Was Wrong
Another quick update following the activities of today. From my point of view Judy seemed much better today as I arrived in the morning and was able to spend far more time talking with her than when I have arrived later in the afternoon. It was nice as with everything going on I haven't really had an opportunity to just chat with her.
The other good news is that I was wrong with yesterdays post when I said "the tablets are not working". The palliative care doctors were around today and were able to give us a full update on her status and the options available to us in regards to moving her. Firstly the new heart tablets are working in the respect that they are lowering her heart rate which is the important measure, they may not be stopping the atrial fibrillation but are slowing her heart rate which is a huge relief.
The doctors also believe that clinically her breathing should be better but Judy isn't convinced as she becomes breathless from just moving herself around in the bed let alone having to get up to go to the loo. In saying this Judy had been having panic attacks over the last couple of days about the state of her breathing and how breathless she becomes but didn't seem to have any attacks during the 8 hours I was able to spend with her.
While it was nice to see some good occuring she is still in a very delicate position which was once again highlighted when speaking to the doctors about the possibility of getting her home. We were advised that without 24 hour home nursing (which costs an arm and a leg) this is not an option at the moment. I am going to check out a facility at Mt Druitt hospital in the morning to see if we can move her to different location that is less hospital like but still has the nursing support she needs. Even this option came with a warning, we were advised that unless a move occurs in the next couple of days we may find ourselves in the position where she is unable to be moved if her condition deteriorates further.
I will aim to continue with the daily updates and thank those that have commented for their words of encouragement.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP
The other good news is that I was wrong with yesterdays post when I said "the tablets are not working". The palliative care doctors were around today and were able to give us a full update on her status and the options available to us in regards to moving her. Firstly the new heart tablets are working in the respect that they are lowering her heart rate which is the important measure, they may not be stopping the atrial fibrillation but are slowing her heart rate which is a huge relief.
The doctors also believe that clinically her breathing should be better but Judy isn't convinced as she becomes breathless from just moving herself around in the bed let alone having to get up to go to the loo. In saying this Judy had been having panic attacks over the last couple of days about the state of her breathing and how breathless she becomes but didn't seem to have any attacks during the 8 hours I was able to spend with her.
While it was nice to see some good occuring she is still in a very delicate position which was once again highlighted when speaking to the doctors about the possibility of getting her home. We were advised that without 24 hour home nursing (which costs an arm and a leg) this is not an option at the moment. I am going to check out a facility at Mt Druitt hospital in the morning to see if we can move her to different location that is less hospital like but still has the nursing support she needs. Even this option came with a warning, we were advised that unless a move occurs in the next couple of days we may find ourselves in the position where she is unable to be moved if her condition deteriorates further.
I will aim to continue with the daily updates and thank those that have commented for their words of encouragement.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tablets Don't Seem to Be Working
Similar to yesterday not a great deal occurred today as the doctors only come in on Sundays in the case of an emergency. One thing that did happen is Judy's heart was not responding to the heart tablets she started yesterday as she had spells where her atrial fibrillation (AF) stayed around for long periods of time. This is effectively the technical term for her heart beating irregularly which in her case is beating far quicker than normal giving the effect she is running a marathon even though she is resting. The result of this is she is extremely tired which makes it very difficult if she has a large number of visitors as she tires extremely quickly. This was confirmed again today by me not getting to the hospital until 3pm and finding that she spend 99% of the time that I was there a sleep.
I will write again tomorrow by which time hopefully the tablets are being more successful and her heart begins to beat normally as the AF places huge amounts of strain on her heart.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP
I will write again tomorrow by which time hopefully the tablets are being more successful and her heart begins to beat normally as the AF places huge amounts of strain on her heart.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Quick Update
Not much happened today, we are pretty much in the same position. One thing that did happen was that Judy was given a new drug to slow down her heart rate as her heart was regularly beating way to quick. I mentioned yesterday that she would get a drug to strenghten her heart but I was wrong as the drug will just slow her heartbeat to stop her feeling so exhausted. She also had a scan done on her bowel as while the dhiorrea has slowed it hasn't gone away fully so they want to understand what exactly is going on.
Catch you tomorrow.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP
Catch you tomorrow.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP
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