Mom and I enjoyed a beautiful drive up to Kalispell on Tuesday. When you live in Montana you sometimes forget to look around at all the beautiful things that are so close. As we drove north to Kalispell we were oohing and ahhing at how beautiful and rugged the Mission Mountains are and then when we crested the hill approaching Polson, the beautiful blue of Flathead Lake was so striking because the day was bright and sunny that even the purpose of the trip couldn’t distract us from how beautiful the scenery was.

The reason for our little trek up to Kalispell was to see an oncologist who specializes in pancreatic cancer. As we are nearing a treatment plan, there seem to be so many t’s to cross and i’s to dot before proceeding. The tests Mom had taken to date were not definitive as to whether the “spot on the head of the pancreas” was cancerous or not. When meeting with the surgeon to schedule the surgery for the colon cancer, he was not comfortable with operating on the colon while the jury was still out so to speak on the possibility of pancreatic cancer. So, Dr. Richards, the surgeon in Missoula referred us to Dr. Sheldon, a surgical oncologist in Kalispell. Apparently, there is a highly specialized test they perform in the Kalispell hospital that is not available in Missoula.

This test determined that there is NOT pancreatic cancer. Yes, yes, yes! This is good news.

There is one more test scheduled for tomorrow which will take a look at the possible thyroid cancer. Whether this is or is not thyroid cancer, it will have no immediate effect on scheduling surgery for the colon cancer. As the doctors all seem to agree this is a very slow-growing cancer, it can be put on the backburner if it exists at all.

The surgery for the colon cancer is tentatively scheduled for October 17. This will be confirmed on Tuesday, October 14 when we have an appointment with Dr. Richards the surgeon.

Now, back to Kalispell. As we left the Kalispell Hospital at 6:00 p.m. we went to KFC to have a celebration dinner. Mom hadn’t eaten since the night before and she was hungry so she had some yummy potatoes and gravy and a biscuit and a little chicken. She also had an A & W Root Beer. What a feast! She kept saying how wonderful the food was and how great it was to have a Root Beer. She was relieved about the news and enjoyed her food immensely.

Since we were leaving Kalispell at sunset, I kept stopping trying to get a good photo of Flathead Lake. She was very patient and just sat in the car sipping her Root Beer while I stopped at several places to find a good shot. It was a full moon and it lit up the night so we could see the deer crossing the road heading down to the lake to get a drink. This is one of Mom’s favorite things to do. In fact, we refer to it as going on a “deer drive”.

Last weekend Mark, Laurie and Jacob came to visit. Sarah, Brian and their three children also came to visit and it was wonderful. On Friday night we went out to eat with Sarah and her family at an old Missoula favorite, Paul’s Pancake Parlor. Mom totally loved it, especially watching Alice, George and Joshua.

The following day Mark, Laurie and Jacob arrived. Since it was Laurie’s birthday, Mom had the most fun making a “birthday pumpkin” for Laurie. I made some “angry bird sandwiches” for Sarah’s kids and I actually think Brian was more excited about them than the kids. Marie joined us all and it was a great time at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Mom continues to be calm and peaceful. She is ready for the surgery and the potential chemo therapy treatment that may follow.

These are some questions that seem to come up.

What stage is the colon cancer?

The staging is only done through surgery. Until they can see inside, they don’t stage it.

Will she have chemo therapy?

Again, we won’t know until the surgery is performed. They will be looking to see if the lymph system is involved. Odds are, she will have chemotherapy.

How long will recovery take?

She will be in the hospital for about a week. After that it is important for her to move around (as in exercise) as much as she can for the healing to occur. No additional time estimate was offered.

Is it safe for someone of her age to have surgery?

There are always risks when anyone has surgery. However, over and over again we have heard, “You are a very healthy 85-year-old woman.” Again, the more she can exercise post-op, the better it is for her so we are hiking up to the "M" every morning at 6:00 a.m. (just kidding)

Does she have to have the surgery?

Yes. If she doesn’t have the surgery and have it soon, there will be a blockage in her colon and that would be devastating. That needs to be prevented at all costs.

So, the big event for today is Mom and I are off to Walgreen’s to have our flu shots. Megan and Zeb will be postponing their visit until the 24^th so they can come when Emily and Ella are here. 

Mom is also going to Shopko to look at curtains. For those of you who know my Mom, this is a big event. She has been in her little apartment for about 2 ½ years now. She has had sheets hanging on the windows since she’s been there. They are attractive sheets as she says, but sheets nonetheless. Whenever Mark comes to visit he asks her when she is going to put some curtains up and she just tells him she’ll do it when she’s good and ready and there’s no reason to rush into it. When I got here a few weeks ago I asked her when she was going to put some curtains up and she said, “Oh, you and your brother say the same thing. I don’t want to put them up until I’m ready.” So, the curtain thing – that’s a big deal.

I am trying to get her to go to a Missoula Maulers Ice Hockey game this weekend. She’s thinking about it…….