Elizabeth St. Cyr Roberts
The Guardian’s Story
Elizabeth St. Cyr Roberts
My Mom was an exceptionally giving and loving person all of her life. At the youthful age of 57, her life took an incredibly unexpected turn. For two years, we sought one specialist after another to find out why her eyesight was failing. 
She was finally diagnosed with a pituitary brain tumor. Mom beat the odds beautifully. Dr. Boggan, a top notch neurosurgeon, performed two surgeries to remove a huge mass. After three bouts of radiation and four years of fearing the worst, she was on the mend. We could breathe a deep sigh of relief.
My brother, Derrell and his wife, Tina took on the role of primary caregiver for mom. I moved to Denver to marry Kevin. Life was good, for a while. Over time, high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes continued to be a nuisance for mom. Although grand mal seizures, a diabetic coma, multiple hospitalizations, intubation, and a trach that stayed in for six months nearly scared us to death, none of this could keep mom down. Evenutually, a catastrophic stroke changed life as we knew it.
October, 2004 - Presenting with stroke warning signs, mom was rushed to the nearest trauma hospital. Instead of being seen immediately, she was left on a gurney in the hallway for ten hours. Three gunshot wounds trumped mom's right to immediate care. The live-in caregiver was distraught and I was helpless as I phoned the hospital from Colorado begging them to treat my mother. My brother, infuriated over the lack of treatment would take her home. Two days later, her doctor immediately admitted her to the hospital and a massive stroke was confirmed. She spent 30 days in the same hospital. This time she got the royal treatment. The prognosis however, was not good. We were strongly advised to admit her into a nursing home because according to them, there was no way we would be able to care for her at home. They didn't know if she'd live three weeks, three months or three years.
No way were we going to place mom in a nursing home. We knew she'd never survive it. So for six months, siblings, spouses and grandkids all took shifts caregiving. I flew back to Sacramento every two weeks. Mom's sisters pitched in to help as well. We hired, fired a few caregivers along the way. The family team in Calif. was soon exhausted and unable to keep up the twenty four/seven pace. May, 2004 - six months after the stroke, we packed mom up and moved her to Denver, CO where Kevin and I would care for her.
Moving mom away from family and friends was a tough, tough choice. Kevin and I were the only ones in a position to care for her at home. Finding good help would prove to be a near impossible hurdle. After going through 7 agencies, and a revolving door of approximately 12 caregivers, we hit the jackpot with Maryna. She was the caregiver we had been praying and hoping for.
Mom and Kevin formed a really special bond. We’d go out and folks would ask Kevin if she was his mother. He’d tease and say, "this is our little, baby girl". Kevin was mom’s motivator, physical therapist, confidant and road warrior.
We were fortunate to have my sister/friend, Pat, come out monthly for an entire year to help with mom. My sister-in-laws Anya & Tina were faithful until the very end, relieving me often. Moms' sisters, Lillie and Catherine also teamed up to provide respite care and regular visits to see mom in Denver.
They said mom would probably never walk again, but for a while she did. She regained her speech and her cognitive skills improved dramatically. Thanks to diet and exercise, high blood pressure and diabetes were under control. Quality of life was good. This tough cookie was on the mend. Eventually, severe anemia would soon plague mom. Somewhere along the way, she contracted Hepatitis C and dementia from the stroke was rearing its head. In March, 2005 her doctor suggested we start 
hospice. We vehemently disagreed. Kevin had a better idea - instead of hospice, we would take her to Hawaii for her dream vacation. For six months things were really good.
Afterwards, she would endure multiple hospitalizations for severe anemia, blood transfusions, urinary tract infections, altered mental status and gastrointestinal problems. Congestive heart failure was becoming a concern. Through it all, we always had goals, something for mom to look forward to - her birthday, her mom or sisters visiting, another trip, her mom’s 90th birthday.
August, 2007 - To our utter disbelief, mom was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. How in the world does someone who sees a doctor every two weeks, and has been hospitalized as many times as she, have stage IV breast cancer? It was the ultimate insult. Surgery was not an option, radiation and chemo were out. Arimidex, a hormonal treatment that helps fight breast cancer, would be our only hope in slowing the cancer down.
It was now time for a major diversion. Six weeks later, for her 71st birthday, we would have a celebration to end all birthday celebrations. 60 family members arrived from all over the country to spend the weekend in the mountains of Estes Park, CO. showering mom with love. It was a mountaintop experience and one of the best times we ever had together as a family.
Four months later, it was clear that Arimidex would not be our miracle cure. In February, 2008 we started hospice. Two weeks later, we would take mom back home to California where we were sure she would have a couple months to enjoy warm temperatures, family and friends. Instead, she had six days. On the third day, she asked for her mom. Two days later her mom arrived and she gave her the sweetest of smiles. She then closed her eyes for the final time. Mom transitioned on Sunday, March 16, 2008.
The Caregiver’s Guardian, LLC – Consulting Services is a tribute to my mom, the ultimate giver, and now..... our Guardian Angel.