The C Word

My family has been wrestling with the C word for two weeks. Yesterday it became absolutely real and true. My mom has cancer. The name of the vile monster is extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. It started in her gall bladder and has moved into her liver. Mom is really good at seeming well, but she hasn't been well for quite a while. At this point, she's home and is feeling better.

Amazingly, we're in a calm period right now. At first, we were all panic-stricken, but we're in some kind of place where we're all adjusting and assimilating and working it out. My sister-in-law and niece are here (a little earlier than had been planned a while back), and my brother will be here later this week. Our family gets along really well, so it's always incredibly nice when we're all together. We give each other all kinds of crap all the time and laugh and act silly. Sounds like pretty good medicine, huh?

Mom is especially funny. We have a mental collection of Mom-isms. Mom has a tendency to state the obvious (or obvious to us). Our favorites include, "Brain tumors can be dangerous" and "You know, Michael Jackson looks like a girl". When my folks returned from a tour of Italy, during which they were often treated at lunch and dinner to "regional wines", Mom said at lunch one day, "I really miss my regional wines." So when Mom comes up with one some funny one-liner, we laugh hysterically and repeat it often. What's really funny is that all of us (my brother, my sister and I) inadvertently come up with our own Mom-isms. Apparently, it's genetic!

So this is my big discussion of my mom's illness. She reads this (silly girl), and she isn't comfortable having everyone know all the details of her life or having anyone worry about her. Because I care about her comfort, I'll refrain from writing too much here about what's happening. I will absolutely keep you posted if there is good news to report or good stitching news! My mom is a firm believer in prayer. I am a firm believer in positive thoughts and goodwill. If you have a prayer circle at your church, I hope you will include my mom, Estelle, in that circle. If you are a positive thinker, please think of her name and good health. I'm asking for your help in whatever form it comes. Mom will begin chemotherapy soon, and we're all thinking only the best thoughts. Thank you so much for your sweet comments and kind words.

I finished with packing today at school. Tomorrow I'm joining my sister-in-law (Barb) and my niece (Kelly) on a hike way up in the mountains. With all that's been happening, I've sorely neglected my blog and your blogs. Hopefully, that will improve as my schedule loosens up a little. My next post will include some stitchy talk and pics. I'll leave you today with a picture of my parents, Don and Estelle, just so you can see what all the fuss is about. It was taken when Nikki, my daughter, graduated from college a year ago. I'm using it because it's a particularly good picture of all of them.

Can you believe these people have children in their 50's? They also have a six-year-old great-grandchild! Shocking, isn't it?

Make some fun.