She is always smiling.
I last saw her on Christmas Day, standing in my mom’s driveway in her down coat. The sun was shining, which it rarely does here in December and that made me happy because she loves the sun, as I do. She was smiling. She is always smiling.
The news came a few days before Christmas. Cancer. The lab report from her biopsy saying it had spread to surrounding tissue, then an MRI that showed the involvement of three lymph nodes. It had been over a year since her symptoms caused her to start seeing doctors. Numerous doctors. They all misdiagnosed it. None of them did a biopsy.
Apparently, it’s an easy cancer to miss, but that doesn’t make the news easier to bear. On January 9th, she starts five weeks of radiation (with two full weeks of in-patient chemo thrown in). I think there are a lot of days ahead when I won’t see her smiling. That’s okay. I don’t want her to. I want her to get mad and tough and put up the fight of her life.
I just talked to her and told her that it’s a good thing she’s scrappy. I once saw her and another one of my sisters having a fistfight that was a lot like Rocky, but with more hair-pulling and face scratching. I know she will get through this, because she is amazing. The only problem is that she is the one who always lifts our spirits. We have really big shoes to fill.
On this, the eve of her birthday, I didn’t end the call by saying, “Happy birthday!” or “Happy New Year!” Instead I said, “We are praying.”
I hope that made her smile.
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Amie
Positive thoughts to Aunto Fali!
Robbie
Sending thoughts to your sister and family! Cancer sucks. My bff was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive kind in August. She had radical surgery, 3 rounds of chemo, lost all her hair but at pet scan the week of Christmas it showed they got all the cancer. It will be 5 years before she is considered cancer free…with frequent appointments and screenings but for now she kicked cancer’s ass and my hope is that your scrappy sister does the same!
C @ Kid Things
Eye of the tiger. Prayers for your sister and I hope she still has a wonderful birthday.
Deb
I will be sending prayers up for all of you! I just had a very several scarey weeks… they found a mass on my kidney and were waiting to find out if it was going to be cancer. Thankfully my results were good. But I know it could have very easily gone this way too! I will be praying, and sending positive thoughts your way! God bless you all!
Amy
Jeez… I just came over here from Whymommy’s post. Cancer sucks. I am so sorry that your family is going through this. But I’ll say, here, what I said there. May 2012 be the year of the cure.
Love to you.
Melisa
Amie beat me to it. I’m pulling for Auntofali to kick cancer’s ass. xo
AlisonH
Chemo caps. Find out what colors are her favorites for me and any allergies I need to know about: that, at least, I can do. I’ve beaten all the odds for nearly 22 years now and I want to knit my declaration of tangible, comforting certainty for her that she will too.
And my prayers have only begun.
Angie Bell
You, your sister & your family will be in my thoughts & prayers.
Amy
I’ll be praying for your sister, you and your families. Do not feel alone. You have a support team here for you – reach out to us. Sending you all thing positive tonight . . . as the world rolls over to 2012 . . . and into every day that follows. Happy New Year.
MommyTime
I am sending all my best thoughts to you and your sister. Here’s to a strong (and scrappy) 2012. <>
Miss Britt
Aw, Momo, I’m so sorry to hear this. Lots of prayers for strength, healing, and lifted spirits coming your way.
Rhea
Hugs and prayers to you and your sister and your whole family.
Tara R.
I will keep her and your family in my prayers too.
Patty
Your sister and you are in my prayers. Having been there with my dad not too long ago, I know what you are feeling. Just be there for her. She’s going to need you. The best advice people gave Dad was keep eating…even if its liquids. Keep her strength up this way and just give her love and let her share her fears. Then you can tell her that she will be okay. She will be! Sending many hugs and prayers and if you need a friend I’m here. xoxo
Lynn @ Walking With Scissors
Your sister will kick cancer’s stupid, fugly ass. And, just to really piss it off, she’ll do it with a smile.
I’ll keep you all in my prayers, Momo. Truly. ((hugs))
Zak
Fuck Cancer. She’s going to beat this, love to you all.
UP
Wishing her all the best and a zoom back to health. Some doctors these days are little better than Granny Clampett. They should have caught this earlier. You are in my thoughts.
UP
meleah rebeccah
Oh my word. I am soooo sorry to read this. My whole heart, prayers and thoughts go out to all of you.
Mary Kay
Sha, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your sister on this journey. And for your mother-in-law too. And for one of my bff’s who today is having a PET scan to find out the status of her cancer, which has re-occured for 4 times now, currently getting chemo again.
Jamie
I am so sorry to read this. Seeing another friend struggle with cancer recently, I was out exercising the other day thinking — when are they going to figure out this cancer puzzle? It touches everyone. I vowed this morning to pray each day for one of these uber-smart researcher people to figure something out. After reading your post, I now will add your sister to my list.
Lynne
Cancer sucks. But it is beatable. Combine a positive attitude with all the great new treatment options that are already out there, and the ones that are still being discovered, and it is a winning combination. Prayers for all of you.
BusyDad
There’s no way anyone can be a member of your family and not have their spirits lifted by you. Because laughing counts. I hope she beats the snot out of it, Rocky IV style.
Jill
Awe crap. Not the news you needed to hear. Sending warm thoughts and healing your sister’s way.
Amo
Matched prayers coming from a stranger in North Cackalacky…