not maudlin mom

We got to meet Dr. S, the palliative care doc, and the rest of her team today. They didn't use their "understanding" voices too much so it was easier to focus on the issue at hand...at this point in time, where is mom on her journey? Brother came and Sis C had to be speaker-phoned in due to the most recent idiot drivers on Kamehameha Highway getting the road closed for hours from Kualoa Ranch northward.

Dr. S moved into action and after a flurry of activity and questions, recommended that the focus should be on more aggressive pain management. The most important reason was the obvious one, she should not suffer. Her abdominal pain has worsened, which in turn has meant poor sleep and less appetite than previous weeks.

Pain management is the easiest thing to address. The more difficult decision we made collectively was to stop treatment for the cancer. We've come to a crossroad and we do not believe Mom will be getting better. Our focus now is on making her as comfortable as possible.

There is no map from here on out. No known destination, only milestones. We will continue to accompany her as far as we can, but we are preparing to say good-bye.

Mahalo to all mom's loved ones and our friends who've kept in touch with mom and with us through this blog. If you would like to contact the family, please

• send an email to: notmaudlinmom@gmail.com
• call Sis C's mobile

The blog is not shutting down. I will continue to post. I read a message to mom this morning from Tex, and we will be happy to do the same for all. Just remember the name of this blog and know that mom is acute enough to judge the Maudlin Factor of your message. After I read Tex's email to her I said, "That wasn't too maudlin, was it?"

She smiled with her eyes closed and made a short chuckling sound.