Crystal’s “New” Birthday, 5 years later…
Written on Monday, March 26th @ 11:30pm
The P!NK Concert in Chicago! Exactly 5 years to the date when Crystal last went!
I lay here in bed watching reruns of “The Kings of Queens” while Calvin is snuggled up against me. Oh how that little dog can make me happy. I am drinking some water and eating a Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg (my favorite) or should I say, I am eating two. I can’t believe it’s almost Easter. WoW, how fast this year has been going. I swear it was just Christmas, and the big gift to the P!NK Concert was so far away. And look, it’s already over but boy what memories we made.
I found myself at that P!NK Concert emotional watching my girls laugh, smile, sing and cry. She sang a song from the past as Cassidy said, “I remember this song, I was in a car seat”. I thanked God over and over for that gift. That gift of time with them. I am happy that I notice that time, is a gift. Oh and P!NK, she is incredible, a must see.
How has Crystal been doing? Is the question I’ve been asked a lot lately. Crystal is doing really well. We have had no worries, her smile is still on her face and she still has the upbeat attitude. The next big question, when does she go back to Mayo? She will be going back in June, just don’t know the date at this time.
As I watched Crystal explain to some friends recently, “I am terminally ill but I am doing really well and in April of this year, it will be two years that my cancer has not come back! I am a miracle.” And as her mother, she is a miracle, she is a fighter, she is an inspiration.
Well tomorrow is Crystal’s “New” Birthday. March 27th will be a day I will never forget. A day that we got news that changed our lives forever. I cried so hard. I felt so lost. I remember Crystal just watching me and how I responded to everything. I actually can’t even believe I lived it. As we celebrate with her tomorrow we will reflect on that day 5 years ago. We will thank God again for being lucky to still have her with us.
With that being said…Our family recently has gone through a loss. A reminder to all of us how fast life can change. That saying, “Isn’t it scary knowing that any time could be the last time you talk to someone?” is such a true statement.
I had made a remark a couple of weeks ago at dance practice as we were chatting about team bondings & what would be coming up in April.
I explained that 2 years ago, it was Christmas time & I had come to the realization how blessed we were to be all together. Seriously 2 years ago at age 46. It wasn’t when my daughter was ill, it wasn’t because there was a death, it was just a feeling that came over me. I had looked around the family room and thought, were all here at Christmas. My family is very small, what would happen a year from now…would we all be together? It could change everything so fast. You think it could be my mom cause she is older, or my daughter who is fighting cancer, but no, it could be the middle daughter who drives on 80 Monday-Friday…
I told the team, just think about it. It really is a blessing, those moments, the people you love, it could be gone so fast.
What’s so heartbreaking is even though I said it, even though I can feel it. It sure is much harder when your living it.
To watch the ones you love hurt, to watch the strong men who are usually laughing, now crying, makes you cry. To think of how much change will happen this year for a family that was taken by surprise, makes you humble.
I’ve seen my husband in almost 28 years only cry 4 times.
I listened to my youngest daughter tell me, he taught me how to make a roast mom, “Don’t use baby carrots…Always use the ones you have to peel, they taste better”, she explained to me.
To hear my oldest daughter with a shaky voice, ask me how are Lee, Kaitlin, Trisha & Shane doing?
And my middle daughter says, I don’t get it mom, like why is he not going to the hospital? Broke my heart.
I can hear him smacking his hands together, rubbing them back and forth, as he says this is gonna be good. It’s funny what you will remember of someone that has crossed your path. What will people remember of you? What impression will you leave? Oh we know we can’t please everybody but I do say, treat others the way you would like to be treated but when that doesn’t work out, then treat others the way they treat you…that seems to work for me.
Please enjoy your holiday weekend with the ones you love. Embrace that time with them.
And here is a look back to five years ago…
~ Written March 27th, 2013 ~
After learning of the tumor in Crystal’s pancreas that spread to her liver. Her family doctor made phone calls to the Mayo Clinic and got us in right away. They were even shocked how fast they got her in. Monday, April 1st was going to be the start of our journey to the Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Geodken and his team, including his office staff were comforting and supportive. I feel they were taken back with Crystal’s prognosis. Dr. Geodken was very open and honest.
He was also going to be writing a letter to our insurance since we had learned that it did not cover Mayo.
We made phone calls and began contacting the people that we see on a regular basis. I must say that was extremely difficult. The fears of the unknown.
We also met with an attorney to get Crystal’s medical and finances in order. I never thought I would be doing something like that at this age.
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