On July 5, I (Natasha) had to bring my mom into the ER for feeling dizzy all day and the previous day. After multiple tests, it showed she had multiple small strokes - two of them being in her cerebellum, which is why she was so dizzy and her balance was off. After more scans and digging further as to why this was happening, it was found she has a spot in her lung that had also spread to lymph nodes and had directly invaded her heart. She has been hospitalized 4 more times since this, along with multiple more scans, unfortunately another small stroke and multiple biopsies. Because of the damage from the strokes she can no longer drive or live alone. We have currently moved her into my home and I am taking care of her full-time. With Many thoughtful family discussions, she has decided to move forward with treatment : Chemo and radiation. Chemo will be once a month for 3 days and radiation is every day for 30 mins at a time starting Sept 15 and into Oct 30. She had her first round of chemo in August while hospitalized and has started to lose her hair pretty aggressively. We are doing our best to support her, surround her with a ton of love and care, but it does take a village and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has showered her and us with love and care!
UPDATE: Honoring the Time Ahead After much thought and prayer, we’ve made the decision to stop active treatments and begin hospice care. This is not an end to our journey, but a shift toward cherishing each day with comfort, peace, and presence. We are choosing to focus on love, laughter, and the moments that matter most. We also want to share how deeply grateful we are for all the love, prayers, and encouragement you have given us throughout this journey. Your presence—whether through messages, visits, donating your time to help with appointments, gifts, or quiet thoughts— it means more than words can ever express! Please continue to hold us in your hearts as we focus on this next chapter with comfort and peace. I am using this site to ask for help with rides to and from Radiation (at U of M East Bank) when I am not able to, due to having to work. Radiation is every week day at 2:30pm for 30 mins and some days will include an appointment with the Radiation Oncologist right after at 3pm. Valet Parking is paid for and I am happy to provide gas money. Due to how weak she is, She does need helping getting outside to the car, in and out of the vehicle and into the hospital, as well as back into the house after. We have both a walker and a wheelchair. And if for any reason they need to send her to the ER it will be in the same building as the radiation and is the department I currently work in.