Having a smoke at my folks place tonight...it's early morning in Seekonk Mass and I'm watching some British Tele on Netflix. My mom has been battling cancer for the last few years. It's a virulent form of carcinoma sarcoma - a floating soft tissue attack that stems from the uterus. The initial onset led to a hysterectomy, chemo, radiation and the like. Then almost 9 months later it metastasized in her digestive track - grapefruit sized tumors and more surgery and chemo. She's tough and has weathered the storm each time. It's back again after a recent scan indicated she was cancer free. The Doc's were expecting to see her in about six months - then in the matter of days new tumors surfaced and she's back in the hospital getting chemo.
Me, my dad and sister are with her again...spending our days by her bedside as the docs and attending nurses wage the latest campaign against the disease. It's a nasty little beast and we're all very tired. My folks celebrated their 46 wedding anniversary in the cancer treatment ward in a local hospital. Mom is in and out because of morphine and the general fatigue from wrestling with her unwelcome passenger. It's tough to see her so weak and frail...the woman that held me close whenever I was ill. Her once full mane of hair a bare wisp of its former glory. We sit and watch tennis - she loves tennis and can tell you all the info about the rising and established stars. It's good to be here. Dad is exhausted as the primary care giver. My sister and I live many miles away, so it's nice to help shoulder the burden with him. I wish I cold have Jesus simply show up at her bedside and wave her sickness away...but alas it's not to be.
It's good to be part of a family steeped in love - what else can we do, but sit and hope? I pray, wait and hope she finds some comfort during the latest crisis. She's a great woman whose strength and spirit have buoyed me during my many personal storms. I love her dearly and hate seeing her like this.
