We Can Do Mother’s Day

I was dreading and, at times, resenting Mother’s Day.

All of the ads showing mothers and children in happy scenes set my teeth on edge.

It is cruel that my daughter in law, a new mother, was greeted with a terrible medical diagnosis this past week.

Stage 4 cancer of the lungs and brain.

A slap in the face to a person who led an extremely healthy lifestyle.

Devastating to all of us.

Family & Friends

Her Dad and aunt arrived yesterday for a few days. A long drive for both from Canada and Michigan.

A work colleague came to town bearing gifts and messages of support for her.

Two more friends made the trek today to bring gifts and comfort to her.

Mabel sleeps with her in the hospital every night which is the best comfort of all.

A New Outfit

For several days my son has wanted to buy her some new clothes for Mother’s Day.

She was not interested.  Her heart was not in it and her mind could not think about new clothes.

Today we learned why he was nagging about new clothes.

A friend  from nursing school gave her the gift of a photo session for Mother’s Day.

So, she has a new outfit.

She has those who love her who have traveled to be with her.

There will be gifts, cards, flowers, phone calls and texts.

Hope and Treatment

She starts radiation on her brain on Monday.

Starting treatment means that the doctors are hopeful that the course of the disease can be mitigated.

There are no promises, no guarantees, only hope.

Hope is the best gift of all.

Hope that the cancer growth  can be halted.

Hope that she can enjoy a life raising baby Mabel and growing old with her husband.

She who has hope has everything.

 

28 thoughts on “We Can Do Mother’s Day”

  1. I wish you all courage, hope and strength to go through with this difficult time of her life.

    I pray that little Mabel have to share many many mothers day with her. It’s really painful to see things like this.

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  8. I’m not going to ‘like’ this post – for obvious reasons. I empathise greatly as my father was given the same diagnosis, as a cigarette smoker for decades and a 72 year old it was not to be unexpected unlike Mabel’s young Mom.

    Hope and prayers coming your way.

    love.

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. I’m sure you know that “like” here really means “support” and “thinking of you.” Life can be utterly cruel and I’m sure you felt that in spades on Mother’s Day. I so hope that your daughter in law’s treatment is successful. Hope is a very powerful thing.

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  16. dear Lori I have not had the words to offer a reply when I first read your news – I know this is so often the case: that just when one needs comfort most, suddenly people seem to shy away. They feel at a loss as to what to say and worry about saying the wrong thing. I read a couple of days ago, “Saying the wrong thing is better than saying nothing.” I know I don’t know how you feel, or your son feels or how your daughter-in-law herself feels, but I can empathise with you just from having been a bystander to my own brother, father, mother and life-long friend being diagnosed. It is a blow to your stomach. But with each day post-bad-news, your Love and Hope grows like a burning fire. It becomes all consuming and there is no bigger energy than that on earth. May every moment be more beautiful than sad and wishing all joint prayers to bring home victory over the unwelcome intruder!! ❤ Jeanne

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  17. Devastating news indeed but still only words. Hope is powerful. Let Hope bring strength, Beauty and Grace into your days and time together. Prayers and love.

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  18. I’m sobbing, Lori. I can only send prayers so I am sending Mi shebeirach to your beautiful daughter-in-law. These are the lyrics that Debbie Friedman, a great Jewish cantor, wrote based on this ancient prayer. The melody is exquisite and can be found on-line.
    Mi shebeirach avoteinu
    M’kor hab’racha l’imoteinu
    May the source of strength,
    Who blessed the ones before us,
    Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing,
    and let us say, Amen.
    Mi shebeirach imoteinu
    M’kor habrachah l’avoteinu
    Bless those in need of healing with r’fuah sh’leimah,
    The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit,
    And let us say, Amen
    Amen, Lori, amen for you and your daughter-in-law and the family. With love from me.

    Liked by 1 person

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  24. Even with the best outcome (which we are all hoping and praying for), it is a terrible thing to experience for all involved. Even with hope, there is always that nagging fear. And, even after Andy was declared cancer-free, I still worry that it will come back one day. I’ll pray for the whole family.

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  25. Pingback: My Italian Bulldozer – Lori Greer in Portland

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