Auspicious Anniversary: May 7th

It was one year ago, today. "It's cancer, Lisa. I have cancer.", said our Mom, somewhat breathless, and I heard her, but immediately went into what is known as "denial mode". "What? That's not possible, Mom. I think you should get a second opinion..." My voice, and my belief that this was a "mistake", trailed off, into oblivion. So, here we are. My sis--Tina and I, her husband Tom, my husband Hansoo, and Mom--Demetra's lovely grand-daughter, Breaz, all shell-shocked from this. Traumatized, made numb. I must add that our Daddy--John Robert Allender--is also devastated by this diagnosis. Daddy is well aware of doctors, hospitals, and illness, having survived several heart attacks before finally quitting smoking (after a (temporarily) "fatal" heart attack, on January 17th, 2004), and having been diagnosed with Stage 5 Kidney Disease, last year, just a few months before Mom's diagnosis. Daddy and Mom have been divorced since 1986, which means they have been divorced just about as long as they were married....and still. Neither ever re-married, though both had numerous opportunities, and very interested partners. So, today is the Anniversary of Mom's diagnosis of cancer. But just as a divorce does not mean the end of Love, neither does cancer mean the end of Health. Mom is, in all other ways, healthy and bright, and beautiful as ever. We head to the facility and staff that helped us to get where we are today--with our living, breathing, loving Mom-- Cancer Treatment Centers of America, tomorrow, for Laser Surgery to shrink the tumors in her brain which have just now re-surfaced, and begun to grow. We will be successful, but it's tiring to hop into "treatment" mode when she believed she had finished up all this, last August. But cancer comes back, tries again. But we--we try, harder. Peace, kids.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND! Happy to live here, have the freedom and luxury of thoughts, and words.... To those of you who live "across the pond", and around the world, my Thanks and Gratefulness to all of You, in all your glorious countries--I am making a real effort in the coming months, to do some serious traveling. And to the fine doctors, kind nurses, patient (patient as in the subject they are caring for, as well as these sweet nurses' demeanor) case-workers and God--however you "define" Her/Him--the greatest gratefulness. This year has been, as I've detailed in several recent posts, quite challenging. Our Daddy--John Robert Allender, 77--is doing much better, due to his diligence in embracing and practicing--daily--his physical therapy. I was once told he might not ever stand upright again, but.....he's now walking! He MAY be able to transition out of the Rehabilitation Center he is currently in, in Florida, sometime later next year. Our Mom--Demetra Leonora Allender, 74--is doing better-than-expected, and is recovering from her Never-Smoker, Non-Small-Cell, Lung-to-Brain, Stage 4 Cancer....she is, as her Oncologist says "In the lucky 1%, who have these results..." My Father-in-Law, Ho Chang, "Big Henry" (he's 5'6") Kwon, who just turned 80, suffers from Prostate Cancer and recently, has begun suffering from a second type of cancer--Bladder Cancer. His wife, Young Sook, 73-- is visibly depressed by all this, though I am hoping to help her get help in coping, soon. My husband, Hansoo Kwon, has been amazing through this, and I am lucky to have him as my partner. I head to Florida with Mom, (who's been staying with us since Oct. 16th) to check on Daddy in person, and see several other family members, too. Sis Tina will get to have our Mom back home with her, by next weekend. The time melted away from us; it always has.... Again, much gratefulness to all of you, everywhere. Keep the warm thoughts, good energy, kind meditations, and yes--heartfelt prayers--coming. We send them to you, as well. We are One. Peace, Y'all.