Sad News Today-Godspeed Aunt M

My Aunt M in Missouri died today. I will fly out there Sunday to pay my respects. She was stoic through it all. It would have been 2 years this summer since she was diagnosed with colon cancer. I'm not feeling wordy right now. I found this song I would like to share in memory of Aunt M.

The Westburn School kids did a great rendition.

Another great trip

Not to say that I actually enjoyed the airplane part with the 4 boys. But it was great to take them to the suburban midwest and then the rural midwest. There were tons of cousins and relatives and new toys to play with (new to them). And the 5 and 9-y-o boys went to an afternoon trip to some farmland owned by my cousin, where they rode around on a quad (no roll bar) and a large go-cart (with roll bars). Just hanging out with family like that is so refreshingly un-Californian. No play dates to schedule. Just family time. Nice.

And Aunt M is hanging in there. She even gained 6 pounds, which is awesome. She looks stronger to me now than she did last October. As long as she can hold steady or gain weight, she stays one step ahead of her colon cancer. I am praying and praying over here for her health.

Reprieve

I called to check on Aunt M this morning and got some good news. Whatever blockage there was got un-kinked, and her system is moving again. Yay! And she is 88 pounds, not 80. I hope she is able to maximize her caloric intake now and can gain weight, to be better able to face the next crisis. Suddenly my hope is back that she will be alive in mid-February, when I and my entire family (without the teenagers) will travel there to meet her. Even my husband. I purchased these tickets a couple of months back. There is a bat mitzvah happening with a niece from my husband's side of the family about 2 hours away on Saturday, and then we will spend Sunday with Aunt M and my cousins. Won't it be great if Aunt M can meet my husband and older kids?

I am worried

My cousin called yesterday with bad news about Aunt M in Missouri. Her colon cancer has grown again and caused a complete blockage. Surgery is a problem, because her weight has dropped dramatically and she is only about 80 pounds now. She is deciding between treatment options, all of which are dangerous.

My heart is heavy. Our reunion in October moved me so deeply. Though I have not had the honor of knowing her over years, the days I spent with her are precious to me. She is precious to me.