6 of 68

Write now Article Tools

I knew something was wrong the minute I called. As my husband and four children got dressed for our first full day at Disney World, a trip paid for in full by my father in law, Tom, I had called Patty, my mother in law to tell her about our upcoming day and to thank them once again for this family vacation. I could hear it in her voice when I asked how the doctor appointment went. "Oh, don't worry about us. Have a good time." I know her pretty well and I could understand that something was happening that she didn't want to tell us, in fear of ruining our vacation.

Tom had been really sick lately, even submitting to letting me take him to the emergency room one afternoon. An active postmaster who gardened, umpired, coached, and refereed sports in his "spare" time and doted on his grand-daughters daily, he had been the epitome of health and wellness. He thought he had come down with some sort of stomach flu in the early summer of 2005 and the doctors at the emergency room had confirmed that. Nothing seemed to be wrong. An appointment was made with another doctor after a couple of weeks when it seemed that he wasn't getting any better. A celebrated Vietnam War veteran, a Marine, he was a tough, proud man and didn't like to be seen as sick. He had his share of health problems over the years, a heart-attack at 40, diabetes, and such, and no one thought he could be really sick.

Patty picked us up at the airport in Pittsburgh and I could see it on her face. Something was wrong. I had tried to get it out of her a couple of times while we were in Florida, but gave up knowing that if something was wrong, he wouldn't let her tell us yet. As we walked through the parking garage, my kids and husband hurrying to the car ahead of us, she looked at me and said, "Don't tell Tommy yet. Tom has cancer." The tears were in her eyes and I looked forward. The van was a few feet away and the happiness and excitement of my husband and kids seemed almost innappropriate to me, although I knew they were ignorant to my knowledge. I didn't know how Patty could keep it in, but I knew there would be a time and place. We drove home while I thought, "I'm sure whatever kind of cancer it is can be cured."

Telling my husband and children was hard, but we made it through it. Tom still had a lot of strenth and had been told that there was a good chance he would make it. He continued to do the things he loved and spent time with my children just as much as before, which

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Reflections: People we miss?
We want to hear your view. Write now!