“When you are in the midst of a fog and can’t see the shoreline, you need a compass. Reach out to a trusted friend or adviser for perspective. People are not hard-wired to go it alone. They need others to survive and thrive.” — Edward T. Creagan, M.D.  Mayo Clinic

I am fighting the fog that has descended ever since my daughter-in-law entered hospice care a few days ago.

I am thankful to friends, family and neighbors who are helping me to bear the pain.

I grieve for her stuck down by this terrible disease at such a young age.

I grieve for her husband, my son, as he watches his family torn apart.

I grieve for their toddler who will not have her mother as she grows up.

There will be happiness again one day, but, for now, we are struggling to keep the shore in sight.