Rich and Strange Aeons

The first poem here seems a bit apropos right now.

I haven't posted about medical stuff for a while. "Not dead yet." My mother has breast cancer and, as of a recent diagnosis, independent lung cancer as well. Possibly ovarian too -- we're skipping the biopsy to see if the masses there are local or wandering breast cancer. She should come home tomorrow, into hospice ("< 6 months") care. I figure she should try to come home, back to familiar surroundings, and hope she'll be strong enough to get to the bathroom, or at least a commode. Else... I may find out what my caretaking limits really are. No chemo; as I joked, if her appetite went any lower she'd be producing food.

A couple of old friends of hers have visited, talking to her, trying to get her to eat. My sister's visiting now, though leaving tomorrow (Monday); she's gone for meals with me, helped clean the house (!), and entertained my mother a lot more than expected, which of course can lead to parental regret about not letting my sister come while our father was still alive.

http://nursestoner.com/myresearch.html
99% of surveyed atheists support physician-assisted suicide, over 3/4 want control over their own time of death.

Back on the lighter side, Pirates of the Caribbean was fun, though apparently missing a key bit of dialog. I've posted my new camera work already. I started reading Mere Christianity, interrupted by leaving town; I think Lewis's logic fails at the first link (which is "we have a moral sense, therefore God"). Lyceum was very very supportive and I owe her sushi, at least. I read the Screwtape Letters, which had a few interesting points to be made later. The trip to Bloomington succeeded in getting my passport and financial power of attorney, if not MY MAIL. I've interacted with a lawyer for the first time in my life. Monday's Girl Genius page is interesting -- bishie Jaeger? I guess Maxim was one already. The guy just looks weird -- I keep thinking of Punch/Adam. I'm re-reading Frankenstein, though it's being less interesting than I expected. My Facebook Religion entry is currently "The Culture".

Got my mother to consent going to the hospital Monday. Diagnosis isn't final yet but seems to be heading toward a case example of untreated cancer. Masses masses everywhere, not an organ to spare. I've been spending most of my awake time with her, though retreating home to eat and rest and recover, and feeling guilty for doing that much. Yes, it's just me, apart from some phoning friends.