"RicSeyler" > wrote in message
.. .
> My Mother was diagnosed with Cancer and it has spread through her
> kidney, liver, lymph nodes and spine... so I've been torn up for the last
> few weeks... Got a call today and the Social Worker at the hospital
> is suggesting Hospice. She was a CPA and handled all my accounting
> and bookwork at my printing/design business. So I'm completely lost in
> every aspect of my life at the moment....
>
> It's been a hard few weeks guys. The kind of stuff you read in tragic
> novels :-/

Ric, I am truly sorry to hear of your Mom's diagnosis. Mine died in 1998
after fighting colorectal cancer for years. Radiation, chemotherapy,
surgeries including an eventual colostomy...she endured it all. The last
six months were awful, the last six weeks she wasn't herself anymore. I
just watched the number on the morphine drip climb higher and higher. At
least she wasn't in pain. Cancer is a horrible thing. One wonders if the
money we've thrown down a rat hole in the Middle East could possibly result
in cures or prevention. But that's politics...

I wish you and your Mom the best possible time, however much is left. She
will need your strength and support and I'm sure she can count on that. I
would only remind you that this is the cycle of life, and in some ways is a
good order for the world.

One of the best things I've ever read is an essay by Lewis Thomas titled
"Death in the Open" in his book "The Lives of a Cell." I'd recommend it to
anyone struggling with the gigantic issue of life and death.

My best,

AJM
'93 Ruby coupe, 6 sp (both tops)