Aunt Phyllis' Fight

I normally only post about teaching and assessments and classroom funnies........however tonight I want

to share the story of my Aunt Phyllis. My Aunt Phyllis is an amazing person. I wish I could be half the woman she is. 20 years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She beat it. After chemo, radiation and a mastectomy. She was cancer free for 13 years. Then it came back. Breast cancer. Again. More chemo, more radiation. She won. Two months ago she felt "not right". Cancer. Again. That damn monster. This time because she has had her life time of maximum amount of chemo and radiation the treatment they had to go with did not work. First seizures then after several weeks of treatments, the cancer markers said she had 50% more cancer than when she started the treatment. It fills her body. Her bones, blood and organs. She works at the hospital and has for 30 years. The CEO came and spoke to her after she was given a life expectancy of days and taken off of all treatments and the DNR signed, and asked her, "What can I do for you?" She said she wanted to be moved to the hospital (a trauma hospital) where she has worked and  wanted to be on the floor she work on. They moved her. Then she requested something I just could not believe. She didn't lie there. She didn't bring in the relatives to all stand over her and cry or whisper or talk in hushed tones. She asked for pastries. Yes, pastries. She's a diabetic and asked for pastries from all over the town. They ran out and brought them in and had a sweet treat party. Then the next day she went outside and enjoyed the fresh air. She asked for visitors and they filled the room and they laughed and giggled and had fun. She had an all night pajama party with her brother and sister. (My Aunt is 58 her sister is my mother and she is 63 and her brother is 46)  Then she asked for a motorcycle shirt and helmet and she proudly wears them today (her brother is in a motorcycle club). Today it was Christmas. Yes, Christmas in May complete with music, a tree, stockings, and Santa. Tomorrow a quartet will arrive to entertain all the family and friends who are camped out in her room. She is laughing! Having fun! Could I have done that? I am not so sure I could have moved on from a such a terrible diagnosis. But she is that kind of soul. She sees the good. She lives her life to the fullest. And today she has lived to see another day and she made the most of it. Please send your good thoughts and energy and prayers to my Aunt Phyllis and those she will leave behind. Pray that she never suffers and the way she lived her life will always be what we remember about Aunt Phyllis.