On Monday evening as Martin and I watched tv, my cell phone rang. Not recognizing the number but knowing the area code I picked up immediately--it was Maureen.
"I have some bad news" she says, "Harry passed away at 1:30pm this afternoon." I went into the office and heard the details, cried a little, tried to be supportive. However, Maureen had it pretty much together until she talked about shipping his body back to Illinois. She lost it ever so briefly and like a warrior, regained composure and finished. I cried.
When Harry first got diagnosed with melanoma 2 years ago, they were both positive. A trip to the Mayo in Jacksonville, FL turned in to a 3 week stay, with several surgeries under both armpits and with him leaving with not one but three drainage tubes out of him.
All during this time, he was upbeat and positive about the outcome. Upon returning to the Mayo and finding that there were more tumors and another surgery was required, he still remained optimistic and Harry being Harry was kidding with the nurses, and cracking jokes, and making people smile and laugh.
He entered the Moffitt Cancer Institute for a more holistic approach which was determental and after 6 weeks was released from the program as the tumors had tripled in number and back to the normal route of chemo and radiation therapy. Still Harry was positive.
It wasn't until this past February when they were attempting to get him into yet another trial that I saw this man not have anything positive but then it really wasn't negative either. He had to pass 5 tests in order to be accepted into another trial for his type of cancer. He had passed four and was awaiting the results of the 5th.
I called to let him know I was coming to Florida and did he have the results yet, and being optimistic myself I waited for him to speak. He said, I can't get into the trial. The cancer is in my brain. It's not good. Again, a loss for words on my part. What are you going to do, he said.
From here he went into an aggressive chemo and radiation therapy every day for 4-5 hours. He ended up with colitis for 12 weeks and lost an enormous amount of weight.
Upon arriving in Florida and arranging a time when I could come and see them, I was shocked to see his appearance. He had lost alot of weight, hair, his eyes were sunken, he spoke softly and slowly and he walked even slower.
He rose to give me a kiss and a hug. We talked until I felt I had overstayed my visit. That was the last time I saw Harry.
I've seen numerous loved ones eaten away by cancer. My mother, my grandfather, my uncle, and numerous friends. I hate cancer. Cancer of any type, colon, breast, cervical, whatever--it is EVIL!!!!
We have got to get a handle on this disease. It is killing thousands per year. If we can cure polio, why can't we find a cure for cancer???
Lord, I pray that Harry is in heaven with his mom and dad and although somewhat sad that he had to leave his precious Maureen behind, that he is much happier and healthier. Lord, watch over Maureen and provide comfort and peace and friends to support her until she can be reunited with her Harry.
No comments:
Post a Comment