I need to give you a little history. My mother died in October of 2008 - of melanoma. The doctors told us that there are some cancers that can be healed, but not melanoma. Eventually, they said, you die from it. They gave her two years at the outside. She lived for about two and a half years after her diagnosis.
Throughout my life I have lived hundreds of miles away from my family which means that I have not been as close to them as I would have liked. God, however, granted me the privilege of visiting my parents just six weeks before my mother died and then I was able to spend the last three weeks of her life with her. It was both a wonderful time and a difficult time.
When I visited her six weeks before she died, she was in relatively good health although it was evident that her health was failing. Even at the start of the final three weeks when she spent most of her time in bed, we were able to talk and even laugh together. She would listen as I read the Bible to her and prayed with her. It was the last week that was so difficult. I had to do things for my mother that I never envisioned doing – put her on the bed pan, clean her up, change her clothing. For me as a son it was difficult. She lost all of her privacy. I think that it was hard for her.
I was there the night she died. I had been up with her for several nights before my brother arrived and I was exhausted. That night he let me get some sleep. It was 5:00 AM when he woke me to tell me that mom had passed away. I wish now that I had not slept; that I had been with her at the end. It was the least that I could have done for her. The entire experience was physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausting.
I really don’t know how serious my condition is, but with the recent history of my mother’s death you can understand why I’m nervous. At this point the doctor says that I have a 98% chance of surviving, but all of the tests are not in yet. They may tell a different story. I only hope that I handle my adversity as well as mom handled her’s.
