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She did pretty well until about 11:00... I got there about 08:00; Reta said that she did have a pretty good night.

And Reta had a good night too... she's used to sleeping in recliners, she did for years when she was taking care of her husband. Once again, I am so lucky to have her here.

She started with the hallucinations and daffiness, like I said, about 11:00 or so. I had talked with the nurse earlier, and they had a conference about her.

They did several things... firstly, they changed her status to that of an inpatient; secondly, they decided to check her urine for signs of infection; and thirdly, they put her on a steroid for brain swelling.

The steroid, like I said yesterday, is a temporary fix for brain metastasis... and when it quits working, it's discontinued, and sooner, rather than later, the patient goes into a coma and that leads to death.

As far as how long it works? Good question, and no answers. A few days, or maybe weeks... it all depends on how much the tumors grow in the brain.

She got her first pill about noon, and the second one about 17:00... and she was already showing improvement. I am really happy about this... it would be terrible to have your last days ruled by confusion... hopefully, that can mostly be avoided.

Andy came in around 16:00, just as the preacher-lady got there. Karen was still sleeping, and we talked for a while... wait, I'm getting mixed up, Andy came in after Kim and the kids go there....

The preacher-lady was getting ready to go, and asked me if she could say a prayer for Karen, and I said sure. After she finished, I told her that she didn't have to ask for my permission, I knew who she was, and she knows who I am... but she was very kind to have asked.

Kim and Patrick and Lacee came around about 17:00 and stayed for about an hour, and I left shortly after they did. Karen was doing pretty good, even getting in a few jokes at my expense....

I was telling her to leave her oxygen tubing alone, that it was fine. She looked at me and said, "Fine, then, ***you*** wear it!"

The second instance was when I was trying to get her to drink milk out of her tippy-cup (like kids use). She told me to take the top off and she could drink it in two gulps. After her fifth drink, I said, "Hah! You said you could do it in two gulps!" She considered the amount left in the cup, and said, &the rest might go on your head, think I could do that?"

So, a little good news, ending the string of exclusively bad-news reports of late.

Of course, the bad news is still there, but a happier Karen makes up for a lot.

Cancer still sucks. A lot.

Fuck cancer. Just fuck it.