First they told me that my mother was in a persistent vegetative state, and that we (the family) should cut off her oxygen and feeding tubes. I told them that it was too soon to be saying that or making this diagnosis. They had my family believing this. I had to convince them that mom was not in a persistent vegetative state. Sure enough, she wasn't! She's trying to talk, wants water, moves around in the bed, tries to hug us, knows who each of her children are. . .
Now, they say that since she's neurologically stable (not a vegetable) that she needs to get the mass out. This mass could be a goiter they said, and it's huge, and it's intrathoracic. My mother had a partial thyroidectomy about 16 years ago. This thing grew back! Do you know what that means to me? 
I had to have a trach after my thyroidectomy. The doctor only removed 3/4 of it. He, also, managed to paralyze both my vocal cords (and that ain't all) during the surgery.
I worried about my mother and I'm wondering about what all of this means for me. . . I know, one thing at a time.