Everything started going downhill from 16th September 2009. I received an urgent email from my cousin that my aunt, my Mum's sister, in Australia had passed away. I couldn't quite believe the news, she wasn't sick, she was in her 60's. I was on the phone to my sister, Hannah, at the time and couldn't quite believe the email. Immediately, I told Hannah I would phone her back as I had to try to get though to my Mum to break the news. No one was picking up the phone at home, so I phoned her work phone. It was the worst feeling and a struggle to say the words to tell my Mum that her sister had passed away.
Days later Mum heard the results of a biopsy of a lump she had found on her neck, which was found to be cancerous. The full extent of her condition was not known, only that is was cancer of the lymph nodes.
We managed to spend ten days together in October for the funeral and to discuss the future and various options that were available for Mum. It was a very sad ten days for me, leaving Mum at the end of the trip left me with a heavy heart. I currently live and work in Japan in the tourism industry. It is very hard to be away from Mum, Hannah is also away from home, so it's just Mum and Dad at home. I try to speak to Mum as much as possible, she has just had a full body scan, the results are known in November.
Mum and Dad have had one consultation with the oncologist, and according to the oncologist 'if there is a cancer to have, lymphoma is the one.' I'm not sure how to respond to this comment.
While remembering the day I said goodbye to my family at the airport and the whole situation, it brings waves of tears to my eyes. I can't quite believe this is happening. There a whole bunch of what if's and maybe's and all other kinds of scenarios that are so hard to think about, listen to or talk about.
This is my story so far, I want to use this blog as a way to share my experience and hopefully find others who are in a similar situation so we can support each other. Please contact me.
