how to communicate
 

my stepmom has lost most of her hearing to the cancer. she was too sick to keep the appointments that might have helped her and now she can't leave the bed.

she has gotten some e-mails i enlarged to 24 font. she could see them yesterday but not today. she can't operate the arrow keys to read the message. she says when she turns her head the left eye gets blurry. she hoped that meant the end was near but the nurse said no. he thot he was cheering her up but she was depressed - not the answer she wants.

she is not able to write. she can talk and we can understand some of it. she is afraid and we can't be sure how much she understands. she tells us she wants it (life) to be over. she asks for candles to be burned.

kitchen drain hopelessly clogged we are now the bucket brigade.

I'm so sorry, (((tied))). That has to be darn tough for you to try to figure out how best to help her.

What kind of cancer does she have? Has she been sick long? How old is she?

Sorry, so many questions, but just trying to understand your situation a little better. Don't know if I can help, but my Dad had cancer recently (lymphoma).

Bless you for taking care of your step-mom. :hug:

even if you feel that you havent understood what she is saying, or that she understands you, a hand being held is universal. To just sit with her, and hold her hand and speak to her means so much. Of course she is scared, and of course she is tired, but sometimes just having a hand to hold, and someone to sit beside you means so much.

I wish I had some magic dust to sprinkle over all those in pain or anxiety. Like the kind I used to scare monsters away when my children were little. A sprinkle over there beds, and they would take a deep sighing breath, and tuck in.

Hang in there. :hug:

a little more info
 

thanks dejibo & twinkletoes.

she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last march at 83 yr old. in nov she had hysterectomy. for xmas the cancer obstructed the intestines. in spite of chemo she worsened. the obstruction is now total.

gotta go we are dealing with her wants for who gets what jewelry. lots of handholding today.