Another Blog Entry

My last post was over a month ago. My mind has been racing and when this happens, putting thoughts down in words in any coherent fashion just gets so complicated. But here is my attempt.

- My mind can't help thinkng about two friends also fighting cancer - Alexander (18 months) and Mike (about my age) - keep them in your thoughts and prayers. And a friend that lost her husband through cancer just about a year ago - keep Kelly and her 3 children in your thoughts and prayers as well. And while I'm on the subject - just found out that a friend of mine from my previous support group has run out of options - will you keep Doug and his wife Betty in those prayers as well. Oh, and add my sister's husband - keep Wade in your thoughts and prayers. Then I just got a call from a friend, asking me to call a friend of hers to offer support because this friend a of a friend has just recieved a cancer diagnosis. Then my friend Heather who continues to battle stage 4 breast cancer - this woman is awesome, actually started her own support group when she couldn't find one that was able to meet her needs. A few more prayers for her please. And just one more person - someone who found me on line (most likely through this blog) who lives way up in Alberta, Canada. She honored me by asking me to be her mentor through her cancer journey. We do have a lot in common. Her name is Wafa. Please add her to your prayer list.
Then there are the many people who I see at Dana-Farber. Week after week of chemo is very draining on me but watching those at Dana-Farber fighting their own battle with cancer is inspiring. Please send prayers to all those nameless people as well.
Most people that are reading this can add to my list. Most people have a cancer story or two or three or four etc., etc.,. As I've said before, I see such examples of strength in other people and they just keep on going. I'm going to venture that what gets them through is the love, support and prayers from their friends and family. Also from the prayers of strangers, friends of friends of friends.
Cancer is not the only disease in this world that causes suffereing. It is one of many of the horrible afflictions that make valliant attempts to wear down the mind and the body. There is heart disease, brain injury, degenerative nervous system diseases. With this cold, cold weather upon us I think about those without shelter of their own. In these rough economic times I think of those without food and without gainful employment. Friends and family, please offer your prayerful expressions to them. On and on the list can go - mental illness, what a demon it is!!! Those that fight wars, families of those that fight wars - keep that stream of prayers coming.
I don't think life was really meant to be easy. Sometimes I wonder if it is just meant to be tolerable. Then I open my eyes and arms really, really, really wide and see love, feel good thoughts, and understand the value of prayers.
Sharing in eachother's joys and sorrows is the glue that bonds us all together. Where are the joys in this blog entry - an upcoming Franciscan Children's Hospital reunion, a night out with family at Fuddrucker's, a new and satisfying job for my daughter, my Women's Health Group at work, a friend's daughter's wedding, a new baby, lipstick... I should probably elaborate on these kind of things on the next post. But I mention them now because I know they are there.

I just composed a blog entry - I see a flight of ideas but I do see some common threads. So as my son is being taught in 6th grade language arts - end with a clinching statement to pull everything together. Can anybody think of one????