But then days like today happen. I took my mum to chemo today in the morning. And I went back home, had breakfast and got ready for my day. Then I went to get my mum from chemo four hours later. And then we had lunch. And now, an old friend is here. She's the mum of a childhood friend of mine. I haven't seen this friend for years and years. We grew up on the same street. There were lots of kids my age on our street when I was growing up and she was one of them. We played a lot when we were really young. And drifted apart when we started school since we ended up in different classes. But her parents have lived on our street for as long as we have. We wave when we pass each other in our cars. And we say hi if we walk past each other. But that's the kind of street we live on. A wonderful, quiet street where quite a few people have lived for a long time. Couples who moved here when they started families in the middle of the -80's. Now most of these homes are occupied by parents whose children have moved out. It's a good street. And at moments like this I realise it even more.
Because this woman, my friend's mum. She heard about my mum from her husband who ran into my mum one day a few weeks ago. And now she's here. Because as she said when she walked in the door. "We don't have much contact now the kids are grown. But we're here. And we want to be here." And now they're sitting in the kitchen talking. And my mum is telling the story from the very beginning. From being ill in May to being diagnosed in June to today. And what's to come. And I'm sitting in my room. And I can hear them talking. And yes. I'm eavesdropping. I don't want to. Because I enjoy my little bubble. But just as I know how important it is for my mum to keep on repeating the story as a way of processing it all. It's good for me to keep on hearing it as a way for me to process it. And once again I heard her repeat what the doctors told us on that very first visit. "It has spread. We can't operate. Radiation is not an option. There is no cure." Those horrible, horrible words that sometimes out of nowhere pops into my head.
Since all of this happened I've realised how unfair the world is. My mum's guest just asked if they know why it happened to her. And my mum replied that in 9 out of 10 cases of cancer in the stomach it is purely bad luck.
But I've also learned how amazing my family is. And how amazing people around my family think my parents are, and especially my mum. There is such a huge network around us. Colleagues. Family. Extended family. Old friends. New friends. My friends. My brother's friends. Distant friends. Everyone is being so wonderful and fighting this with us. I hope you all know how much you mean to us, to me. I don't know how I would react if someone I knew was going through what we're going through. Because it's a difficult situation. how do you face someone who is dealing with this kind if thing? But everyone is being amazing. And honest. And open. So please, continue being the wonderful people that you are. You are doing everything right.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar