Cancer Diary: Happy Valentine's Day, Carl



Dear Carl,

Tomorrow is Valentine's day, the first one without you. I want you to know that I received the note above a couple of days after you died. I do not know why it took over a week to reach me; perhaps I was distracted with your dying and spending every minute I could with you even though you were barely aware (seemingly) of what was going on around you.

I am told that with the brain fog from hypercalcemia and chemotherapy, it would have taken much effort for you to be able to get online and write this note. I am so glad that you did. That note is the centerpiece on our bureau now.

Thank you, too, for the poppies. I know you loved California poppies; that is why I asked you to send me poppy flowers after you died so that I would know that you are okay. Well, even though all the flower books say that poppy season ended six months ago, you have done a good job of keeping at least a couple of the poppy plants blooming. The one at the bottom of the hill had three blossoms yesterday, spreading their petals under the sun. I assume that is your doing. I assume it will be easier for you when poppy season starts in a couple of months. 

Until then, those poppies of yours remind me of your love every day when I leave home, and the note on the bureau reminds me of it when I come back home.

Tomorrow, I am going to buy one of those little boxes of chocolates you always gave me for Valentine's Day. Tomorrow will be the best day this week.

BTW - I love ! 

sent from Betty's laptop


FEBRUARY IS CANCER PREVENTION MONTH!

Blog editor's note: As a memorial to Carl, and simply because it is truly needed, MSI is now hosting a web page, Carl's Cancer Compendium, as a one-stop starting point for all things cancer, to make it easier for those with cancer to find answers to questions that can otherwise take hours to track down on the Internet and/or from professionals. The web page is in its infancy but expected to expand into robustness. To that end, it is expanded and updated weekly. As part of this effort, each week, on Monday, this blog will carry an informative, cancer-related story -- and be open to guest posts: Cancer Diary. 

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