Her & Mom & Me

The last 2 weeks have been rough. My mom went from living independently to severe headaches to a stage IV cancer diagnosis in 11 days. She is living with us and will begin aggressive treatment on Tuesday. If there’s anything to be learned, it’s to enjoy every moment of joy. We have watched funny movies from our childhood, enjoyed ice cream, identified birds with the Merlin app, binged Four Seasons, eaten every meal together, taken scenic drives, visited Valley View Farms and the Dutch Market for flowers & pie, shared stories and photos, and have tough conversations about death. All this amidst doctors appointments, scans, lung biopsy, a trip to the ER, a scary fall and finalizing details of her will.  Mothers make the world go round. They give birth to us, raise us, and then they need us to be strong. I am so grateful for my mom for all she’s done for me, A LOT. She always put me first. She taught me to be kind and smile at everyone you meet because you never know what they’re ...

It's a rainy Friday, the one before Mother's Day.  I'm at home trying my best to focus on work while also staring at my mom sitting on our couch in pain. Although if you asked her if she was in pain, she may subtly roll her eyes and say, "oh, it's just a little discomfort probably from my bed, the dew point, sitting too long." Then she'll smile. She's tough.  She's also barely eaten anything since she moved in. Every time we eat, or talk about making a meal, she'll muster up some energy and say, "oh, I guess I should have something, too." Whether we cook, warm something up, or order in, she'll enthusiastically agree to whatever it is. Then she'll pick at it, move the food around with her fork, and may take a couple bites. She'll smile.  She's tough. As petite as she is, her weight loss is noticeable. It's really noticeable when I hug her, which I try to do multiple times a day. She's fragile but she'll hold...