SURVIVE

This post touches on a very personal topic and was prompted by this week’s Word over at Trifecta. 

 

 

As this New Year begins I’m reminded of the fragility and randomness of life.

I was informed yesterday that my mother’s youngest sister has been diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer, one of the more rare and aggressive types. Definitely not happy news to start 2013, but knowing my family’s faith and spirit, I have no doubts in my aunt’s chances to overcome this terrible affliction.

When diagnosed, this type of cancer is in either Stage III or Stage IV, and most of what you can find online about it is bad. I’m told there are already plans for treatment, so that might mean it’s Stage III. More information on IBC can be obtained from the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

I will be praying every day that she survive the chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatments to live her full life as daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, and grandmother, rather than be cut short by cancer. It’s true that cancer can effect anyone at any time, though it rarely makes it any easier to accept.

My niece has been through a double lung transplant and survived. My grandmother has had a new knee, eye trouble, heart issues, and has survived. My family is full of love and faith and strength and we’ll all be praying and thinking about my aunt every moment of every day this New Year, and I’m confident we’ll be able to add my aunt to this list of survivors.

I’ve been quiet over the last week or so, choosing to spend extra time with my loved ones though there have been plenty of times I thought about my blogging, new story ideas, issues and opinions. They’ll all come about in their time. This isn’t a happy return to my blog, but it will be a launching pad for support, love, and creativity this year. 2013 need not be destined for sadness, but it will certainly be a challenge for my aunt and my family to stand in the face of her cancer.