Reflections From a Country Girl

Having an illness can be devastating to family and friends.   It can also bring new opportunities for closer relationships, care and reminding ones self of what is important in life.  

I was told Thursday that I have to have a bone marrow transplant.  I won’t go into the details because, after all, there is no changing the need to have the procedure. The alternative to no treatment is a short four months.

I have been sick for several months and have visited our local hospitals six times.  Finally, we have discovered what was going on.  That is a relief. 

The news I got Thursday is not what I wanted to hear.  I suspect none of us would want to hear this.  I find myself thinking about what I want to do before the procedure.  It will be a two to three month recovery if all goes well.  

My son has now heard something like this twice.  His father died with leukemia twenty years ago after a four year illness.  The last thing I wanted him to have to deal with is my having something very similar to his Dad’s illness.  He was six when his Dad died.  

Over the years we have developed the uncanny ability to talk with each other about anything.  Talking about surgery, the possibility of my death much sooner than we would want it to be, and what he needs to do if I die has been a blessing as we sifted through tears, sorrow and even laughter at some of the things we discussed.  If we were not good communicators, it could be that we would not talk about these things at all.  He reminds me that, even though we can talk about it, the thought of not having me here and the sorrow that will bring will be the same.  I reminded him that I want to at least live to see him be successful in his chosen profession and have a family and have to raise children like him.  

With this being Mother’s Day, it brings back many memories of the past as well as the thought that it may be my last Mother’s Day with him.  Overwhelming, yes.  It also reminds me that we really are not guaranteed another Mother’s Day and that we should be grateful for each day.  

My wish for you today is that you find peace where you are each day and appreciate the love and care of those close to you.  The realities of life are sometimes very overwhelming and we should grasp the care and love of others all the time so – when these times are upon us – we can count on them to sustain us through the tough times.  

~ Joellen

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 10th, 2009 at 8:47:am and is filed under Medical. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.