What a difference a year makes

[sunlver]

A year ago today, we went on a cruise(Aug 21, 2008),it was my family of 5, and my sister in law and brother in law.

We cruised out of Norfolk, on a 9 night RCCL cruise. My sister in law and brother in law flew in the day before from Dallas. We were all so excited..

Now, my sister in law is no longer with us. She died of cancer Aug 11,2009 in her home in Texas. We were all there by her bedside. She had cancer most of her life since the age of 15, she died at the age of 40. I have been looking at our cruise pictures from last year, and its hard to believe what a whole year can bring. Now, we knew cancer would take her life at some point, and we knew she wasn't 100% on last years cruise, but she seemded to enjoy herself, and enjoy spending time with my kids.

It is hard to process all of this, things happened so quickly at the end.

I guess today I am reflecting, remembering how excited I was on this day a year ago..knowing there would be a big beautiful cruise ship waiting to take us away.

I am at peace knowing she is no long suffering and Im also happy knowing she lived a full and wonderful life..
It makes me really realize..never take anything for granted.

 

[Philagoofy]

I'm glad she enjoyed her vacation. You're right, we have to live each day to the fullest, although it's hard to remember sometimes. So sorry for your family's loss.

 

[MerMom60_94]

My condolences on the loss of your SIL. I'm glad you all got to take a family cruise and you will have those good times to remember back to when you are thinking of her. I am so sorry.

 

[EJ4Disney]

I am so sorry for your loss. A good lesson for all of us. NEVER take anything for granted. We never know when it will be gone.

Blessings for you all.

 

[ChrizJen]

That's really a very nice outlook to have. Remember those wonderful times. My sympathy goes out to you and your family. It's difficult to lose a loved one no matter when or how it happens. But it's very nice that you're able to look back to such a recent event that brought you all joy.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

I'm so sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my thoughts today.

I understand what you mean about how quickly things change. A few years ago I was unbelievably happy to be getting married and felt that I had so much to look forward to, and a new life ahead of me...and then we found out that my mother had stomach cancer. It was difficult having so many changes - both good and bad - happening at the same time.

 

[DizBelle]

Wow. A 25 year battle with cancer. What a fighter she must have been.

May I ask what kind of cancer it was?

 

[raysnkaysmom]

A year ago today, we went on a cruise(Aug 21, 2008),it was my family of 5, and my sister in law and brother in law.

We cruised out of Norfolk, on a 9 night RCCL cruise. My sister in law and brother in law flew in the day before from Dallas. We were all so excited..

Now, my sister in law is no longer with us. She died of cancer Aug 11,2009 in her home in Texas. We were all there by her bedside. She had cancer most of her life since the age of 15, she died at the age of 40. I have been looking at our cruise pictures from last year, and its hard to believe what a whole year can bring. Now, we knew cancer would take her life at some point, and we knew she wasn't 100% on last years cruise, but she seemded to enjoy herself, and enjoy spending time with my kids.

It is hard to process all of this, things happened so quickly at the end.

I guess today I am reflecting, remembering how excited I was on this day a year ago..knowing there would be a big beautiful cruise ship waiting to take us away.

I am at peace knowing she is no long suffering and Im also happy knowing she lived a full and wonderful life..
It makes me really realize..never take anything for granted.

I'm glad you have those memories...

 

[C.Ann]

I'm so sorry for your loss - but so happy that you are able to look back on fond memories of happy times and feel at peace with the outcome of your SIL's long, long battle..

 

[DebbieB]

I'm sorry for your loss. My mom will be gone 4 years at the end of next month. The other day I was going through some old stuff and found a picture from a riverboat lunch cruise we took, probably around 2001-2002 (I could kick myself for not dating it). Even though she was in treatment for breast cancer at the time, she looked really good. It just brought everything back.

 

[Pooh93]

I am sorry for your loss and SO glad you got to take the cruise together.

Our family has had some not so friendly reminders this summer that life is indeed too short and we decided pretty much last minute to take our daughters and do a 5 day trip at WDW. We just returned last Saturday. We weren't going to do a big vacation this year because we are taking a Disney cruise next summer, but we realize that you can't put a price on memories and decided to go for it.

Your SIL's battle with cancer is just another reminder of how short our time in on this earth.

 

[HunnyPots]

I agree - be so glad you got to make those memories!

I have a friend who has been battling cancer for 13 years. Two years ago, she said she was done with treatments and just wanted to travel and enjoy what time she had left with her family. Well, she ended up being talked into trying treatments again, which of course, meant she would not be able to travel or do much of anything except be sick from the chemo. Well, they have now told her there is nothing more that can be done and she will most likely not make it to Christmas. And now of course, she is far too frail and sick to be able to go anywhere or do anything with her family. Not what she wanted at all. It just seems so unfair.

Enjoy time with those you love whenever you have opportunity - you never know what the future holds!

 

[sunlver]

Wow. A 25 year battle with cancer. What a fighter she must have been.

May I ask what kind of cancer it was?

Over the years(even before I met her)she has had several different cancers that she has all beat. At one time in teenager yrs she had bone cancer in one leg, eventually she had it amputated. She had breast cancer (before I met her). What eventually took her life was the colon cancer and liver cancer. She actually had reoccuring colon cancer which was diagnosed 2 1/2 yrs ago. She was undergoing chemo on and off since then. Her last cancer was in the liver, but not liver cancer. It is all confusing to me. It started as germ cell cancer(this was explained to me by my BIL)that ended up in liver. When that was diagnosed she went to chemo for that, meanwhile colon cancer still there. The cancer for the germ cell didnt work. Basically she was doing chemo up until two weeks ago, when drs told her..there was no point for it. She got out of Hospital on a Friday, and passed away Tuesday.

 

[kellydizfan]

I am so sorry to hear about your sister-in-law. The cruise is a wonderful memory you will have for the rest of your life. you made her happy by doing the cruise - something that got her thru this last year. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

 

[akhenaten]

I am so sorry.... cherish your memories and make many more good ones in her honor.....

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I'm sorry...but so glad you have your memories with her.