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We received a phone call just before midnight that my mother, Marion Bowman, had passed away around 9:30 PM PDT.
She was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer eight years ago and was told then that she would have 3-6 months. She had under gone several different chemo treatments, and was even declared cancer free during the spring of 2006. She did some traveling to visit her children, and arrived here in St Louis in time to participate in the Susan G Komen Race for a Cure. The cancer soon returned, and treatments were administered, again. The chemo they tried this past spring was to much for her body – her white blood count could not be maintained to complete the treatment, so the Dr decided to reduce the chemo strength by 20% and try another round. That was still to strong and the treatments were terminated. Before trying this last round of treatments, Mom asked the Dr what would be the effect if the treatment was not administered and the response was "3 to 6 months."
I had talked to her husband, for the last 9 years, John, earlier in the evening to see about a extending a business trip in October to swing through San Diego for a visit. He proceeded to tell me how she had slept for about 30 straight hours before waking up to need some pain relief. He administered a dose of liquid morphine, and as that did not seem to be helping he called the hospice nurse and she suggested he give another dose or two. After a total of three doses she seemed to be resting easily again. It was within the last week that she was able to shower and talk, but then her condition deteriorated rather rapidly to the state where should could not speak words in order to communicate.
She was at home where she & John wanted to be during this time.
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