We never thought that we would be in this position but unfortunately we are. I think most know by now but the last 5 weeks have been hell for our family. We are now facing medial bills and funeral costs for services in TN and NJ.

9/16 Mom was admitted to Wilson County Vanderbilt with a possible stroke from her symptoms the PCP had witnessed at our appointment that morning, unfortunately she had to be transferred to Vandy main campus in downtown Nashville by ambulance due to higher level of care needed. After a few days of test and scans

9/19 Mom was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma At the time she had 3 lesions on her brain that were shown on the scans. They told us at the time that surgery risk out weighed the benefits. She was scheduled for radiation to begin 10/7. During the time in the hospital 9/15-9/25 she got weaker, lost most of her speech and began to become more confused.

9/25 Mom was discharged to come home and wait for radiation to begin which blew our minds that it was okay to wait 2 weeks to begin when we had been told the lesions were quit big and bleeding. During the weekend of 9/25-9/30 Mom was weak, tired and continued to loose her ability to speak.

9/30 (Dougs birthday) Mom was extremely lethargic around 10am she begin to become unresponsive so we called Wilson County EMS they arrived and transported Mom to Wilson County Vanderbilt here in Lebanon. After a short time in the ER and a updated CT scan of the head we were told that the 2 lesions were bleeding extensively and the swelling on her brain was critical. They had also found additional lesions she now had total of 6. We were told that we could not wait for ground transport and she needed to be flown by Vandy life flight to downtown campus. At this point we knew that things were serious. We met Mom at ER downtown. After another CT scan at VUMC the Neuro Surgery team came in the room and told us that surgery was now the only way to save Mom life in the next 24 hrs.

10/1 Mom had brain surgery having both Left and right side craniotomy done. They removed the 2 large frontal lobe tumors and were able to stop the hemorrhaging in that frontal area. After mom was brought up to the ICU and we spoke to the doctors they informed us there was 4 tumors now remaining. Over the next several days Mom rested with not much of a response to commands.

10/6 she was able to open her eyes a few times and knew we were all in the room. She was still at this point not able to speak and we had been told that may not return at all or not till radiation was started and other tumors were hopefully shrunk. After a lot of back and forth and demanding radiation be done inpatient and within a reasonable time frame they team of doctors agreed to start in patient radiation Friday 10/17 which we were still not happy with but understand had to wait least 14 days post op for infection prevention.

Unfortunately during the time mom had to wait for radiation she continued to decline. With multiple seizures during that time. She had repeat scans every few days that would show the disease progressing rapidly but no matter what they wouldn't move up the start of treatment.

10/13 we all started to notice a major change in her condition we were assured that this was just her brain resting and her state till treatment begins.

10/16 after leaving the hospital around 2pm I got a call at 3:30 saying they were moving mom back to the step down unit from the regular neuro floor for higher level of care since she was still on NG tube and needing q4 neuro checks. Then around 5pm I received a call telling me she was being moved to ICU and needed to be intubated due to her not being able to protect her airways. I couldn’t believe that al this had happened in 3 hrs since we had left her bedside.

10/17 doctors updated us bedside saying that the disease has now taken over her right side of brain and there is no radiation or surgery intervention available at this time. We would need to think about next steps and her wishes.

10/22 We had a family meeting with the doctors they advised us that they have done all possible to help mom. They have asked us to revisited removing the tube the tube in next few days and she was placed on comfort care .

10/23 mom had the breathing tube removed and is now on comfort care with a dnr/dni. She is comfortable until she passes on her own. This unknown is even harder then the decision to remove the tube.

This has been the hardest 5 weeks of all of our lives even with everything Mom has been through in the past. We never could have imagined for this to happen. She has no symptoms of these tumors till 9/13 which is what is so hard to believe. Her scans in June were clear with no signs of the Mets in her brain.

We also face the cost of the funeral services here in TN and in NJ. Unfortunately Mom does not have enough Life insurance to cover these cost. We also have medical bills that have not been covered including the $65,000 helicopter transport bill I am trying to fight to get covered along with other things since 9/16 we have been billed for.

We never thought we would need to ask for help but here we are.