REMEMBERING JOAN
I'm sad because my dear, sweet, ex-SIL passed away on September 20. We were away for most of September in South Carolina helping her husband deal with the emotional strain of caring for someone in the last stages of life. Even though she was very sick, I never expected her to die that soon.
Joan was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2007. She had surgery and seemed to be doing OK after chemo. Then more cancers were discovered in her peritoneal area. She had more surgery and was in remission for a year or so. Tumors then started growing at an amazing rate and she was not strong enough to survive more surgeries. She was given two to four months to live. Although she weighed under a hundred pounds when she died, her lower body was bloated and filled with tumors. It hurts me just to type that.
I have never seen anyone so courageous in fighting for her life. At the end, Hospice was there with her and they notified her two daughters so they could talk on the phone with their mother before she died. They told her how much they loved her and, knowing that, they were able to accept her death a bit easier.
I hope the Angels took Joan straight away to heaven and she's waiting there for me with her scrapbook tools in hand.
