I was on vacation. I remember having all kinds of plans to get some of those unfinished things done - like updating this blog page with some of the thoughts that filter through my mind daily. It's funny how a thought will be just that without action to bring it to life. Never the less, it was a day in October that seemed promising. Just a couple days prior, Canada had celebrated Thanksgiving and though different, it was a good time. We talked, discovered some things we didn't know about family members and laughed over silliness and good food.
My sister was not feeling well and we all thought it was her indulgence from the rich foods she had eaten. Unfortunately, one day became the next and the next. On the Thursday morning, we took her to the hospital. She was vomiting with nothing left in her stomach, having had a full meal almost two days prior. It presented to me like it did when she had a blockage in the intestines. So I was already dressed and waiting for her to come to the decision I had made the night before - EMERGENCY.
We got there and of course waited with all the other people who were in varying stages of ill health. It always sobers me to realize how many people are sick all at once. They took test and scans and we waited. When the news came back both of us were in shock. This was not the answer we expected. Things just got bad real quick.
Cancer. They told us she had cancer and needed to see an oncologist right away.
I am not exactly sure what I felt. I don't know exactly how she felt either. Tears were immediate. Fear gripped my heart. Unbelief that this was truly the results was also apart of the first five minutes menagerie of emotions. Are you sure this for this patient? Could it be an error we asked? No. This was what we dealt with two years ago, No, she had cancer not has cancer. The doctor did not change his report. He confirmed it again. With a gentle pat to my shoulder he told us again and I felt sorry for him.
In that moment I felt his discomfort of having to be the bearer of such a negative life altering news. I took pity on him and whispered our thanks for his help as much as he could give. His expertise was maxed and he took us as far as he could go.
We went home and while we absorbed the news as a family I looked at my messages. Rosie, a class mate from high school had lost her battle with cancer. It's funny because I had not heard or spoken to her in years. No one had even mentioned her name in conversation. Yet, here was this news on the day that we faced a diagnosis of life and death. Rosie died.
I felt that deep within. She was in the hospital and was to begin chemotherapy the next day. However, she never made it that far. Her battle was over on this earth and she enters instead into the hereafter.
Why? How? All valid questions for Rosie and for my sister. I don't believe God gets mad at any of us for asking. David certainly wasn't afraid to ask and neither should we. So, yes, that was a bad day. However, we still hope and believe in the One who is still good no matter what we face. Even in the face of death, we can still choose life.
No comments:
Post a Comment