Monday, September 21, 2015
We both love Barcelona. It's a very very busy city with lots to see and do. Mostly we walk around, sit at cafes and drink coffee, sangria, beer, wine... whatever strikes our fancy, and eat some of the wonderful Serrano ham that I can't seem to get enough of.
Bernie went to a miniatures store and bought some great kits. It was great to see him like a kid in a toy store.
Then I get the call from my daughter. My mother has been diagnosed with stage 4 liver and lung cancer. She has been in the hospital for the last 10 days because she was having trouble breathing. Nobody told me until today. The diagnosis was given today. It's amazing to think she was in the hospital for several weeks in July and nobody found it! It kills me to think that all her aches and pains over the past two months - the ones we kept blowing off because she has been such a drama queen all her life were real. Stage 4! How the hell did that happen without us knowing? This woman goes to the doctor constantly. And nobody knew? Nobody suspected? How can this happen to BOTH my parents?
By the time they found my father's cancer it was too late. He only lived nine weeks. I can't go through this again.My poor mom. I tried to talk to her on Skype but she is not conscious. It is killing me to be this far away from her.
De ja vu. When we were in on a cruise to Canada in October 2010 we had to rush home because my wonderful father in law had a stroke. He died on November 6. It was devastating to be that far away but we were able to make it back the same evening. From here, it's not so easy.
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Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Went out walking again today. Bought some fantastic art supplies. Some I was familiar with and some that are brand new to me. I especially love the new graphite pencils from Portugal. I had never seen or heard of them before. I tried them at the store and they are truly fabulous. Too much money. Oh well, you only live once.
We had to go to El Corte Ingles, the Macy's of Spain, to buy a huge suitcase. Cost us $300! I had no idea we would need so much more room. We are hoping to reduce the amount of suitcases (we brought 4) to 3 so that we don't have to pay as much at the airport.
Sitting in a restaurant, trying new foods when my brother Albert calls me. My mother has taken a turn for the worst. They don't think she will make it until Friday. He tells me I should come home. But how??? Not only do I not know what to do, I don't have the money to do anything. I am desperate now to get to my mom. She can't die before I get there. She just can't. I need her to know I am there.
Kristina called me on IMO so I can see and speak to her but she doesn't seem to hear me. She wont respond. I have a total meltdown. How the hell can this be happening??? Who can I yell at? Who can I blame? My brothers tell me they viewed all the xrays and scans from July and there was no cancer. That her cancer is so aggressive that in two months it has taken over her body. How the hell does that happen? How can God allow this to happen to my mother too? Wasn't it enough with my dad? Wasn't his death horrible enough? I called my travel agent. Told her I need to get home. She will take care of it. Kristina and she make arrangements. I leave tomorrow at noon. Will be in Miami by 4:00 pm Miami time. My mom has to wait for me. She has to.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2015
We get up very early in order to have some coffee before the driver picks us up to go the airport. I had called the front desk last night and explained what the situation was and how we were unable to get ahold of the tour agency in order to be picked up today instead of tomorrow. He got my information and said he would do what he could. He was so nice. He called me back shortly and told me that he had taken care of it. The change had been made and driver would pick us up today at 8:00 am. Such a nice young man. I am so grateful.
I feel like I'm in a fog. I don't want to think about what is happening with my mother but can't seem to think about anything else. I am grateful I can't call or be called while on the 9 hour flight. I am terrified that she will die before I get there. I don't know if I can live with that. Not my fault - not anyone's fault. Had I known I would never have come on this trip. I would have spent more time with her instead. But I can't live with the idea of not being able to talk to her, of letting her know I am there and that I love her. Yes, she knows it, I know she does. But I KNOW that my father heard our voices until the moment he took his last breath. I take comfort in that. If my mom dies before I get there, I just don't know if I can live with that. I'm so scared right now.
Bernie went to a miniatures store and bought some great kits. It was great to see him like a kid in a toy store.
Then I get the call from my daughter. My mother has been diagnosed with stage 4 liver and lung cancer. She has been in the hospital for the last 10 days because she was having trouble breathing. Nobody told me until today. The diagnosis was given today. It's amazing to think she was in the hospital for several weeks in July and nobody found it! It kills me to think that all her aches and pains over the past two months - the ones we kept blowing off because she has been such a drama queen all her life were real. Stage 4! How the hell did that happen without us knowing? This woman goes to the doctor constantly. And nobody knew? Nobody suspected? How can this happen to BOTH my parents?
By the time they found my father's cancer it was too late. He only lived nine weeks. I can't go through this again.My poor mom. I tried to talk to her on Skype but she is not conscious. It is killing me to be this far away from her.
De ja vu. When we were in on a cruise to Canada in October 2010 we had to rush home because my wonderful father in law had a stroke. He died on November 6. It was devastating to be that far away but we were able to make it back the same evening. From here, it's not so easy.
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Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Went out walking again today. Bought some fantastic art supplies. Some I was familiar with and some that are brand new to me. I especially love the new graphite pencils from Portugal. I had never seen or heard of them before. I tried them at the store and they are truly fabulous. Too much money. Oh well, you only live once.
We had to go to El Corte Ingles, the Macy's of Spain, to buy a huge suitcase. Cost us $300! I had no idea we would need so much more room. We are hoping to reduce the amount of suitcases (we brought 4) to 3 so that we don't have to pay as much at the airport.
Sitting in a restaurant, trying new foods when my brother Albert calls me. My mother has taken a turn for the worst. They don't think she will make it until Friday. He tells me I should come home. But how??? Not only do I not know what to do, I don't have the money to do anything. I am desperate now to get to my mom. She can't die before I get there. She just can't. I need her to know I am there.
Kristina called me on IMO so I can see and speak to her but she doesn't seem to hear me. She wont respond. I have a total meltdown. How the hell can this be happening??? Who can I yell at? Who can I blame? My brothers tell me they viewed all the xrays and scans from July and there was no cancer. That her cancer is so aggressive that in two months it has taken over her body. How the hell does that happen? How can God allow this to happen to my mother too? Wasn't it enough with my dad? Wasn't his death horrible enough? I called my travel agent. Told her I need to get home. She will take care of it. Kristina and she make arrangements. I leave tomorrow at noon. Will be in Miami by 4:00 pm Miami time. My mom has to wait for me. She has to.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2015
We get up very early in order to have some coffee before the driver picks us up to go the airport. I had called the front desk last night and explained what the situation was and how we were unable to get ahold of the tour agency in order to be picked up today instead of tomorrow. He got my information and said he would do what he could. He was so nice. He called me back shortly and told me that he had taken care of it. The change had been made and driver would pick us up today at 8:00 am. Such a nice young man. I am so grateful.
I feel like I'm in a fog. I don't want to think about what is happening with my mother but can't seem to think about anything else. I am grateful I can't call or be called while on the 9 hour flight. I am terrified that she will die before I get there. I don't know if I can live with that. Not my fault - not anyone's fault. Had I known I would never have come on this trip. I would have spent more time with her instead. But I can't live with the idea of not being able to talk to her, of letting her know I am there and that I love her. Yes, she knows it, I know she does. But I KNOW that my father heard our voices until the moment he took his last breath. I take comfort in that. If my mom dies before I get there, I just don't know if I can live with that. I'm so scared right now.
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