What is this thing?

What is this thing called cancer? Has life ever smacked you in the face? Did you wake up? So many times I've heard people talk about cancer. So many times I have heard stories about loved ones passing too early from cancer. I've heard about the treatments, the radiation, the hair loss, the kids that were left without a mom or dad too soon, the spouses that had to do it on their own. I have heard so many stories, so many I don't even have enough fingers .

What I can't do is say that I ever truly internalized it. It was always someone else and I never really saw or felt the hurt the family was going through. I just 'heard' about it. My friend Debbie is battling cancer and it is aggressively getting the best of her. We went to visit her the other night and although she seemed exhausted and beat she still had a bit of quick wit about her. Her husband sat next to her in such a way that said "I am here for you and I love you no matter what". Her father continously checked on her calling her "his little girl". Her mother hugged and embraced us and welcomed us in her home even though she is struggling with what I believe, has to be the hardest thing a mother ever would have to do deal with. It brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat just thinking about what they are all going through.

It hurts a whole lot to see someone sick. Someone that you smiled with, talked with, laughed with, celebrated with, someone that became part of your life. I'm awake and I am listening and I know one thing -I hate this thing called cancer and what it does to waayyyy too many people and their families.

Please continue to pray for Debbie and her family.