Thinking about Mom
Five years ago today my mom had her breast removed due to breast cancer. We did not know then that we had less than 5 years left with her. Unbeknownst to us, that was another bump on the road towards the end of her life. I do not remember the exact order of her path towards death, but I do know it began with five heart bypasses and a mitral valve replacement, followed by breast cancer, a stroke, numerous bouts of pneumonia, ending in her COPD and organ failure. Mom did not have an easy time of it those last 5 years. It always seemed like it was one thing after the other as far as her declining health went. But through it all, Mom was always Mom. She was almost always happy and upbeat and joyful. Of course she had her down days; everyone has those. However, Mom always saw the way through it all, she always saw that things would get better overall. She continued to live in spite of all the horrible things happening to her. Her and dad still got up and went to breakfast on m...