It was the summer of 2009, and I was at one of my lowest points. My mother was dying, and my sisters and I, along with our dad and my brothers in law, stood vigil by my mother's bed in the palliative care unit at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Canada’s leading cancer research centre and one of the … [Read more...]
Oh the Times They Are a-Tryin’
You know, my Mom has always been a great one for folk wisdom. And one of the sayings she was always fond of is this: you have to take the good with the bad. Which I always thought was backwards. Didn't she mean that although life was generally good, you had to accept that some bad things will … [Read more...]
Hurry up and Wait
Today I went with my parents to Princess Margaret Hospital for my mother's first chemotherapy treatment. It was a lesson in so many things, not the least of which was patience. We arrived at 10:00 a.m. and waited in the chemo daycare lobby until my mom could be seen by the nurse in charge of the … [Read more...]
When Life Stands Still for Cancer
Well, it has happened. You look at the stats and you know that you are fooling yourself if you think it won't. And you are truly very lucky if it doesn't. Yes, The Big "C" has hit our family. So far, we are very lucky. But, no matter what, life is changing course and my perspective has … [Read more...]