My dad was diagnosed with Leukemia 6/2005, passed 2/2006. My FIL was diagnosed 2/2006 passed the same month. MIL diagnosed 2/2007 & is currently fighting. My hubby was diagnosed in 8/2009 & just finished treatment; it’s why I haven’t been to the McRae blog. He was admitted with complications the day before your show on Kate.

No matter what we’ve been through; we think of Kate and her family and know we could have it worst. Our hearts go out to them. I cry every time I read the blog; some days tears of joy.. when Kate pee’s; others tears where my heart is breaking; like when she is throwing up so bad that her tube comes out.

I don’t know how Patrick was able to work during treatment. We were going to read the book by he & his wife but were not able to justify spending the money when we saw it. Hopefully once we catch up financially we can get it.

I hope Lisa is doing well. My heart goes out to her.

I want to thankyou Dr Phil for doing a show in re to pediatric cancer and sharing Kate Mcraes story. I have been following her Caringbridge page for the last couple of months along with other children fighting this horrible disease. While I am blessed/thankful to have 4 healthy children, God has given me a real compassion/empathy for these kids and their parents. The one thing that I read over and over from these parents of kids with cancer is the lack of funding to help find a cure. As well as being able to get the word out so that people know just how serious of a problem this is with kids. These kids and their parents are heros to me. Reading and hearing what these children go through every day as well as their parents is heartbreaking/wrenching. Every week I read of at least 3 or kids that have lost their battle with cancer. And I only read a very small number of these kids journals. Thankyou Dr Phil for making this a topic. Continuing the prayes for Kate Mcrae.

And, I never would have imagined this, but I was actually far less afraid of death myself after the experience. My mother had a strong faith in Jesus and in that final month, it was like God swept in ~ in this HUGE way ~ and made His presence felt ~ even to me, who was way backslid and tinkering with agnosticism at the time. (I did not deserve the goodness that accompanied me during that dark and draining time.) My mother never wanted to leave this earth ~ she loved her life, her children and her grandchildren way too much for that ~ however, when she realized it was time to go, she got ready and she got ready fast. In my mother’s tremendous compassion, it was as though she was actually teaching us how to deal with things. She was teaching us how to be strong and unafraid. (For instance, in the hospital, after a spinal tap, a procedure that I’ve seen make grown biker men tremble, I asked her how things went and she said rather off-handedly, “It wasn’t that bad.”)

I was grateful for Patrick Swayze’s strong example as well. He was eloquent and dignified.

I did feel very angry at the disease, too. And, very swept away by the grief that overwhelmed me after my mother’s passing. It was UNFAIR. It was brutally unfair.

The worst thing that could have happened to my mother happened ~ she went to heaven. Even though I felt major pain and grief, I did not feel despair. And, there’s a big difference.

My condolences go out to anyone who has lost a friend or family member to pancreatic cancer. I agree with what’s been said by others about remembering and honoring our loved ones ~ cherishing their memories and cherishing their memories, if possible, with joy.