28 minutes ago, Caroline said:

Even Mom doesn't look thrilled.

 

Oh she was making a face for the camera and they were sneaking up on her to surprise her. She did seem happy to see them back.

Cancer treatments seem to be getting better very slowly. Treatments are better than 30 years ago, but it seems like it’s slow going. Therefore I’m hoping that the majority of cancers are considered treatable by the time I’m old and gray. I will look forward to living in a time where that’s possible.

Seattle has multiple "food banks" for pet supplies. Some even deliver.  If Art was really interested in a way to stretch the little money they have coming in, they would be googling these things. They could also have bought a bed from Costco instead of a superspecial adjustable bed. They can go to the library for writer's workshops and all the leisure activities they feel like they deserve. I

I'm not saying they aren't poor and that they don't need to get more money coming in. But they are doing literally nothing to make that happen, so they need to find a way to cut costs - and I'd say that they could go to the food banks for both people and pets; and start using those resources 

They want to complain about their education? They can go to the library. There are classes and help available. There's GED prep if they want to go that route. 

I can't imagine why anyone would donate to them at this point. They don't seem to want to do anything to improve their situation beyond asking for more and more money. 

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer 25 years ago, a nurse practitioner told me that cancer is a yang disease and it requires a yang treatment -- in my case it was still localized so serious surgery was the cure, but chemo and radiation if it had been needed.  

There won't be a happy outcome here, I don't think. When there's pressure on an artery that supplies heart and brain -- I can't even.    I'll say this.  People with terminal cancer often undergo the ravages of aggressive chemo/radiation in hopes of living just a few months more, especially younger people with young children.  BUT, if this gives these folks peace of mind and their loved one isn't ravaged by aggressive treatment...it may be the best option for them.

I've done end of life hospice care for two elderly family members who decided not to undergo additional treatment after surgery removed the bulk of their respective terminal cancers.  One lived indepently four more years with a very good quality of life and was doing the New York Times cross word puzzle the day before she passed. The other, with an extremely aggressive type of cancer, died within six months.  For both, it was the right choice. 

One more thing.  I've also known several younger people who continued working through chemo and radiation treatments. Their cancer was not terminal; the chemo and radiation were to make sure that any little cancer cell that may have escaped didn't stand a chance.  They were very tired, but just kept on keeping on, so treatment for some cancers isn't as debilitating as it has been in the past. 

2 hours ago, Giraffe said:

If this were any other vacation I probably wouldn't think anything of it. But seriously? You left your honeymoon a week early! I'm not thinking anything other than that's a red flag for who knows what but that's not normal. My guess is one or both got homesick and suggested they surprise the mom/mil and the other went along with it. Maybe I'm being ridiculous digging my heels in but I've literally never heard of anyone in a healthy relationship leaving their honeymoon a week early when there weren't extenuating circumstances (as in: there's a hurricane moving in so you need to leave NOW. Not, golly let's surprise Mom).

Even Mom doesn't look thrilled.