Saturday, September 6, 2008
Cancer sucks!
My thesis advisor, Dr. June Mecham, told me last November that she had breast cancer. The doctors had caught it early, although it was an aggressive form. At age 35, she's healthy and we were all optimistic about her chances of a full recovery. She underwent chemo all last year and her hair began growing back this summer. 3 weeks ago, they found a lesion on her liver. !? The doctors were afraid it had spread to her liver. She went in for another round of tests last week, and the verdict is that it HAS spread, not only to her liver, but to her bones and her lungs. It is at stage four, so terminal, and she doesn't know if she has a few months, or a few years. :( There are not really any words adequate to respond to someone when they deliver news of this nature. I was devastated and horrified. She has a 2.5 year old! She finished her PhD only a few years ago and with a 900 page book about to be published, she is at the beginning of her career. It is going to be a very difficult year for me, working closely with her on my thesis, watching her suffer and worsen, knowing that she knows that her days are numbered. I have been somber and pensive this week, reflecting on the plan of salvation and the gloriousness of the Resurrection. What a blessing to have the gospel. Interestingly, Dr. Mecham is teaching a class on the 'Medieval Church' this summer. We were lightheartedly joking about the Catholic church and its colorful history. She remarked that it is necessary to be able to laugh at all religion's history because, "all religions are man-made and men make mistakes!" Well, I didn't bear my testimony about a church that is definitely NOT man-made, at least not in that moment, but I'm sure praying for the appropriate moment sometime this upcoming year. The irony is that she specializes in women's spirituality in the middle ages. Its been difficult to perform an academic exercise on the subject, considering how I feel about my own religion and my spirituality. So, that's my life right now. I am sad for her. We're the same age. But, God is good. Of that I am sure. And He has a plan...
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4 comments:
Yup. It does. I'm learning first hand (mama).
Hang in there...
Hey there--this is Jennifer B (not to be confused w/ the other Jennifer :). I have been thinking a lot about tragedy lately. A few months ago I went to the funeral of of a two year old little girl of a good friend of mine. She choked on an apple the size of a pea and eventually passed away. There is also a family in our stake who had a child die of cancer a few years ago and then their son was in a plane crash. The son and his wife suffered severe third degree burns (the wife on over 80% of her body) and they have four children. As I get older it gets harder to hear such tragedy. I thought as I got older tragedy would be easier to deal with because my faith would get stronger with time. Actually, my faith is stronger, but I think I have more compassion now and that makes it all the more difficult to watch someone suffer so much. I have a greater understanding of what "mourning with those that mourn and comforting those that stand in need of comfort" means. I think maybe Heavenly Father allows us to take a piece of that suffering and suffer for those who are experiencing the tragedy to lighten their load and help us become more like our Savior. I consider it a sacred experience it help carry a burden.
Al....so sorry to hear about your mentor and friend. Cancer SUCKS! My dear friend sounds very similiar to your mentor. Mom of 5, 29 yrs old, had breast cancer lost all her hair....was in remission for 3 months and now they have found some on her pelvis and brain. She has started chemo again. Can you say maybe the cancer never went into remission. Cancer SUCKS!
On a happier note I loved you post on teaching your Italian class. I was laughing so hard when you said Peter showed up on cue with pizza. Look at you....having object lessons with a treat to go along....you RS sister. Hope all is well take care Kris
Hola Chicka how the heck are you. Jamie found your blog lost in his email. Yahoo for blogs we have one too. jamieandmj.blogspot.com
How is everything going? You need to check out our blog for pictures of Carter. By the way we have the coolest neighbors ever. Have you heard! Patrick and Natalie.
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