The Difference a Year Makes

This time last year, my world as I knew it was about to fall apart.
Weldon and I moved to Colorado for a job opportunity. I was pregnant with baby Weldon. And my mom was sick. Mark called me on a Thursday telling me that mom had been coughing up blood and he could not talk her into going to the doctor. He was worried and in turn I worried. I called my mom and asked her what was going on. She said that it was just a little spot of blood and if it happened again, she would go to the doctor. On Saturday, Mark called me in a panic telling me that mom was in the Emergency Room. She started coughing up more blood and decided that she should get checked out.
I was in Steamboat Springs, miles away from them. I was grocery shopping. But I thought it was probably just bronchitis or pneumonia. I returned home to unload groceries and my life forever changed. My mom called. She told me she had bad news. And from the tone of her voice I knew it was something horrible. Her voice cracked and she told me "It's cancer".
I fell to the floor crying. I cried so much those first few hours and even more in the days to follow. I cursed my mom for smoking. I cursed myself for not being there for her. I cursed the doctors because surely they had made an error. I cursed all the people that smoked and didn't have lung cancer because it wasn't fair that my mom did. I cursed the tobacco industry. And I cursed God for doing this to her. To us. My mom wasn't even 50 yet. My mom is the most vibrant person I know. Strong, hard-working and a great person are always used to describe her. To be so full of life and to possible lose her life to something so horrible seemed so unfair to me. All of a sudden, my mom was mortal. She wasn't the immortal mom I expected her to be. I realized that at some point in time, she would no longer be here with me. Or with her grandchildren. That thought made me cry fresh tears. And that point I did thank God for all that he had given us, for giving me such a great mom and I asked him to help her fight this horrible disease and to give me strength to get through this.
Talking to my brother that day was one of the most horrible things I have ever done. My brother is a self-proclaimed momma's boy and he was in New Jersey and getting ready to leave for Iraq. I ended up flying home the following week because of prior commitments. The moment I saw her, I gave her the biggest hug ever. I ended up staying home for 6 weeks while my belly expanded. In that space of time, I met mom's chemo specialist, Dr. Dy, a truly wonderful man. He explained all the cancer terms so thoroughly, we actually understood what was going on. Surgery was scheduled. The night before the surgery, we had a surprise for mom. Jonathan was able to fly home and stay for few days before leaving for Iraq. Mom was overwhelmed with emotion as he walked into the room that night.
The day of the surgery, we got some bad news. The cancer was in the lymph nodes. Once the cancer is in the lymph nodes, it is easier for it to mestastize (or grow). So we went to Plan B: an agressive mix of chemo and radiation. Since mom was young enough and healthy enough, she could handle both at once. Most people who do the mix she did, end up in the hospital. Mom did experience a lot of the side effects of the drugs: hair loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and various others. When my six weeks were up, I had to return to Steamboat, as I was getting to the point in my pregnancy where it would be dangerous to fly anymore. So I returned. And I cried and cried. I cried almost everyday for weeks. Mom continued her treatments.
On December 16, Weldon IV was born. I was ecstatic. And I was in anguish. When Daelyn was born, my mom was in the room with me. She didn't get to experience that this time. I ended up suffering from Post-Partum Depression. With everything going on, Weldon and I decided it was best to move back to Illinois. Since Weldon was working long days, he flew me and the kids home to be with my mom on New Year's Day. He stayed in Colorado and worked until February.
The first time I saw my mom again, was at the airport, and she was bald. She did have a cap on but it was shocking. However, if anyone can rock a bald head, it's her! Jonathan flew home at the end of January for his leave and to be with his girlfriend Danielle as they welcomed their son Cameron into the world. Jonathan had to leave for Iraq a mere 6 days after Cameron was born. It was one of the hardest things to experience, to watch him walk away from his newborn son and his cancer-stricken mom, not knowing when and if he would see them again. Thankfully, Weldon moved back at the end of February with all of our stuff and we all co-habitated at mom and Mark's house.
On March 12th, we celebrated a milestone, mom's 50th birthday. To some people, turning 50 is unbearable. For us, it was a reason to be thankful. My mom had a sister Marita who died as a result of lung cancer just before her 50th birthday.
Afterwards, we were dealt another blow. Mark had prostate cancer. Thankfully, it was caught in the early stages. Surgery was scheduled. My family did find an apartment to move into so that Mark could recuperate as needed without the tots running around his feet.
In this time, I also submitted my mom in for Effingham Daily News' Mother of the Year, without telling anyone. On Tuesday, May 1st, I got a call from my mom while I was at work. She told me I was in trouble. I could not figure out what was going on. She told me that the EDN called, and she had won Mother of the Year. I was ecstatic and she was in shock. That same day, we had mom's first appointment since she finished her chemo and radiation treatments. God must have been smiling down on us, because Dr. Dy gave us the best news ever, Mom was cancer free. I went back to work that day with the biggest smile on my face and couldn't sit still.
On June 12th, Mark had his surgery. The doctor was able to remove all the cancer while keeping his nerves intact. Mark has since returned back to work full-time. Various cousins and aunts and uncles started coming up to me in the last few months wanting to help out my mom and Mark. We decided to have a benefit for them. Mom and Mark are the most unassuming people. They don't ask for help, whether they need it or not. But mom and Mark did relent and the plans are underway.
Jonathan is set to leave Iraq later this month and we hope to reunite with him the first part of October.
A year ago, my world was falling apart. Today, I am picking up the pieces. And Thank You to everyone who has helped out. Thank You God! And Thank You Mom and Mark for being stubborn!