The Cancer Observer

Thank you to all of you have helped in making sure someone is with Mom 24 hours a day. Vida has helped me create a 24/7 schedule and I appreciate everyone’s help in making sure we are always surrounding her with love. I will need this to continue, so please let Vida or I know if you are able to sit with Mom for a few hours.

As of last night, Mom was still fighting death and the disease, struggling in bed, trying to get up and as Kris said ‘trying to make a break for it’ from hospice. However, she has calmed down a bit and is now more comfortable, or as comfortable as she can be in the situation. Mom is still the same person she always has been: Strong, stubborn and never gives up! In sickness and in health, she maintains that strength.

Dad took Kris to the airport early this morning, as he needed to join his wife in Panama again. As it has been since I took my leave from work, Kris and I would spend the days with Mom, and then all of our ‘friend’ angels would step in during the evening hours. Mom had many talks with both of us and told us how much she loved us and we both told her it was okay to go – the hardest thing anyone will ever have to do in their life – but know that she needed to hear that we would be okay, so would Dad and that life would go on with her watching us from Heaven. I told her I needed her to be all of our guardian angels because who knows what kind of crazy mistakes we’d make if she wasn’t watching over us!

One time, Kris walked out of the room and she turned to me and said: Mary, we as women have to be strong, we have to be. I told her I knew and I would be strong; and I also told her that she didn’t have to be strong anymore. She had created a whole slew of strong women, myself and all of the wonderful women she’d taught and learned from herself over the years. If all of you who have helped me and my family are any indication, that is a abnormally large amount of strong women in the Cleveland area (and beyond) thanks to my Mom! I told her I’d take the reins and be strong, and she could rest. That’s big shoes to fill!!

Today my measure of strength comes in realizing I’m weak- I can’t seem to beat this cold and am progressively getting sicker so I’m now heading to the doctor. Before I left I wanted to send you all this note to say thank you for all of your love and support in person, by email, in response to this blog, by your gifts of love and by continued kindnesses to my family and Mom. I want her to be at peace and know that as is my Mother’s way: She won’t go until she’s damn well ready!

Updated address: Some of you have had things returned from the hospice, so this is an updated address to be more clear.

Cheryl (last name) – Patient, Hospice at South Pointe

20000 Harvard Rd. Building A. 3rd Floor,

Warrensville Heights, OH 44122

Hopefully that will make it easier to get to her. I’m also posting pictures here of what you’ve sent and brought and how beautiful it makes the room – and how cheerful for Mom and all of us despite the sadness we’re all enduring.

To my wonderful friends at D&E – You won’t see the tasty morsels you sent here as they are happily being shared and eaten – Thank you!