Most liked posts in thread: A Prayer For Lady Margi

If it wasn't for all of you MA people praying and holding Margi and my spirits up well, it would have been so much harder. Y'all showed that MA is a caring family. The famous UK automotive engineer Sir Alec Issigonis developed a small sports coupe that brought like minded caring sports car people from the world over together. The good MINI people gravitated here. Who would have ever thought that it wasn't just a car but a way of life.................................... Prayers to all of y'all and now the hard part starts but I'll make it. The over 30yrs spent with her and the ever present 'spirit or Margi' ensures that I'll make it.

God Bless all Here,
Jason

 

:cornut: I gave Lady Margi a ride in MINI Margi today but alas, even just around the block is too much for her. With Sport Suspension, 14lbs wheels, and non run flat tires, the stiffness of the suspension is just too much for her. She told me while smiling that she was so glad that I was able to get MINI Margi prior to her(Lady Margi's) passing. As my tears flowed she kept smiling. :sad::sad:

Jason

 

:cornut: UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After the massage, Margi slept for 9hrs right through her scheduled pain med dose at 3am. When she woke up this morning, she felt so much better and so did I(as Herleman said above). I think that the Lord interceded and guided my hands but that's just me.

Jason

 

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to the update. Margi and I were talking and she(not really wanting a hospital bed) said you know, if we had a recliner, that might do the trick. I said that we do, my 2 piece recliner with foot stool down in the war room(what a former combat soldier calls his man cave with all of the military memorabilia). No that's yours to watch the big tv and entertain old friends( through Jason's mind rolls- I'm not going to help Margi due to selfishness?). Margi is now resting very comfortably in the recliner in the female parlor beside the fire place and in front of the tv. She's also not in the living room where anyone who comes to the front door can stare at her. She had me call Home Hospice and tell them to put the hospital bed on hold for now.

Jason

 

:cornut:UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Margi's CBC/Blood Count yesterday was good so Chemo continues. The blood count, side effect profile, and decreased pain are so encouraging that the doctor and Margi are discussing adding a 2nd Chemo drug. Y'all's prayers/vibes/positive thoughts are helping. Thank you every one.

Jason

 

To all MA MINIacs and all people and especially our sons and daughters who are in harm's way on the firing line protecting the USA: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Happy December the end of the year. Our days are so much better due to yawl's caring thoughts, prayers, and caring spirits and as such this is a wonderful Christmas. A happy New Year to all!

Lady Margi, MINI Margi, and Jason

 

Thank y'all very much and yawl's thoughts, prayers and advice are working. Today I was able to get out and start doing all those things that have to be done(the bank[on line banking/bill paying/debit card etc.], social security office, life ins. company). Yep Ms Margi is proud(I talk with her a lot). I'm happily and easily slipping into the 21st century. A cell phone is even on the list. I'm even giving some thought to going to my first 'Dragon'. I'm late and finances are tight so I'm thinking that perhaps some 'kind soul' would perhaps have room for me and my cot/sleeping bag and let me share expenses(on my allergy meds I don't snore and I never smoke in anyone's room or car). Anyway, just a thought.

Man I love Y'all,
Jason

 

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pain control in pancreatic cancer, at least in Margi's case. The pancreas is located in the upper middle of the abdomen towards the rear. That is probably why a lot of the pain of pancreatic cancer is referred to the back close to the junction of the thoracic and lumbar spines(there could be metastasis here also). Tonight which now encompasses last night and this morning, Margi asked whether I could massage her back to help relieve some of the pain. Yes Ma'am, I sure will. Warming my hands and massaging in liniment type lotion from upper thoracic to lower lumbar areas within 10in of each side of the spine, I discovered that the lat. muscles were swollen, tender, and spasming(ever had a swimmers cramp in your legs, this is the same mechanism). To deal with muscle spasm requires gentle but gradually increasing longitudinal massage pressure from end to end(the length of the muscle) on the spasming muscle. Approximately 10sec on each muscle gradually bilaterally up and down the spine to hit all the muscles. Even if only one side is spasming, one MUST massage both sides. Massaging the spasming muscles (lighten initial pressure if needed then gradually increase) gradually stops the spasm, releases natural endorphins, and yields a significant relief of pain. This can be helped immensely with Aleve(long acting, Motrin is not) tablets. This is because muscle spasm involves inflammation and narcotics due not relieve inflammation. At any rate Margi, who was counting the minutes until her next dose of pain med has now been asleep for several hours. I won't forget that the next time Margi is hurting that badly.

Jason

 

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!! The Home Hospice Nurses came yesterday(yeah on a Sunday) to rearrange and increase Margi's pain meds and got the new ones delivered on that same Sunday. This has helped a lot. God Bless the Angels of Mercy. However, I hope that yawl never need them.

Jason

 

Courage. Y'all talk about it in this situation. I have to admit that it was given to Margi and I from those who came before us. Mrs Mitchell (Margi's Mom) has buried 3 going on 4 children and her husband and she continues to drive on(and yes Jason and Mother-in-law get along well together). My Mother lived through the 'London Blitz' during WWII and would cheerily tell us stories about getting blasted out of houses and the truly odd things that happen like the time that an elderly lady was blown out of her house while in the bath tub. Mother said that the tub was still full of water and that the lady was calmly 'directing traffic.' "You! Young man. Turn your back and give me your coat. You Bobby!(a policeman) Help me up."When my Dad died she raised we 3 children without any help other that $30/month/child from the VA. I haven't come by courage naturally, I got it from those who came before me and from the Lord God(or good vibes/good karma for the diverse believers). These days however I get the courage from all of you here at MA. Y'all are a very strong and loving crowd.

Jason, Lady Margi, MINI Margi

 

:cornut: UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Margi had her 1st chemo today and all went very well. She took her nausea med before the IV chemo and got a script for long acting pain med to take all the time and short acting med for 'break through pain' between times. Every one in that entire office is kind and caring. Life goes on.

Jason

 

To Margi and me it's not crass at all but good advice from some one who cares. To all who (God Forbid) may have to face this situation, the following things done before hand prevent much grief after the passing of the loved one. These are just things that we did and may not be correct for every one. Margi passed out her possession's meant for children and grand children in person and before passing thereby preventing most post passing bickering. She also got the joy of doing this, it really gave her happiness and contentment(done her heart good, as it were). I visited the funeral home and have everything set up as to Margi's wishes and she planned the entire service. I got a double wide plot and stone again agreeable to both of us. The life insurance policy was gone over and made correct to Margi's wishes and the welfare of all with good priorities set. Her wishes as to real estate etc were gone over and will be done as to priorities, her wishes and the welfare of all. Some people who may be afraid and/or in denial just cannot face these things before hand but gentle explanation by trusted loved ones can usually over come this. Always remember that a gentle, understanding, and caring attitude can over come the loved one's lonely, why me(?), and angry/hopeless disposition.
Thanks to all for the prayers, good vibes, positive thoughts and good advice. Y'all are great.

Jason

 

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 48full hours post chemo, Margi's abd pain has decreased some what. Always a good sign as that usually means that the tumor is decreasing in size and hence putting less pressure on other organs which is what causes most of the pain. Score now tied, tumor 1 and chemo 1. Next blood count and chemo are Wed(today is Fri).

Jason