Some Good News

valeriec
valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you all know that on Friday, my oldest son, my mom's oldest Grandson, will graduate from college.
In May when my mom was diagnosed, our lives were literally turned up side down. My mom is an extremely active, hands on kind of mother, grandmother, and wife. Because of the diagnosis and severe depression that my mom suffered, our summer was a complete blur. There were days when I felt it would never get better. It was terrible to watch my mother who is a loving, caring person, turn into someone that we did not even recognize. The very worst days were the days that she would grab me and plead for me to help her. To feel so helpless, is a terrible thing. Not only was she fighting cancer, but also the depression had a firm hold on her.
With alot of prayer and good medical advise, my mom slowly started to get better. On the very darkest days when my mom wanted to give up, we fought for her-mentally, physically, spiritually-we willed everything in us to help her. To lose our mom, grandma, wife this way was just not an option for my family. We dug in our heels and fought with everything we had, and as I said, my mom slowly started to get better.
Now here it is-December, and my mom is doing very well. She looks beautiful, and her and my dad will be traveling with us to watch their first grandson graduate from college!!!
There is light at the end of every tunnel. Even if you can't see it-keep looking because it IS THERE!!
God has been good to my family and for that we are so grateful. So, as I watch my son graduate on Friday, it will not only be a triumph for him, but also a triumph for my MOM!!! She has fought so hard to get better, and I am so very proud of her.
I can't thank all the wonderful people on this site enough for all of their help during this very difficult and scary time. You all have really been a godsend to me and my family.
God Bless,
ValerieC

P.S. My son is 22, I have been married for 23 years, and I am 40 years old-do the math...Yep, I graduated from high school in May, and had my son in July!! My husband and I beat the odds and God willing so will my mom.

Comments

  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    Valerie -

    HUGE congrats to your son, your mom and, well, your whole family!

    Cheers

    - SpongeBob
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    Valerie,
    That is a real day brightener. It sounds like your whole family has the fighting spirit. Keep it up. Congratulations to your son for his accomplishment, to your mother for getting through her troubles, and to you for perservering (sp?).

    ****
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    Valerie -

    Thanks for sharing the great news. Congrats to your son and so glad your Mom is doing better. Life can still be good.

    Take care,
    Betsy
  • valeriec
    valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member
    spongebob said:

    Valerie -

    HUGE congrats to your son, your mom and, well, your whole family!

    Cheers

    - SpongeBob

    Thanks SB,
    I take it that since I am still seeing you post that you did not get banned for your wild antics the other day.
  • valeriec
    valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member

    Valerie -

    Thanks for sharing the great news. Congrats to your son and so glad your Mom is doing better. Life can still be good.

    Take care,
    Betsy

    Betsy,
    You're right, life can still be good. Sometimes you have to travel through the bad to get to the good-but the good is always there. I count my blessings every day.
    ValerieC
  • valeriec
    valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member
    vinny3 said:

    Valerie,
    That is a real day brightener. It sounds like your whole family has the fighting spirit. Keep it up. Congratulations to your son for his accomplishment, to your mother for getting through her troubles, and to you for perservering (sp?).

    ****

    Thanks so much ****. I have said it before, but it is worth repeating, you are such a strong person, and I appreciate all your help!
    ValerieC
  • lynn1222
    lynn1222 Member Posts: 105
    congrats to your son, graduating and going through this with your family must have been hard for him. big hugs to your mom and your family for getting through this, your mom is a fighter and with god on your side you cant go wrong. god has told us over and over in john 1 15;7 for as long as you are in me, and for as long as my word is in you, whatever you wish will be given. god bless you and your family and i couldnt be happier.
  • Sam725
    Sam725 Member Posts: 87 Member
    Valerie,
    I am new here but so glad to hear your mom is doing so much better. She is a very lucky mom, wife, and grandma to have a family who fought tooth and nail to help her get better. Also tell your son congradulations on his graduation. My son is also 22 and a super senior (he won't graduate till next October) but like you we are very proud of him. He is the first college graduate from my and my husbands families (and a mechnical engineer yet!)plus our other son is in college working on a criminal justice degree. Thank you for letting all us newbies that there is light at the end of the tunnel. God Bless you and your family. Sandy
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    valeriec said:

    Thanks SB,
    I take it that since I am still seeing you post that you did not get banned for your wild antics the other day.

    Well, I tell ya... Greta was gonna kick me off, but I did a couple spins and she totally forgot about banning me!

    The hings I do to keep you people graced with my presence.

    Yep, all that and he's modest, too...
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    Thanks for posting your story. Your family's courage through such a tough struggle will be inspiration for all of us. jams
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    Way to go Mom and Dad!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you and your mother. She has got to be proud of you. Next your youngest will be a basketball star!!!!!

    Enjoy every day just like y'all are doing.

    Southern hugs and have a great time this weekend.

    Your friend, Lisa P.
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    Valerie,

    What a beautiful and uplifting post. I know that you are so proud of both your mother and son. Not only did your post help some of the newbies, but some of us oldies as well. Some days I wonder if we will ever be at that happy place you are now. You posts lets us know that things can, and do get better.

    I am sure that your family will be the ones with the biggest smiles on Friday. You deserve it!!

    Best wishes to your family.

    Betty
  • valeriec
    valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member
    Sam725 said:

    Valerie,
    I am new here but so glad to hear your mom is doing so much better. She is a very lucky mom, wife, and grandma to have a family who fought tooth and nail to help her get better. Also tell your son congradulations on his graduation. My son is also 22 and a super senior (he won't graduate till next October) but like you we are very proud of him. He is the first college graduate from my and my husbands families (and a mechnical engineer yet!)plus our other son is in college working on a criminal justice degree. Thank you for letting all us newbies that there is light at the end of the tunnel. God Bless you and your family. Sandy

    Hi Sam,
    Wow, your family sounds a lot like mine. My oldest, the one that is graduating, would have LOVED to be a super senior, but with strong urging from his dad went to school year around-even summers. He is a construction engineer. Go figure, his dad owns a construction company. Our next oldest, also a boy, started college this fall. Same school as his brother. He is not sure what he is doing yet, maybe teaching?? I am voting for that since I am a special education teacher. (Took this yr off to support my mom) Our youngest is 13 and is seriously working on going straight into the NBA. No college for him, or so he thinks!!
    I have read your posts and will keep your family in my prayers. Talk to you soon,
    ValerieC
  • valeriec
    valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member
    jams67 said:

    Thanks for posting your story. Your family's courage through such a tough struggle will be inspiration for all of us. jams

    Hi Jams,
    I hope that my family's story can help someone else. I know that coming here and finding all you wonderful people is what gave my family hope.
    Thanks,
    ValerieC
  • valeriec
    valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member
    scouty said:

    Way to go Mom and Dad!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you and your mother. She has got to be proud of you. Next your youngest will be a basketball star!!!!!

    Enjoy every day just like y'all are doing.

    Southern hugs and have a great time this weekend.

    Your friend, Lisa P.

    Thanks Lisa,
    One down and two to go, or maybe only one since the youngest thinks he is going straight into the NBA!!
    WE have learned from you to enjoy everyday-took us awhile, but we got there.
    Cold Colorago hugs to you!!
    ValerieC
  • valeriec
    valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member

    Valerie,

    What a beautiful and uplifting post. I know that you are so proud of both your mother and son. Not only did your post help some of the newbies, but some of us oldies as well. Some days I wonder if we will ever be at that happy place you are now. You posts lets us know that things can, and do get better.

    I am sure that your family will be the ones with the biggest smiles on Friday. You deserve it!!

    Best wishes to your family.

    Betty

    Betty,
    Thank you for your kind and generous post. Keep looking, I know the light is there. Things do get better-I know my mom is not out of the woods yet, but I am just so proud of her for coming so far. Your family will be in my prayers.
    ValerieC
  • valeriec
    valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member
    lynn1222 said:

    congrats to your son, graduating and going through this with your family must have been hard for him. big hugs to your mom and your family for getting through this, your mom is a fighter and with god on your side you cant go wrong. god has told us over and over in john 1 15;7 for as long as you are in me, and for as long as my word is in you, whatever you wish will be given. god bless you and your family and i couldnt be happier.

    Dear Lynn,
    My family has relied on God to get us this far, and plan on Him to get us the rest of the way.
    I love your posts-they are very uplifting. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
    Have Faith,
    ValerieC
  • valeriec
    valeriec Member Posts: 348 Member
    spongebob said:

    Well, I tell ya... Greta was gonna kick me off, but I did a couple spins and she totally forgot about banning me!

    The hings I do to keep you people graced with my presence.

    Yep, all that and he's modest, too...

    Modesty is over rated. Thanks for sacrificing yourself (by spinning) Don't know what this board would do with out you-and I mean that!
    ValerieC