I didn't think I'd post this anywhere on the Internet, but here I am.
A dear family friend died on Friday. She wasn't young, she wasn't indigent or neglected by her family. She wasn't ignorant or narrow-minded, and she wasn't unsuccessful in her career. She died surrounded by her four kids, and apparently there wasn't much pain involved when she passed.
It was the speed at which she died that got to me. She was diagnosed, after two failed attempts, in November with Stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to the brain. This was a shocker to everyone because she never smoked, but because it wasn't caught early on, the lesions in her brain caused swelling. Even though it was terminal, her doctor prescribed oral chemotherapy to keep the brain from swelling further, and as she deteriorated, she lost much of her sight, some of her hearing, and most of her strength.
When someone you love starts sleeping 18 hours a day and isn't depressed, when they have a hard time keeping their balance and describe their sensations as being in a falling spiral, when they become easily disoriented and can't remember simple things like their best friends' names, get them to a doc. Don't accept sleep apnea or "natural process of aging" as the diagnoses. Insist on an MRI, with a special focus on the head area.
Shirley was an interesting, educated, tolerant, and kind woman who probably could have lived another ten years of quality life. I feel kind of cheated that I didn't get to spend more time with her, since I really got to know her only two years ago. My mother is taking this hard, as are Shirley's kids.
/dismayoff
A dear family friend died on Friday. She wasn't young, she wasn't indigent or neglected by her family. She wasn't ignorant or narrow-minded, and she wasn't unsuccessful in her career. She died surrounded by her four kids, and apparently there wasn't much pain involved when she passed.
It was the speed at which she died that got to me. She was diagnosed, after two failed attempts, in November with Stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to the brain. This was a shocker to everyone because she never smoked, but because it wasn't caught early on, the lesions in her brain caused swelling. Even though it was terminal, her doctor prescribed oral chemotherapy to keep the brain from swelling further, and as she deteriorated, she lost much of her sight, some of her hearing, and most of her strength.
When someone you love starts sleeping 18 hours a day and isn't depressed, when they have a hard time keeping their balance and describe their sensations as being in a falling spiral, when they become easily disoriented and can't remember simple things like their best friends' names, get them to a doc. Don't accept sleep apnea or "natural process of aging" as the diagnoses. Insist on an MRI, with a special focus on the head area.
Shirley was an interesting, educated, tolerant, and kind woman who probably could have lived another ten years of quality life. I feel kind of cheated that I didn't get to spend more time with her, since I really got to know her only two years ago. My mother is taking this hard, as are Shirley's kids.
/dismayoff
