Love your “smile a lot” recommendation … oh, so very true. Even in the midst of the many serious hospitalizations, I always tried to find some little tidbit to share to make Vern smile and what a difference it made for us both. Even now, with things going just a bit smoother for us, we chuckle each time we arrive at the dialysis center. We tend to arrive at the same time as another patient who is extremely slow at the scale. We now ‘race’ to be sure we get inside before he does and find ourselves laughing as we enter the door. So much better than all of the concerns and trepidation when he first started dialysis.

I have printed out your little verse to keep close by. Such true words. I’ve had people remark about how strong I am to have faced all that we have during the past nearly 4 years and I don’t think I’m anything special at all. I’m just lucky that I’m able to spend this time with the love of my life and that this cancer diagnosis has made us both realize how very blessed we really are. We don’t take time for granted any longer. We know how very quickly everything can change, and how important it is to do what matters most each and every day.

Bless you and Hamada. You are very special indeed. ♥

I took are of my mother with cancer and it was so different. It was a slow, methodical decline. With MM it was working one day, at the hospital the next, unable to move, in terrible pain, terrified.

My mother used to tell me that you never know what you are able to face, for sure, until you actually face it – then you might be quite surprised. She was quite right. You are surprised, you do manage, then you find others, and you manage better, then you find more new friends and you manage even better and so it goes.