So...whats for dinner?
Comments
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Joyce,
Thanks for the update on Michelle. I know this is very hard for you but we, here, appreciate the updates. Even though the news isn't good, it is better than not knowing.
Michelle,
Through your words here and on your blog I have traveled to places that I most likely will never see in person but have 'seen' through your eyes and, with your beautiful writing style, I felt as though I was there!
Lunches at Pickety Place, Paris, Hawaii (twice), Vegas (hot air balloon ride to spread your Mom's ashes), KC trip and Marco Island....
I know you didn't set out to be an 'inspiration' to me or anyone else. You were just living your life for all it was worth! And did you, ever!!!
But... along the way... Anyone who read your words and came to 'know' you either in person or just the 'virtual' you, could not help but feel inspired!
Your incredible energy, love of family and friends, strength, fear, hopefulness, willingness to lend an ear and offer support and, above all, an absolute appreciation and joy in everything that life has to offer rang through in every post here and every entry on your blog. Lessons to be learned by all!
If life were fair, I would not be typing this. But unfortunately it's not. You have said that you would live your life until you couldn't and you did just that and with extraordinary style and grace!!!
I hope that your passing is free from pain and gentle and I pray for peace and comfort for your family.
My life is better for having known you and I will forever remember you! God speed, my friend! Until we meet again....
Joyce, if you see Michelle tomorrow, could you please let her know how very much she means to all of us?0 -
Seaside, you so beautifully expressed what so many of us feel about having Michelle in our lives. Thank you.
I hope that Joyce can share that with Michelle tomorrow...she can most likely hear even if unable to respond.
(((((HUGS to all)))))0 -
Seaside that is beautifully written and expressed.0 -
Seaside: Yes, what a wonderful tribute to Michelle. Sending wishes and prayers for a peaceful passing and holding the family in my thoughts.0 -
Seaside, beautifully said.
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Seaside, thank you for saying so elequently what I have been feeling and thinking. I, too, love you Michelle.
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God be with you, and your family, Michelle.
Eric
I hate cancer....0 -
Me too!
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seaside - thank you for putting into well chosen words exactly what I was thinking about Michelle - I met a friend for lunch yesterday, we happened to eat at the same restaurant I went to with Michelle, I even ordered the same soup I had with her - as I got to "know" Michelle on BCO when she and I were growing our hair back from chemo at the same time (summer of '11) I realized then that she was a woman who really lived her life, and that I could learn from her about not wasting time and about how important our connections to the others in our lives are - not that I didn't know these things, I just observed her very outward example of fully maximizing this. She lived with joy in the face of sorrow, she is the definition of grace. I am so lucky to have witnessed it, and had the opportunity to know her.0 -
Seaside and special k You captured my thoughts about Michelle perfectly. Well Said and I know we all here feel the same way. Michelle is one special lady! She has definitely left her footprint in this world.
Blessings to her very special family.0 -
Michelle's daughter just posted this over on my Stage IV thread:
I'm afraid my next update here will be to tell you all of mom's passing. She is resting comfortably and pain free at home. She is no longer able to open her eyes for more than a few moments. The nurses have told us that she will be gone in the next few days. She is surrounded by family and we are all grateful for the cards, letters, and warm wishes. I think, even though she can't talk to us anymore, that mom is still listening and that she's pissed and angry that cancer is winning this terrible war. There was never acceptance, only an amazing fighting spirit that refused to give in even for a moment. My mom is a brave warrior and I know she would tell you all to keep fighting with everything you've got, but above all to live as if there is no tomorrow.0 -
Susan, thanks for posting that beautiful but heartbreaking message from Michelle's daughter. She is losing her mother way too soon, yet has so much that Michelle has given her and their whole family. She is leaving with them a loving legacy of care and amazing courage. Peace and love to all of Michelle's loved ones at this painful time.....and, of course,appreciation and love to Michelle.0 -
Praying for a peaceful painfree passing for Michelle. And praying for strength for her family and friends as they say goodbye to a most amazing lady.
I HATE CANCER.....0 -
Heartbroken, hope Michelle has a peaceful transition. She's such an inspiration to me.0 -
So sad... Seaside/special k your posts brought tears to my eyes and then I read susan's post. There are no words except I F*CKING HATE CANCER. Thinking of Michelle and her family.
Hugs everyone xxxx0 -
Feeling very sad about Michelle. Sad for her family, sad for her friends and sad for her because she loved life and fought so hard to go on living.0 -
Crushed.
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Enveloping Michelle and her family in gentle hugs. Hoping for a gentle peaceful passing and comfort for her family.0 -
Susan,
Thanks for posting the update on Michelle here. Just still trying to get my head around all of this. Still not willing to believe that the end is near, yet knowing that it is.
Sentiments gathered from this thread in the last day or so...
Enveloping Michelle and her family in gentle hugs, Crushed, sad, life won't be the same without her, I HATE F*CKING CANCER, heartboken, praying for a peaceful, painfree passing, (Christine) losing her mother way to soon, left her footprint on this world, lived with joy in the face of sorrow and is the definition of grace, God be with you, I hate cancer, I love you, Michelle, Thoughts, as always, are with Michelle and her family, Sending wishes and prayers for a peaceful passing and holding the family in my thoughts, I hope her family can find solace and peace in their hearts, What a strong and courageous woman, and an inspiration to everyone who is blessed to know her, May that love help them through this passage, My heart goes to Michelle and her family. I pray that they have peace at such a horribly difficult time.
Thinking of Michelle and family. Sending caring thoughts to all here!
Maureen,
Glad to see you post here! Much as you all have welcomed me on the Western NY thread, please know that you are always welcome here!0 -
((((Everyone)))) This is heartbreaking.0 -
My nephew, Richie, came home on leave, he is in the Marines. His mother is my sister who is living with me and he came over to visit us. I showed him the work done in the bathroom and then he went into my bedroom with me, I said, "Say "hi" to Uncle Jack." He just looked sadly at the wooden urn and I started crying, he gave me a big hug. It has been 5 months. Watching someone die is heartbreaking. My DH died on the 29th of May at 2:15 in the morning, my DD was born on December 29th at 2:15 in the morning.0 -
So sad about Michelle. She was one of the first people I met on this site two years ago and she was so encouraging. I never thought she would be leaving us so soon. I'm glad Hospice is taking care of her...they are such a loving caring group of people. They were with my DA in her final days and made her so comfortable. She passed peacefully. I send prayers to Michelle and her family.0 -
"Die Gedanken Sind Frei". It's a German folk song that was (is) often used in protests and conveys the idea that despite the body being imprisoned, one's mind remains free.
When MIckey was having a particularly rough time with chemo and later when she was in hospice, I'd hum that song to her to remind her that despite her body betraying and imprisoning her....her mind was still free to go where ever she wanted and do what ever she wanted. It *always* got a smile from her.
Hopefully Michelle will like it too.0 -
Eric,
Beautiful!0 -
There are no words for what Michelle and her family and loved ones are going through. Yet so many of you here have done so well expressing yourselves and what is happening. Thank you to all of you for saying things in a way that has brought us comfort because we feel the same.
I am reminded, obviously, of my mothers passing. She passed at home with all of us around her. She had mets to liver, lungs, bones and brain-yet her passing was very peaceful. I pray that her family and Michelle has the same experience. I miss her terribly. But that night- the night she passed was not about me or us- it was her journey. It needed to come to a conclusion. Heartbreaking but true.
Hugs to all- I hope that made sense.0 -
Lsurie,
Yes, it makes total sense!0 -
Seaside- Some people look at me as if I am odd when I say I did not cry the night my mother passed. But I didn't. I have cried a lot since then. Yet that night, I was so happy that her suffering was over. We played her favorite music, lit candles and talked to her and told her all was well.
I think that is what it is like when you love someone more than you love yourself. I wished peace for her more than I was concerned about losing my Mum.
I don't know- this is such a hard time for Michelle and her family. I am so sorry that they are going through this. It's not right.0 -
Michelle, her family and all of her friends are in my prayers this evening. I am new to the boards and never had a conversation with her, but I can feel the love and respect all of you had for her and I am sorry for your sadness. I found her blog and have spent the last hour or so reading. Reading about her journey with BC and love of her family,friends and traveling. She made me laugh with her Christmas Bunny PJ's. I was excited to think of being up in a Hot Air Balloon and her travels and cry because she had so much will and life and it is not fair that after fighting so hard, the medicines didn't work.
It really isn't fair
Vivian0 -
Michelle- I hope you have a gentle passing, you will be missed so much. I will think of you every time I eat popcorn, or look at a hot air balloon, or see a bunny outfit, I will think of you often and will smile at the joy you brought us all. And I will miss you dearly. I am so heartbroken and have tears rolling down my face. I am sorry to all who have got to meet Michelle in person and all her family and friends. She is definitely one of a kind.
Seaside- Your words made me cry too, so beautifully written.0 -
Laurie, your words and sentiment make perfect sense. To be selfless as you were at the end of a loved one's life is so loving. Your family made for a beautiful, peaceful passing for your Mum. I think the same is happening for Michelle, given her caring family.
Oh, this is so hard for everyone......a courageous woman so full of life and adventure, having it ripped away by a senseless force. Strength to all who are struggling to cope with the loss of this special friend.
((((((Strength)))))0
