When two of our children and I had cancer, we were blessed to have good insurance. This meant we could have necessary tests, surgery and medication. Our daughter Karen had fantastic insurance. Ours was less so, and it was a struggle at times to pay what the insurance did not. Cancer is expensive. » Read The Rest

Today, at just about this time, our Karen went from us to be with the Lord. I had prayed three things: first, that the Lord would heal her. That did not happen. I also prayed that if He would not leave her here with us, He would make it swift and would let me with her at the end of her earthly time. He granted both of these. » Read The Rest

This is probably going to be viewed as a very negative post by some. Others will understand…

If you have never had cancer or lost a child, this is for you —

When you are with a survivor, please stop dwelling on cancer! Are they undergoing treatment? Asking how it’s going is okay, but let them take the lead. Let them know that you are there if they need anything.

Please do NOT keep talking about new cancer treatments you may have heard about. Will they bring back a lost loved one? Will your knowledge help them? Do they really want to hear about the » Read The Rest

We are here on holidays, visiting my husband’s wonderful brothers, sisters-in-laws, nieces and nephews, and numerous other relatives and friends. It is the first time we have been back since 2002. Only days after we returned home from that visit, Karen’s cancer was discovered. The following year I was diagnosed, then Missy, then Karen again. Almost two years ago we lost Karen. » Read The Rest

Ten things I would do if I could go back to the days when our daughter Karen was still on earth.

I would …

- Try harder to let her know how special she was (and is, and always will be)

- Tell her more often I love her

- Have a greater appreciation for the little moments, knowing they are not forever

- Pay closer attention when she tried to tell me how ill she was

- Have more awareness and less denial

- Stop competing

- Be grateful, not grumble, when she asked me for favors

- Be more encouraging

- Start scrapbooking so we could share that journey

- Tell her over and over, until she got it, that she IS validated. » Read The Rest

Sometimes in this blogging world you find you have made a connection with someone. You don’t necessarily chat back and forth, but the connection is there. That is how I feel about Liz.

Liz, you are one gutsy lady, and I admire you.

Today I read a blog by Liz on coping. How do you cope with cancer? As she said, each person must find his or her own way. With me, coping was easy. I had been through cancer with two of my children. After that, having it yourself is simply not the big deal it could have been. » Read The Rest

It is an unfortunate but very true fact that people too often ignore the fact that cancer strikes children as well as adults. (It may be from fear. There is a danger of having your heart broken.) I would add to this that sometimes they seem to ignore all the cancers except breast cancer. » Read The Rest

Recently there was yet another TV special on the subject of cancer. Friends told me about it. There were ads on television. I did not watch it.

I live cancer each day of my life. We have lost a child to cancer. Another of our children is a two-times cancer survivor. One of my sisters-in-law has cancer for the third » Read The Rest

To each person who is battling cancer right this very minute: You are a hero! You are a hero because each day you face fears that many cannot imagine. You are a hero because you have faced cancer and watched your priorities flip, and you know what is important. You are a hero because you are » Read The Rest

Life seems so circular at times! When our Karen had cancer, her friends rallied round her to an amazing extent. One of these was a very special young woman, Tanya, whose sister Tory now has breast cancer. We have prayed » Read The Rest