some sad news…

 

Our family found out today that my Grandma Willie has malignant brain cancer, better known as glioma, the same type of cancer Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a couple years ago. The prognosis depends on how she responds to chemo and radiation, but either way it won’t be long enough in my opinion. Grandma Willie holds a special place in my heart as she stayed with my mom shortly after I was born and helped her adjust to life with a newborn. My mom’s mom, Elaine, passed away before I was born and my grandpa remarried Willie, whose husband had also passed away. They’ve been married for 30 plus years and she is the only grandma most of my cousins and I have known. While you can never replace your biological mother, she’s been the closest thing to a mom most of my aunts and uncles as well as my mom have had for most of their adult lives. It’s not an easy role being a stepmom, but grandma Willie has done it with grace and poise. She is always there for a hug and to ask how things are going. Well grandma, today I’m sad. I’m sad that you have to go through this, that grandpa is probably hurting and fearful of the unknown and that I can’t do anything to make it better. I love you so much and want you to know that I’ll always remember what you did for my mom when I was a baby. I plan to cherish however much time God will bless us with in the coming years and hug you just a little bit tighter next time. Sometimes we are reminded how precious life is, and today is one of those days.