The Steamboat Pilot & Today

I flew to South Carolina to visit her a couple weeks back and she is doing quite well under the circumstances. Her hair has fallen out, but she has collected an assortment of caps.

My mother has never been an optimist. She is someone who has always thought of, and voiced concerns about, the worst things that can happen. It does not get much worse than what she faces now.

But this seems to have lifted some of the pessimism from her shoulders. She is enjoying her children and grandchildren more than ever before. She is able to eat pretty much whatever she wants (at least during the right time of the chemo cycles) and still lose weight. She just bought a new used car. I've hired her someone to do her yard every couple of weeks and my grandparents are providing her with a weekly housekeeper. So long as she feels well enough, she is getting out and doing things.

Both my parents were given an incurable cancer. That stinks. Here is what is good: They both found out early enough to take advantage of the time they had remaining. It is reassuring to see my mom doing that.

As I said in my column, I am participating in this year's Relay for Life on Aug. 10-11. Anyone looking to help out, can pitch in at this site established through the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.

Scott Stanford, Editor
sstanford@steamboatpilot.com

(970) 871-4221/(970) 291-9278