The End of the Road
Donation protected
February 2015: my mother, Pamela Klemz was diagnosed with Stage 2 Pancreatic Cancer. At first it was a shock and I didn't know how to react. She didn't seem horribly upset by it. But it was the kind of event that causes a person to make some serious life changes. She quit drinking, quit smoking and her relationship with me did a 180 and she was the mom I never thought I would have.
Fast forward through her multiple surgeries, countless rounds of chemotherapy (5 in total), radiation treatments and more miles than I could ever count to doctors and hospitals throughout the years. She felt she might have a chance at beating it and was in remission for about 6 months. Things were starting to look up. Then this past summer she developed a horrible infection in both her legs called Cellulitis which in laments terms is an infection or irritation of the skin. She went on several different antibiotics and steroids and visits to the ER to get this under control all while finishing her final round of chemotherapy. The hair loss came back, the appetite went away, the overall attitude in my mother had changed. The doctors were at a loss. They had no idea how to treat this. The infection spread and grew so badly that she basically lost the ability to walk. At the same time fighting with such horrific back pain that science could not explain through any amounts of scans or tests. She stopped cooking, going outside and avoided any human interaction as much as possible. The money we had was slim to none, every dollar went to gas, bills, and prescriptions. I still came to see her almost every day and burnt myself to the ground to do everything I could to take care of her.
Middle of November she had an appointment with the doctor to check on her condition. This day changed me. I prepared all the supplies and did my usual routine to get her ready and into the car. She could no longer walk on her own. After a serious discussion with her primary doctor and several nurses, she made the decision to enter hospice. Her condition was getting worse and required more care and attention than I could humanly give her. Nurses came by the house, supplies were brought, medications were being filled. It seemed like things were going to be okay for a little while. Then the phone calls.
"We've been trying to visit your mom and check on her but no one is answering the door or the phone. We want to make sure she's alright." Me knowing my mother, "she has a had time getting up to answer the door and doesn't answer phone calls from numbers she doesn't recognize. I will be there Tuesday night to check on her."
November 20th, 2018. A day I will never forget as long as I live. My nightmare came true. I came by to visit, bring back her clean laundry and make her dinner like I did every Tuesday night. Tried calling her earlier in the day and never got a response. This was unusual. She almost always answered when I called. I called multiple times and never got a call back. I was now worried. I got to the door, put my key in and was not ready for what I saw when I opened the door. My mother's head and limp body 8 inches away from the door. I dropped everything. My mouth hit the floor. She stared at me and could barely talk. But I knew in that moment she was never happier to see me. She tells me she fell out of bed and tried crawling towards the door. I immediately call the paramedics as I try and figure out what happened. She's dehydrated, confused and in pain. She gets rushed over to Good Sam for examination and testing. I'm losing my mind making a million phone calls. After a few hours the doctor informs me that the cancer spread from her pancreas and lower lung and had metastasized into her spine. This was now considered Stage 4 Bone Cancer. A death sentence. Being on hospice she refused the right to be admitted and accepted an offer from the hospice company Journey Care to be admitted to their care center where she would be able to properly get the the treatment she desperately needed.
{Side bar- I cannot say enough wonderful things about this company. The staff, doctors and nurses are all wonderful. If anyone is looking for a company that cares and does things the right way please choose them. I wouldn't have wanted anything else for my mom.}
The days go by, mom gets worse by the day. I visit her every single night and talk to her and sit with her and help in whatever way I can. The more I see her, the worse I know she's getting. November 24th I'm having my nightly visit with her and she's restless in ways she never has been before. Her pain is not controllable and she can't rest or sleep. The nurse pulls me aside and tells me that mom has Terminal Agitation. That word hit me like a semi truck. She pulls me into the hallway to explain moms condition and how she doesn't have much longer. I finally break down completely. As of this current moment she is not expected to last another week. I've cried more in the past 4 days than I think I ever have in my life. This is it. My mother will be gone.
I'm making this fundraiser to help with final costs and expenses. (Bills, moving costs,cremation, etc.)
For those of you who have supported me on this almost 4 year journey, I thank you. From the bottom of my heart. For those asking how they can help in the worst time of my life, this is it. Death is an awful and expensive time for anyone. I would very much appreciate any help that I can get. I will be posting another update when she has passed. If you can donate even $5. Please do. If not then please spread the word. There's a hole in my heart that will never be fixed.
Thank you for reading my story.
♡ Lena
Fast forward through her multiple surgeries, countless rounds of chemotherapy (5 in total), radiation treatments and more miles than I could ever count to doctors and hospitals throughout the years. She felt she might have a chance at beating it and was in remission for about 6 months. Things were starting to look up. Then this past summer she developed a horrible infection in both her legs called Cellulitis which in laments terms is an infection or irritation of the skin. She went on several different antibiotics and steroids and visits to the ER to get this under control all while finishing her final round of chemotherapy. The hair loss came back, the appetite went away, the overall attitude in my mother had changed. The doctors were at a loss. They had no idea how to treat this. The infection spread and grew so badly that she basically lost the ability to walk. At the same time fighting with such horrific back pain that science could not explain through any amounts of scans or tests. She stopped cooking, going outside and avoided any human interaction as much as possible. The money we had was slim to none, every dollar went to gas, bills, and prescriptions. I still came to see her almost every day and burnt myself to the ground to do everything I could to take care of her.
Middle of November she had an appointment with the doctor to check on her condition. This day changed me. I prepared all the supplies and did my usual routine to get her ready and into the car. She could no longer walk on her own. After a serious discussion with her primary doctor and several nurses, she made the decision to enter hospice. Her condition was getting worse and required more care and attention than I could humanly give her. Nurses came by the house, supplies were brought, medications were being filled. It seemed like things were going to be okay for a little while. Then the phone calls.
"We've been trying to visit your mom and check on her but no one is answering the door or the phone. We want to make sure she's alright." Me knowing my mother, "she has a had time getting up to answer the door and doesn't answer phone calls from numbers she doesn't recognize. I will be there Tuesday night to check on her."
November 20th, 2018. A day I will never forget as long as I live. My nightmare came true. I came by to visit, bring back her clean laundry and make her dinner like I did every Tuesday night. Tried calling her earlier in the day and never got a response. This was unusual. She almost always answered when I called. I called multiple times and never got a call back. I was now worried. I got to the door, put my key in and was not ready for what I saw when I opened the door. My mother's head and limp body 8 inches away from the door. I dropped everything. My mouth hit the floor. She stared at me and could barely talk. But I knew in that moment she was never happier to see me. She tells me she fell out of bed and tried crawling towards the door. I immediately call the paramedics as I try and figure out what happened. She's dehydrated, confused and in pain. She gets rushed over to Good Sam for examination and testing. I'm losing my mind making a million phone calls. After a few hours the doctor informs me that the cancer spread from her pancreas and lower lung and had metastasized into her spine. This was now considered Stage 4 Bone Cancer. A death sentence. Being on hospice she refused the right to be admitted and accepted an offer from the hospice company Journey Care to be admitted to their care center where she would be able to properly get the the treatment she desperately needed.
{Side bar- I cannot say enough wonderful things about this company. The staff, doctors and nurses are all wonderful. If anyone is looking for a company that cares and does things the right way please choose them. I wouldn't have wanted anything else for my mom.}
The days go by, mom gets worse by the day. I visit her every single night and talk to her and sit with her and help in whatever way I can. The more I see her, the worse I know she's getting. November 24th I'm having my nightly visit with her and she's restless in ways she never has been before. Her pain is not controllable and she can't rest or sleep. The nurse pulls me aside and tells me that mom has Terminal Agitation. That word hit me like a semi truck. She pulls me into the hallway to explain moms condition and how she doesn't have much longer. I finally break down completely. As of this current moment she is not expected to last another week. I've cried more in the past 4 days than I think I ever have in my life. This is it. My mother will be gone.
I'm making this fundraiser to help with final costs and expenses. (Bills, moving costs,cremation, etc.)
For those of you who have supported me on this almost 4 year journey, I thank you. From the bottom of my heart. For those asking how they can help in the worst time of my life, this is it. Death is an awful and expensive time for anyone. I would very much appreciate any help that I can get. I will be posting another update when she has passed. If you can donate even $5. Please do. If not then please spread the word. There's a hole in my heart that will never be fixed.
Thank you for reading my story.
♡ Lena
Organizer
Lena Klemz
Organizer
Lombard, IL