The stories I shared yesterday were fiction... this one is real, too real. May 28, 1981 I reached under the blanket for her hand. She was so still I had to feel her. I squinted my eyes to watch the white blanket praying to see it rise and fall. Her lips were so dry and her face so thin. Her hand was warm and so soft, they had always been soft. I laid my head down on the side of the bed praying for God to turn this around. I didnt understand exactly where we were headed but I knew it wasnt going to be good. It felt so bad from the pit of my stomach to the depths of my soul I ached. (10 months earlier) We thought it was something she ate, then after three days we thought it must be a virus. She had never missed work much less nearly a week. It was Friday and she just seemed to be getting sicker. When things went from bad to worse we called for an ambulance. I had never been so scared. The next week was filled with tests and guesses: gallbladder, ulcers, and the list went on and on... within 10 days they were going in to find out what was wrong. The next word I heard was not one I was familiar with but one that would change my life forever... cancer. Cancer in her stomach, liver, pancreas and spleen. They opened her up and closed her up. She was 47 years old, a mother with two teenage girls and a husband. She loved to knit and crochet, she loved magazines, she loved sweets and she loved her kids. She had a smile that was as bright as the sunshine and sweet green eyes. Her name was Dolores. Treatments started and they were strong and rough as hell. Once a week and she would barely get over one until it was time to go back. Her hair was gone in no time and it made her cry. She lay covered up on the couch with an afghan she had made herself. Many times Id catch her looking afar off with a tear in her eye, but I was too young to understand. I had such faith in the doctors and the treatments and Jesus, she helped teach me about Jesus. The words from the doctors seemed encouraging it was all about numbers and blood work and cancer markers and test results. John Lennon died while she was at the Chemo lab and I called to tell her. I didnt know if she even knew who he was but I just wanted to talk to her. She was my mom and she was my world. It was early May and she fell, she was so weak but I didnt realize. The ambulance came to get her again and her hip was broke. She was 48. She remained in the hospital that whole month, they brought her home for Mothers Day by ambulance, my Dad, my sister and I slept in shifts with one of us by her side the whole weekend. Daddy ordered flowers to be delivered and we put them where she would see them. Her pain was intense and the liquid morphine kept her asleep but she was home for what would be the last time, but I didnt realize. May 28, 1981 Today is Dads birthday, Mom, she couldnt hear me. I rubbed her lips with ice chips and rubbed her hair that had begun to come back in. My sister had gone downstairs. I kissed her forehead and the lump in my throat nearly choked me. I think I finally knew and it hurt worse than anything Id ever felt. May 31, 1981 It was Saturday and I was supposed to start Drivers Ed, my Dad and my sister came into my room and sat on the edge of my bed. I woke up and I knew, my mom had went to Heaven. It is in her memory that I work to raise money for those who suffer like she did, you see I know first hand how cancer destroys and for that reason I will be at Mountains of Hope... will you please come and join me? Dolores Speeds grandson will be performing at the music concert, a grandson she never got to meet. MAY 2nd Music Concert featuring Brandon Holden and Sweet Charitys Rockin Replay at Clayton United Methodist Churchs Life Center on Old Hwy 441 just north of Clayton from 6 - 8 a donation gets you in the door. Glow in the Dark balloon release at 8 PM. Pizza Hut pizza, drinks, door prizes, sweets and more... MAY 3rd HUGE Yard Sale, music by Exit 317, hotdogs from Coach Joe Crosbys Alpha Dog, bake sale, kids activities, face painting, games, and family fun. Mama Gail T. Ramey motorcycle ride with a Moon and Back Balloon Release at 12:30 PM. All at Clayton City Hall on Hwy 76, Clayton, GA Proceeds go to Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund mountainsofhoperabun
Posted on: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 02:13:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015