Last summer we went to Oregon to visit a woman who has been like a mom to me my whole life. She was my go to person as a teen and she still is one I love to chat with when I am feeling down. She found out last year that she had lung cancer, my grandfather had passed away 6 years ago with lung cancer...so it freaked me out a bit. So we made it a priority to go see her, and let our kiddos meet her. We had the best time visiting her and her hilarious husband!! We had a picnic and Wes and the kids went down a smooth stream with Jeff (her hubs) after the picnic they had to show us their "secret" place that their kids used to swim when they were younger. We sat and chatted what seemed like a few mins, but hours had passed quickly by.
She fought the cancer from July to Oct, where she was given the thumbs up!! She had BEAT the cancer!! She was so excited and I was/AM so SO PROUD of her!!
This last 2 weeks we found out that she has cancer again, another visible group of cancer around her lung, and now 2 small tumors on her brain. Her husband is asking for all the good thoughts and prayers they can get for some major advancement in cancer treatment, or a straight up miracle for her to get through this next round of chemo.
When I read the news today, my heart dropped in the break room at work and I began to cry. I am so broken hearted for her, and her family. She is such an incredible woman and does NOT deserve to suffer through cancer like this. Why is it that the best of people get ravaged by such a crappy and EVIL disease?
I know and understand that we come and we go...I get that. It doesn't mean I like it. I hate it. So much. I hate the thought of death and the lack of power we have over this fact. I hate that cancer destroys people and families. I hate that MY PERSON, MY "MOM" has to endure this horrific disease.
As I face the fear of losing her, I am very grateful for the memories we were able to make with her this past summer, and couldn't have imagined spending our family vacation any other way. She got me through some of the hardest years of my life, and was there when no one else seemed to be. And helped me learn to love who I was as a teenager, which seemed to be an impossible feat.
Her FAVORITE show in this life is "Wizard of Oz". For those of you unfamiliar with this classic, a young girl gets swept up by a tornado with her doggy toto and is sent off to a land of pure imagination. Her home smashed a wicked witch and she got a pair of ruby slippers, and was whisked away to the "Wizard of Oz" to help return her to her home. This movie was the first ever to be shown in color in the United States.
The most memorable song from this movie is "Somewhere over the Rainbow"
I believe there is something after this life, what exactly? I am not sure. But one thing I know for sure is Patty will be sent to the most beautiful land of pure imagination, and the first thing she will do will belt out her favorite song and find a way to let all of us know she is ok.
The Reflection of life stares you down the moment you know you have or will be losing a loved one. It makes you look deep inside yourself and drives you to figure out who you REALLY want to be and HOW you are going to make that happen.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what home you lived in, it is the memories made within that home. Or the car you drive, it is the travels made in that car. Or the amount of money you have sitting in your bank. Focusing on what you are blessed with each and every day makes your life full and satisfying.
I am sure Patty is terrified beyond belief, but I know she has a soul of gold and has made every memory she could throughout her life. I love her with all my heart, and am so grateful to have been blessed to have her in my life for 18 years. She is tough and I know whatever she can do to beat this, she will do it. I have all the Faith in the world that she can beat this 2nd round of cancer, she has a team rallying around her to keep her spirits up.
My love, thoughts and prayers to her, and to anyone else reading this that is enduring this battle.
I ask of you from all walks of life to keep this wonderful woman and her family in your thoughts and prayers!
Thank you for taking time to read my post! Much love