To: FIGHT FOR MY LOVE - My Message to You :)

Good Mornin', Fight

How are you doing this morning?

I think I already know...you are probably very anxious and nervous and maybe even a little bit scared. That's OK, all of us and our caregivers too, get anxious and nervous before a surgery too.

I know you opened a post already about you and your husband's surgery for Sept 2nd...but I just wanted to open up this post to talk about you, I hope that's OK?

As I sit here thinking...What I remember about you is that when I first started reading your posts, I saw a young woman who was frightened and scared and was not sure at that time of What to Do. Your husband had just been diagnosed with Cancer and it was a big shock to the both of you and you were frantic in your search on what to expect and what to do to help him. I heard the "pain & hurting" in your posts and always wondered what could I do to help you.

I mean here you were...brand new to the United States...you had just gotten married...you were ready to try and build your lives....and then WHAMMO!

Your story made my heart hurt and my eyes water...I thought she's got alot to go through just moving over here with all of your family overseas...she's really an amazing woman!

Flash forward to now - My what a difference in the woman that I talk to today! You've always been brave - but I see your strength coming out now as well. No longer are you scared anymore - you are resolved to "FIGHT FOR YOUR LOVE" and fight is just what you've done. I see someone now who is meeting this trial in her life head-on with the utmost determination and tenacity. To be here on the sidelines "watching you grow" has been one of the most beautiful things that I've witnessed. It's been sheer poetry in motion...

You are becoming the strong and beautiful woman that you never knew that you could be! It's taken Cancer to show that to yourself and everybody - but it's true how much Cancer changes our whole being on "the inside" and we become so much more from this experience. I've seen it time and time again with so many of us, including myself.

I think that is one of the biggest ironies in Life - Cancer is trying to kill us in one sense - and maybe it does to a certain degree - but the metamorphosis and the changes that occur in us from Cancer, makes us all that we ever could hope to be! It's a beautiful transformation, like watching a butterfly emerge from a c o c o o n, you know?

And once we defeat IT, then we take what we've learned and try to be a blessing to anybody whose lives we can touch...and as we pay it forward, the World becomes a much better place for all of us to be in

And lastly, I just wanted to thank you for your continued friendship. You are one of "OUR" biggest cheerleaders! I can always hear your footsteps comin' over the hill to respond to a post that I've written and you've always supported not only me, but everyone else here on the Board as well...I've read, so I know this to be true...you are always positive and offering your support to everybody here...WE THANK YOU FOR THAT!

You are a beautiful spirit, so genuine and pure. You are also very intelligent, with a good sense of humor and wit and a good head on your shoulders. I think your husband is very lucky to have you as his CareGiver - you tell him that for me

You are a fighter and I know you will never give up - and you will win this battle - and you and your husband will then build your lives and move forward, knowing that nothing else that comes your way in Life, will be able to get you down. You will be prepared to handle it.

So, from Texas to You, I will have my alarm set for 9:45 am (CST) on September 2nd - I will pray for a successful surgery and a great outcome for the both of you.

It pains me that you will be physically alone in the waiting room and if I could, I would be there sitting with you...but please know that you will not WALK ALONE tomorrow on this portion of your journey - ALL of your Semi;Colon family will walk that mile with you with our hopes and spirits right there with you. You can count on that.

I look forward to hearing from you with a surgery update...it's been my priviliege in getting to know what a wonderful person that you are. This Board continues to be an inspiration to me and some of the most truly amazing people on the planet are right here "in this room."

All the Best - Your Prayer Will Be Answered.

Your friend
-Craig