Moving Mountains...For Our Mother

Video

mnorthrop1 — Sat, 01 May 2010 14:44:56 +0000

Here is the video Mandy made in tribute to Mom. I hope everyone enjoys it. We all miss her and we know that she would love it.

Amanda and Melissa

Memorial Service

mnorthrop1 — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:08:01 +0000

Hello all-

We would be grateful for you to help honor Regina with us. Please consider donating to the Ovarian Cancer Institute in the name of Regina McConnell Northrop as we never want another woman to go through this again.

Mom’s memorial service will be this held at Perimeter Church this coming Tuesday, April 6th at 11am. We will have a reception immediately following at the church. Perimeter Church is located at the corner of interstate 141 and Medlock Bridge Road.

http://www.perimeter.org/

9500 Medlock Bridge Road/141 in Johns Creek, GA 30097

at the corner of Old Alabama and Medlock Bridge Road

PHONE: 678-405-2000

We also ask that in lieu of flowers donations be made in the honor of Reginal McConnell Northrop to the Ovarian Cancer Institute.

http://www.ovariancancerinstitute.org/

Ovarian Cancer Institute
960 Johnson Ferry Road
Suite 130
Atlanta, GA 30342

Email: elizabeth.king@cos.gatech.edu

PH: 404.300.2990

What a long battle…

mnorthrop1 — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 13:38:21 +0000

Mom has unfortunately passed on this morning right around 4am. It’s been such a long journey for Mommy and she has fought hard. She was sleeping and was holding her daughter’s hands. She was made comfortable and passed away peacefully. We hate that it has come to this, but Mom fought so hard….for her and her family, but in the end her body was too tired and just gave out. We will update a little later about the funeral arrangements today when we know then. We Love you.

Amanda and Melissa

Update 4:30

mnorthrop1 — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:24:25 +0000

Hi Everyone…

Regina is resting comfortably and is surrounded by her loving family. She is unresponsive and is not in pain. Everything is in God’s hands. Regina is in transition and we will all see her again. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult period.

Love to all,

Robert (Skip), Amanda, Melissa & Bryan, Richard and Madison.

Another Setback

mnorthrop1 — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:00:35 +0000

Hey everyone.

Well we’ve had another setback. Mom came home Wednesday and we sat out on the deck for about 2 hours. Mom ate a great dinner as well as two eggs yesterday morning. Unfortunately she became disoriented around 11 a.m. and eventually unresponsive. We had to call 911 and Mom was taken in a fire truck to Northside and Mandy rode in the truck with her. Dad and Melissa followed right after. She was taken to the ER and had a CT scan as well as other tests as there was fear of a stroke. The CT scan came back okay which means there was no brain damage. She has a normal heart beat and her lungs sound good. Mom was moved back to the Women’s Center where Melissa, Dad, and Kay met her. Amanda came back to the hospital and stayed the night holding Mom’s hand. Before Melissa left, Mom squeezed both Amanda and Melissa’s hands. She slept well through the night. Melissa came back over this morning to stay with Mom. Mom follows us with her eyes and we know that she knows we are there. She started coughing and Melissa and Amanda could tell that she had a lot of mucus in her throat that she couldn’t clear. We had a respiratory doctor come clear out her throat and now she is able to breathe better. The doctors are not optimistic but we have hope. We know she’s there. If anyone can do this, Mom can. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers and pray she pulls through this. Easter is a time for miracles. We love all of you.

Also, thanks everyone that came out for the blood drive last week. It means the world to us- Anytime one gives blood it helps save a life.

Amanda and Melissa

Day 235- Homecoming Tomorrow!

mnorthrop1 — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:47:35 +0000

Hi all! Mom is set to come home tomorrow! This almost seems surreal. Although still very weak, Mom is strong enough to come home. We will have physical therapists come 5 days a week as well as daily nurses, the we will taper them off once Mom builds up her stamina. Mom is very excited but nervous. We tell her there are no worries as she needs to remember how well she did the last time she came home in December. We will update y’all daily on her progress.

On another note we are participating in the Ovarian Cycle Ride to Change the Future. As you know this journey has been quite the rollercoaster. Our family is committed to making sure another Mother, Daughter, Sister, Grandmother, or Family NEVER has to go through this again. With that, we have formed a team to participate in the Ovarian Cycle: Ride to Change the Future on April 24, 2010. Our family and team would be honored if you would consider donating to our team: Devoted Daughters (See Links). We will be riding in honor of our mother, Regina and in tribute to Kim Pelfrey. Kim is the mother of our dear friend Cassi, who lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer 9 years to the day of the Ovarian Cycle Ride.

Donation URL: http://www.ovariancycle.org/getinv/showPart.php?partID=1249

Team URL: http://www.ovariancycle.org/getinv/showTeam.php?teamID=205

Melissa and Amanda

Day 234

mnorthrop1 — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:18:48 +0000

Mom has been improving each day. She still is bleeding slightly, but it is mountains better and we are hopeful that the bleeding will continue to lessen then stop all together. Today Mom walked about 75 feet, which was huge. She didn’t think she would be able to walk even half that….we kept telling her to imagine that she was on the beach walking with Madison. Mom then doubled her speed and went much further.

Benigno said today that Mom is continuing to look better each day and that he his hoping to “spring” her this Wednesday. We are working with home health to make sure Mom has everything she needs. Stay tuned! We are so excited!!!

Melissa and Amanda

Mom’s Birthday!

mnorthrop1 — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 22:47:09 +0000

Mom had such a great day today. Amanda got there around 8am and Melissa and Dad got there soon after. Although Mom is still very weak she had a great breakfast and lunch and was so happy to be around family and friends. This morning she wanted to see her beautiful flowers that she received and stared at them most of the time (she is quite the gardener/flower lady in our household)!

Mandy went home around 2pm and waited for the call from Dad about when they were going to take Mom outside by the fountain. She came back to the hospital around 4pm with Moms little baby in her arms! Madison was so excited to see her Mama. We had cake from our favorite bakery in Sandy Springs called the Little European Bakery along with ice cream. We managed to get two candles to stay lit even though it was so windy so Mom and Richard could make a wish and blow them out. Mom was just so pleased to be outside with her little baby and family. It got a little chilly with the wind so we brought Mom right inside the front entrance to the hospital and… shhh… we snuck Madison in . All in all it was a good day for Mom.

We are looking at bringing Mom home this coming Wednesday (hopefully) and it couldn’t come soon enough. We can’t wait to sit on the deck with our family and friends and celebrate Mom. Dad even said he wants all of the amazing nurses that helped Mom to come over and have a big bar-b-que!

Thank you all for your prayers! Mom enjoyed all of the sweet birthday cards and messages that she received. Thank you! Posted are a few pictures we took today. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Amanda and Melissa

Day 230

mnorthrop1 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:14:12 +0000

Mom is doing well and continuing to blow everyone away. It is just amazing and almost unbelievable to see her come back like this. It was just a week ago that we were so unsure and scared for the future as we had no idea if Mom would survive the chemo. So many doctors told us and Benigno that there was no way. Now look at us or should we say Regina!

Dr. Benigno said he is working with a home health agency to get her home as soon as possible as he knows how much Mom thrives at home. It’s perfect timing for Mom to come home as she will be able to enjoy herself out on her beautiful deck with friends and family. The deck has always been Mom’s favorite spot in the house.

We have a big weekend ahead of us! Tomorrow is the Red Cross Blood drive in honor of Mom and we are hoping for a good turnout. Also Saturday is Mom’s birthday!

Melissa and Amanda

Day 229

mnorthrop1 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:28:50 +0000

Mom is still going strong. The bleeding is staying on the low end and the counts are starting to stabilize. Dr. Benigno came in this afternoon and told Mom how proud he was of her. He said there is still a major fight ahead of us and a long road to recovery, but if there was someone who would persue it would be Mom.

We think we’ll be able to take Mom home next week. We will have at home nursing take care of her until she is strong enough to do so on her own. The nurses will also be able to do labs at home and carefully monitor her. If Mom needs any transfusions or treatment we will simply have to take her to Northside for a few hours.

Thank you for your continued prayers! Please don’t forget about Friday’s Red Cross blood drive in honor of Mom. If you cannot make the blood drive Friday and want to do somehing in honor of Mom you can donate to the Ovarian Cancer Institute in the name of Regina McConnell Northrop. OCI was founded by Dr. Benigno…Mom’s doctor. http://www.ovariancancerinstitute.org/

Friday, March 26, 2010

11am-5pm

Northside Hospital 980 BLD, Classroom B

1000 Johnson Ferry Rd. Atlanta GA 30342

To schedule an appointment go to www.redcrossblood.org Click on the “Make an Appointment”, Click on “Enter Sponsor Code” the sponsor code is “northside” then click “Go” and follow the instructions, or contact Trinita Patton at 404.851.8146

Melissa and Amanda