Good morning. Don't really have much to say today, mostly because I'm not sure anyone is reading. Yes, I have a couple of regulars who post comments, but seriously, I'm starting to feel like I'm talking to myself. And yeah.... it's getting OLD.
I am happy to report that both Reilly and Rory have started to receive donations on their fundraising pages. Thank you SO much to those of you who have shown your support.
I just posted new pics on Shutterfly... go take a look-see.
That's all for now... shiz to do.
Later gators...
S
www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/rory-streight/fordaddy
www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/reilly-streight
***On another note.... STILL haven't gotten any response to my e-mail to the troll. Shocker. I also forwarded the boys' fundraising page info... NADA. Nice. Yep... sub-human.
Trying to survive and thrive, through the most difficult time in my life.
Welcome!
So here's the Reader's Digest version for those of you who are new to my blog.... My 39 year old husband, David, was diagnosed with a hideous and deadly cancer in April of '08. We were told he'd likely die in less than 4 months. Obviously, that diagnosis turned us inside out and shook us to the core. At the time, our boys were 12 and 4... can you say 'fucking nightmare'??? I spent the next 14 months being his 24/7 caregiver and advocate... never leaving his side unless it was to get the boys to or from therapy or their cancer support groups. Cancer and the hell that it brings became our universe. And yet, I was able to get myself to a place where I was depending on my faith.... existing on a plane of pure gratitude. I focused my energies on recognizing the blessings that cancer had brought to our lives... yes, there ARE blessings that come with such a dire diagnosis.
Things were good. David miraculously entered remission in April of '09. I was looking forward to the next few months being our 'summer of healing' as a family. And then my world stopped. He left me... left US... on 6 June 2009. And FYI... he told me he was ending our 18 year marriage in a note. As if that wasn't bad enough, he had left me for a 'friend' who also happened to be married. Nice. The next few months are a blur... I descended into a deep, dark depression, and David's vicious treatment of me didn't help. He was running as fast as he could from everything associated with cancer, and that included me... our family, our home and the entire life we had built together. Things went from bad to worse when his cancer returned with a vengeance. He began treatment once again, and I had to dig deep to help him and make things as easy on him as possible. I even offered to have him move home so I could care for him through his treatment. As it turns out, it was a good thing he didn't take me up on that. The hateful way that he treated me during that time would have made caregiving for him an unbearable situation. I KNEW he was dying... nobody else did, because he fed them all kinds of bullshit... but I knew. Because of that, I focused on the boys and made sure they were with their daddy as much as possible.
His final months were a living nightmare... a kind of pain and darkness for which there are no words. No human being, no matter who they are or how they lived their lives, should have to suffer the horrific pain and endless indignities that David did. In spite of everything, I was with him constantly, much to the chagrin of his girlfriend and his mother. 'Too fuckin bad' was my theory. I wanted my boys to see that I NEVER turned my back on their dad. And I didn't. I continued to advocate for him in the hospital... fighting to get him the meds and the specialists he needed. I was there during his final moments of consciousness. I took Reilly to say goodbye to his dad, just before he slipped into that state. I was there when he died. I ID'd his body at the funeral home. I planned his funeral and his Celebration of Life. I placed his ashes in the wall of the Columbarium at the Naval Academy. We had spent half of our lives together, and though I was no longer in love with him, I did those things out of respect for the life that we shared and the family that we created.The 6 months since he died have brought more changes. I struggle daily to untangle the financial disaster he left me, and I'm fighting like hell to keep our home. The boys are now 15 and 7 and trying to learn how to move forward in their lives without their daddy. I had to get a part-time job after spending 15 years as a full-time mother, and I'm doing everything I can to trim the fat so we can afford to stay where we are. My boys NEED the stability and comfort that come with remaining in our home and community, and staying in their schools. To that end, I will fight with every fiber of my soul to ensure that those things happen.My greatest blessing is that I now have an incredible man in my life... a man who is thoughtful and loving, strong and sensitive, hilariously funny, and who loves me just the way I am. He is authentic. He knows who he is and is completely comfortable in his own skin. It certainly doesn't hurt that he's 11 years younger than I am and sexy as hell. :0)Yes, my boys are struggling in many ways... the therapy and support groups continue... and I still have MUCHO 'death business' to handle. That said, I am starting to believe that there might be a happy future ahead... for all of us.The past almost 3 years have been quite an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. Writing has been the most important part of my day, every day, since this journey began. I am once again being put in a position where I have to learn to survive... spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially... you get the picture. My hope is that I can hold on to my faith, find a moment of joy in every day, be the best mother I can possibly be, and hopefully... one day... emerge back into the light.December 2010
Shizzam! I must admit these days I am busier than a one legged person in an asskicking contest. So I do not get to check out the site like I could before I was working...My coworker wasn't feeling well yesterday and she didn't look so good either so i convinced her to go see the doctor....she went home for a while, felt worse, went the to ER and found out her blood pressure was so high she was a walking talking stroke in the making....now she is on medication that "could" (oh yeah you betcha) make her a little loopy and forgetful! Damn got that right. She is way loopy! Honestly it explains so much!
ReplyDeleteAndy is still in Virginee with his mom. I think she is holding him hostage actually. Collin went for his interview with the Bundesrepublik thing which was in Richmond and he stayed with Granny in Culpeper. He said that she seems totally out of it and not at all herself. I am wondering if they have her on so much medication we need to find her a senior home. She is also having multiple panic attacks and is often confused. Andy is not comfortable leaving her alone even though his sister lives in that town. It would be nice to have my husband come home. It has been a month since I have seen him. Collin also said that she has changed NADA since her husband passed in 2006 and it feels like Gpa is going to walk through the door at any minute. Even his jackets are still on the coat rack. I know there is no time frame for grief but I am starting to wonder if perhaps her keeping everything exactly the same is some how keeping her stuck in her grief because she is so weepy about it and can't even share funny stories without getting really sad and it makes it so that no one wants to talk about Fran around her. I think that would be worse but then again I really don't know what it is like to be in her shoes.
The nicer the days get here the longer the coach keeps the kids on the water and the longer practice is for us too! Of course our coach comes right out and says, "who the hell cares about homework when you should be erging!"
I feel your pain!!!!
AOT
Prayers
hugs
Spunky