THURSDAY THOUGHTS - What Cancer Cannot Do

Guest Post from Kathy Christensen...

This past week my mother died and as we cared for her during her last moments, I learned, in a most powerful way, a principle I was not aware of before. Although we and she) knew her time was close, there was indeed an element of free agency as to when she actually crossed over. During her last days she was obviously communicating to those loved ones who had passed before her. She seemed somewhat agitated and anxious; as if she was torn between going there, and staying here. She finally graduated from this life on January 15, 2012.

I honestly had no idea how much I would miss her. I miss our morning calls each morning; I miss seeing her crochet hats with those gnarled little hands; I miss hearing her say, “I just have to ‘keep on keepin’ on!” as she faced the challenges of her failing health. Her last days were filled with pain, but she chose to make the best of a most difficult situation.

Now as we all make the difficult adjustment of moving ahead without her, we also have our free agency as to how we will proceed. During my first two days back at work, I was barely functional. I felt hollow, displaced and just plain sad. The discomfort I felt (and still feel) is almost tangible. But just as my mother chose to handle Multiple Myeloma (Cancer of the bone marrow) with a positive attitude, I must choose to function and thrive here as she would want me to do. With support from my husband, siblings, children, friends, Lifting Hearts, and God I will do just that.

I want to share with you some thoughts that were on a fridge magnet I purchased at a Lifting Hearts Cancer fair in October because I feel they are most fitting for this entry:

WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO

Cancer is so limited….
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit

I never expected to miss my mom this much, but I will “keep on keepin’ on just like she did, as I choose limit the power that Cancer has in my own life.

Kathy Christensen
Survivor
Member of Lifting Hearts

Kathy -

We are so sorry to hear about your mom's passing. We feel like we've been a small part of the last little bit of her life, so thank you for that. And thank you for sharing your most personal feelings with us. You truly are lifting our hearts.

-Kara