Board and Care for Linda

My Mom, Linda Nies

I don’t even know how to describe my mom. She’s...my mom. She’s my best friend, confidante, shopping buddy, travel companion, and fellow crazy cat lady. She’s kind, intelligent, hardworking, fun, and funny. She’s also a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter, grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, cousin, niece, friend, and neighbor.


Diagnosis and Start of Treatment

In August 2019, my mom had two seizures after not having any in nearly 8 years. A CT scan and MRI revealed a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumor, the most common and most malignant primary brain tumor.

Because my mom was in otherwise excellent health, she and my dad, Ken, decided to proceed with an aggressive treatment plan. Surgery was done to remove the tumor, which, at the time, was the size of a marble. Then my mom had six weeks of concurrent radiation and chemotherapy.

Signs of Improvement?

Around the end of 2019, things started looking up. My mom’s verbal skills, which had declined after surgery, were starting to improve. An MRI done in December showed no trace of a tumor.


Mom’s Decline

In December 2019 and January 2020, my mom had two double doses of chemo. Those treatments left my typically active, strong, and positive mom feeling exhausted and a little less hopeful. Her verbal skills started declining again, and by spring 2020, she could barely communicate. Almost nothing she said or did made sense. To make matters worse, the left side of her body was becoming weak and numb, and she was experiencing partial seizures. My mom’s medical team was unsure of the exact cause of her symptoms—tumor regrowth, chemo, or both.

In June 2020, a month or so after a third round of chemo, my mom had what seemed like a breakdown or mental health crisis. She kept saying, “9-1-1.” My dad took her to the ER, where they ran tests and admitted her. They did an MRI, which showed that the brain tumor had grown back, and it was massive.


Several doctors, including my mom’s neuro-oncologist, explained our options, which included different types of chemo, non-chemo medication, or no further treatment. Due to the tumor’s size and location, surgery was not an option. Also, regardless of what we decided, the tumor would continue to grow. The doctors believed she had anywhere from 2 to 6 months to live.

At this point, my mom did not have the capacity to make her own decisions, so we had to decide for her. Because continued treatment would not stop the cancer growth, and it could actually make symptoms and quality of life worse, we decided to discontinue treatment.

The next difficult decision would be how to give her the best possible end-of-life care—at home with my dad as her carer, at home with a hired carer, or at a board and care home. My dad and I realized that he would not be able to take care of my mom 24/7 and take care of himself. Having a full-time carer would not be financially feasible, so we chose to place my mom in a board and care home in Garden Grove, California.

Cost of Care

My dad and I have been very happy with the care my mom has been receiving at the board and care home. The owner and her staff are friendly and caring professionals, and the home itself is nice, clean, and safe.

Unfortunately this excellent care comes at a cost: $5,500 per month plus a one-time administrative fee of $500. My dad has been paying for my mom’s care since July 2020, with some help from me when I can afford it.

My dad and I have been hesitant to ask for financial help, but we could really use it. If you are able to contribute even a small amount, we would be so grateful.

Thank you,
Shannon