I'm going to prepare you...this will be sort of a downer post...but I will end with some joy!
First of all...I just could never imagine bringing my 18 year old daughter home to die. That is exactly what is happening to a young mother and her daughter. One of my high school friends nieces has been fighting brai.n canc.er for two years...she's been a fighter, she has raised awareness...she has thousands praying for her. I started to follow this young ladies story last summer on f.b. She's been through so much...and fought so hard...however...this month...the tumor came back...growing rapidly. The girl can not fight any more. She is now on hosp.ice...last night the pain was too much...morp.hine was needed. The mother writes often of her own suffering watching her daughter slowly slip away. The mother wrote "This is absolutely the hardest thing any mother could face. Watching my little girl suffer and wither away makes me just want to die." I just could not imagine.
**I wish I had better news for the young girl you just read about but she is getting weaker...they do not want many visitors (just immediate/close family and friends)...and the sister posted a recent pic of the mother sleeping with her daughter, arms wrapped tightly...yeah...I don't think I would ever let my daughter sleep alone either.****
I've just started following another girl...also dealing with brai.n can.cer...in the last two months...she has had two tumors removed. Her mother details their journey on f.b as well. So tough...I could not imagine.
I am a reader of the Ob.its. I know it sounds morbid but they actually can be an interesting read...until yesterday. A 10 month old passed away suddenly. I don't have any details but it sounds like he was healthy. His mom and dad young, he was their first child. Today they are burying their precious babe...I could not imagine.
Before bed my dh asks me if I knew about this young girl who attends our church and is from a huge family (nine kids). She has bo.ne canc.er...found in the knee. She just had a kne.e replacement and cancer removed...she needs months of therapy. I didn't know. I don't know the family but as an girl with IF..I have noticed how many children that couple was blessed with...yet I have none. I don't envy them. They are holding a fund raiser at our church to help pay bills. This girl is only 17. I could not imagine.
Lots of downers....made me realize and be thankful that my cross of IF may mean a life with some sadness and loneliness at times...but I am alive...I am living through this...I suffer at times...and I guess it's all subjective..but really...right now...my cross of IF does not seem that bad. Should I even compare? Having children does not mean a lifetime of happiness and rainbows...as I used to make myself believe...now I am fully aware...It could mean lots of suffering. How do you as a parent prepare for something like childhood can.cer?
Do you just live day to day? Lots of prayer and getting strength from
others? I just could not imagine....I just pray...and pray some more.
Now since I really brought you all down...if you are still reading. Today we are celebrating another year of life for my dh! It's his bday and it's a big one (40)...so we are having a party this afternoon for him. It's not a surprise for I wanted to invite who he wanted. I ordered the food he wanted...it's all about him today. I'm so thankful for today and getting to celebrate with my dh!
***My dh had a fabulous bday! It was cold out but a sunny day..no snow, so no travel concerns for the family that had to do some driving. Everyone had a good time, the food was good and my dh couldn't have been happier. It was nice to catch up with everyone too. The one family member we were worried about drinking too much...drank water! Whoa! I can't thank God enough. He answered my prayers...my dh deserved a good bday...and he got it. Praises be!*****
God bless you all and please keep those three young women, that baby and my dh in your prayers. Some are suffering, some are getting ready to meet the Lord, some are with the Lord and some are thankful to the Lord for another year of life!
BTW: I just realized this is my 250th post. Wow..250?
You are so right that there is so much suffering everywhere. I have to remind myself sometimes that the people that seem to have it all, often don't. I will pray for these people. Happy 40th for your husband!
ReplyDeleteI could envy the mother who has this beautiful daughter but since I know their story...I don't. That mother is carrying a really heavy cross right now...trying to be strong for her dying daughter yet trying to take care of her own feelings as well.
DeleteHappy Birthday to you DH! And you are so right...cancer is a downer, and as someone who has both had cancer and also watched my MIL succumb to it...you just take it one day at a time. You have to, or else one could drive themselves crazy. Prayers for all of them.
ReplyDeleteSome people can beat cancer...some can not. My dh had a great bday. He's a happy dude.
DeleteIt's true. I often think about how people who don't carry the cross I have, obviously have crosses too. (And sometimes I think about the fact that people who seem to think that me carrying this cross makes me a pariah, because their lives are totally blessed - those people are going to be totally blind-sided when life turns out to be harder than they expected. Which I know it will.)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your DH! We are blessed in getting to spend our lives with the people we love.
Yes, we all have crosses...and no one knows the crosses another carries unless it's shared...Cancer is just so scary...some can beat it and some can not. I guess the same goes for IF...some have children and some do not. I am not comparing for I would rather have IF than cancer. Just saying.
DeleteAll of these stories are so sad. I will be praying for all of these young ones affected by cancer. And the 10 month old who died suddenly. And all of their families.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right - we all have crosses. And sometimes it's so hard to see past our own cross. But when we start to support others going through these tough times, it's much easier to forget about our own crosses. They almost seem insignificant in comparison.
Happy birthday to your DH. Hope this is the year of baby for you guys!
Yeah...for today and after reading these stories..my cross does seem insignificant. My dh had a fab bday...thanks!
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