My Mom...

I'm not sure if you have a good solid relationship with your parents, but I definitely am a guy who loves his folks. They have been great supporters of my life... my choices... my decisions... my goals. And most importantly, they've been there for me during the good times and the bad.

I've told my mom before that she has been my "biggest fan." We have a unique relationship - more like friends through the years. She's a strong woman, and has a huge heart... and most importantly, she puts her family above her own needs.

So imagine my shock last week when she called me and told me she has breast cancer. Before that, I thought I was having a very bad day (work was terrible for the entire week and especially that day). Needless to say, it wasn't about "me" anymore.

For the past week, I've been a bit consumed with thinking about what she's going through. And not just her, but my father Joel. I went over to their house on Sunday and I could see the worry in his eyes. She? Well she's got a great attitude about the whole thing!

My mom has been very diligent to have mamograms every year. Her mom, my grandmother, had breast cancer. Her sister, my aunt Charlene, has been battling hip cancer for the past few years. And last week we found out her brother, my Uncle Wayne, has prostate cancer. If you remember, his daughter, my cousin Angie, passed away on Christmas Eve last year.

When it rains it pours...

However, today we got some good news! She meets with the surgeon on Monday (21st), but wanted to come prepared. So on Wednesday she had an MRI done on both of her breasts. I didn't know this, but for the past several years she's had problems with her right breast. So she was surprised last week when they said cancer was found in her left one.

So the good news is NO cancer was found in the right breast. And, for the left breast, the cancer is contained in a "duct" and has not spread. They categorize this as Stage Zero.

When I spoke with them tonight, you could just hear the joy in their voices! I was SO happy for both of them!

We're not out of the woods yet, but at least today we got some good news! Prayers are being answered!