by Lynn Martin

Created on: April 06, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

I am on my third cancer announcement in my short 28 years of life.

First was my uncle, from the day he informed the family he gave no impression of being deterred by this and only assumed he would survive for the sake of his own family. His battle didn't seem as hard from a distance as I'm sure it really was for him and his wife. His cancer affected a bone in his sternum and required a bone marrow transplant. A call went out to us for testing to see if there is a match in the family that could possibly donate. A match was found in his own children and treatment began. It took two years but the battle was overcome! He went into remission and has stayed there for several years.

When the second announcement came from my aunt we were all very encouraged because our uncle was a survivor. Her cancer a very different type, but we all had very high hopes. As treatment went on, bad news on top of bad news continued to roll in. Our hopes and spirits taking a large hit. Each person in the family began to make visits to see her as she continued through her treatment, trying to make sure to encourage her to continue. She was already a widow of 8 years, with no children. We watched, in tears, as her will to beat this dwindled. Just two years after the diagnosis, she called with the news, "There is nothing more to be done."

My heart hit the floor. I love this woman with all my heart, she has cared for me like her own daughter my whole life and now she is frail and ready to die. I ran to her side the moment she said she could no longer live alone. I stayed with her that entire last month. A decision I will never regret. And when she slipped off into the next life I remember how happy I was that she was no longer in pain.

Not even 4 months later that fateful call came again. This time my Grandmother, "They don't know much yet, but it's cancer. They think it's skin cancer. I'll know more later." My heart still in pieces from the loss of my aunt. My will to fight diminished. Exhausted by all of the happenings of the previous year, in tears I stood in my house next to a silent phone. Feeling too tired to battle yet another invisible enemy. This journey is very new and the pain of pending loss still very fresh.

I am still unsure of the outcome in this new battle in my life. I can hope for the best yet after the past battles I know that the odds are held mostly in the hands of the patient. I will fight until the very end but never will I call this thief anything less than evil.

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