hope all are safe

ARK

Hi Friend,

My Mom has an enormous liver CA. Too large for surgery. They say about 3-6 months, probably closer to 3 than 6. Specialist said she will be one to "waste away" and there won't be much pain until the very last.

She had a blood transfusion in the 70's, and is Hep C positive.

I am grateful for her life and for her love.
I cannot express my feelings just yet. This is a process I am just getting used to.

Love,

Pep

Hi Pep,

You know I have been there and done that. I've watched the "wasting away" and pain in my loss of a parent.

You never get used to it. You just cope each day the best you can. <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" />

And hopefully the prayers and love of family and friends (yes, even us here) will sustain you one day at a time.

You know I love you!
Susan

P.S. My son got a call today, he is going to Iraq. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" />

<small>[ November 06, 2003, 02:48 PM: Message edited by: Susan ]</small>

Blessings to you Pep and yours...

Life is such a bitter sweet trip.....

even in our suffering there is great joy and lessons about the real depths of love and the human spirit...

Godspeed through your journey and those with whom you are traveling......

Grace to you

ARK


prayers to you as well Susan.... <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" />

<small>[ November 07, 2003, 08:23 AM: Message edited by: ark^^ ]</small>

Pepper:

<img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" />
My thoughts are with you and your family.

-2long's deepest buckets FULL of love for you and yours!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ol' 2long

Add mine to the rest.

I wish we could say some magic word that would make things better. We know that doesn't work, but the thought is there.

I'm going to Provo Saturday for a wedding, and was thinking about someone you know. Wishing him well, and you - and your mom.

Still praying for ALL of you.

SS

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">

Originally posted by Susan:


P.S. My son got a call today, he is going to Iraq. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" />

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I think I am going to call you sometime this weekend, we can talk.

Pep

Pep,

2long told me about this thread and the situation with your mother. Less than a week ago a good friend of mine died of breast cancer.

Her husband and 2 boys are struggling, but have benefitted tremendously from an organization called Sunstone Cancer Support Foundation. I don't know if they have one in your area, this one is in Tucson and they do have a website. The 11 year old son plays piano beautifully and recently held a concert at Sunstone. He used the funds to start a memorial foundation in her name.

Blessings to you on this sad journey. CSue

You've got mail.

Susan:

Be sure 2 tell your son "Thank you" for me before he leaves.

-2long

pepperband...

thinking of you...

oaktown...

Pep, so sorry about your Mother. Will send prayers your way. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" />

All my love to you Pepper. ((((hugs))))

{{{{{{{{{Pepper}}}}}}}}}}}}} <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" />

Dear Pep,

My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your mother. 2 years ago, my brother died of liver failure - I know how hard it can be - now my mother is fighting breast cancer.

What I do know is that prayer helps those who are suffering - those suffering both physically and emotionally. Sometimes, we feel so helpless, but in fact, we are not. We can pray.

My H and I have a friend who was stricken with a virulent bacterial meningitis while visiting Bulgaria, contracted through a mosquito bite. The hospital was as destitute of resources and cleanliness as you can imagine - relatives supplied the hospital with clean needles. He had a colleague who brought the needles needed, from the American Embassy, but he was too sick to be moved. He told us afterwards that he could sense the prayers of the people who were praying for him while he was in a coma. He attributes his recovery to prayer.

I do not know what the outcome will be for my mother in her fight against cancer. But I do know that prayer has buoyed her up so far - she tells me that she is in a far better place now emotionally than she was when her battle started. I have thought a lot these last two months about my mother - I don't know what to give her for Christmas - I am deeply aware that there is nothing I can give her that she can take with her if she has to pass over to the other side. I am left with the profound gratitude for what she has given me - gifts of the spirit which have made it possible to sustain the hardships life has given me, gifts of the spirit which have given me the eyes to appreciate the glory life has given me, gifts of the spirit which have made it possible for me to try to give and minister to others, and especially, for giving me life, and then, for validating me - it is my mother who gave me myself. In return, the only thing I can give her that really matters is my love. This I know, is something she can take with her.

When we speak of "life everlasting", we speak of the love which outlasts our human form, and that love relationship between us continues on after death. That is what I have come to believe, and it has helped me.

Hugs and prayers for you all. Take care.
LIR

Yesterday I had 2 amazing conversations.

One with my Mom. Wonderful!

Another with my Brother .... he was flooding feelings .... Amazing!

The blessings are abundant!

Pep <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

Pepperband -

I'm going to pray for you and your mom. Selfishly, I'm going to pray that you come through this stronger and wiser, so that you can share that strength and wisdom with people like me, who need it a bunch.

And I'm going to pray that you're able to come through this with your world intact. To bring this back to marriages, one of the hardest thing on a marriage OTHER than infidelity is the loss of a parent or child. Please remember to value your spouse and to find ways to strengthen your marriage during this time.

My parents both lost their mothers in the same dreadful year. I remember that year, and the years following it, as some of the hardest of my childhood. Almost every person on this planet goes through this journey of loss of parents. Be brave. Be vulnerable. Be open. Be strong. Be weak. Live.

Pepper,
I am saying prayers for you and especially for your mom. I know this has got to be very difficult for you.((((((Pep))))))

My mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer October of last year that has grown to block her bile duct. She is 82 and has made it past everyone's expectations.She just had the 4th stent placed in a week ago and her urine is still the color of coffee. I live 7 hours drive away from her and she is a part of me that I cannot imagine not being there.I have struggled,prayed and cried so much as she is my rock and my spiritual teacher and mentor.

I am saying prayers for you that God will give you strength to sustain you through this. May you find some comfort in the knowledge that we love you and are thinking of you.I love you,sweet lady. ((((((Pep)))))) I care. I understand. kk