Life is too short.....my story of my friend Mary

         I have a friend, her name is Mary, who I met through Kindermusik when my daughter was a baby. She created a playgroup (we still get together 3 years later!) and was one of my first friends when I moved to VA. Anyone who needed someone to watch their child, she would offer her time and home expecting nothing in return. When we moved, she watched my daughter so we could get things done (that is hard to do with a 2 yr old!). They were always there for everyone.

        Starting in February she began to get headaches. Taking medicine in time helped so she didn't really think about them. She then started to lose weight and feel sick. Maybe it was morning sickness (she's 31). She finally went to see a doctor. They did an MRI and found a brain tumor. They started chemo and radiation right away. She became very weak and lost a lot of her memory. Even then, she was thinking of others. Four weeks after treatment ended, she had another MRI. They found that the tumor was still growing and the treatment did not have any effect. They have given her about 6 months (that was about 2 months ago). She has double vision in one eye and sleeps most of the time. She is staying at her in-laws. Her son likes to stay there when he can to be close to her. Her son is 5 and starts Kindergarten this fall. Her daughter's birthday is tomorrow (she will be 3).

        She is a tremendous person who helped so many of her friends when it was needed. I can only hope that she will find peace and that her family will be able to go on with their lives the best they can.

        I've learned to enjoy the time we have because we never know what will happen or when.

        Thanks for reading. It helps to put these things in words.