Reflections...

When I came home from work last night, I said hello and chatted with my mom for a bit before going out to Applebees with the boyfriend. I asked her how her day was and she had talked to one of her childhood friends, Fran, and their other best friend Nancy had been moved to hospice. Nancy has been battling cancer for the past several years and was alert until Wednesday. Fran was mad my mom hadn't come up to visit Nancy before she went to hospice and it's not that easy to visit someone fighting cancer, no how long you have known them, and her job doesn't give her the easiest time with days off. My heart aches for my mom because she felt that no matter what she does people yell at her for it. She saw Nancy when we were in Rhode Island a year ago and has called her, plus sent flowers at Christmas. She knows the end is near and I think it's just a hard reality for her to accept.

Over a year ago, my Uncle Ken (my mom's sister's husband) lost his battle to lung cancer. He had not been given that good of a prognosis originally but to survive 8 years was pretty good. I can't remember the last time I saw him. Probably like 4 years before he passed away. He was a good man and was a minister. He even gave the blessing at my brother's wedding reception.

Let's face it, cancer is an ugly battle no matter what type, what stage, and what person it affects, whether young, middle aged, or old. It's a reality no one wants to go through. It makes you reflect on everything.

Recently, I was approached by a reader/commenter asking if I could share her story. Her name is Heather and she is the mother of a quirky 6-year-old girl named Lily. When her baby girl was only 3 1/2 months old, Heather was diagnosed with mesothelioma. I think the following words that she wrote to me in an email speak volumes:
"After all that, I’m still here 6 years later and cancer free! I'd like to turn my pain into purpose and become someone that other parents can look to for guidance, inspiration, and hope in situations like my own. I contacted you because I feel that your website would be an excellent place for me to share my story. Your visitors are the exact type of people I'm trying to reach out to; these are all the types of people who could gain something from my story."

Please take a moment to check out her story and share it with others.