An Introduction

This is my sister, Lea Ann and her adorable granddaughter Lyza. Her daughter is Lorin. They are the three L's. Earlier this year she and I spent 3 days together going to see my grandmother who was ill. After that trip, I realized that I don't know when or if I have ever spent that much time alone with her. We had a great time and talked about everything under the sun. It was great to connect with her in a way that had never happened before. She is a strong person, a great mom, and a good friend. She also still likes to sleep right under me just like when we were kids which is very annoying, but that is beside the point.

2 weeks ago, she went for a biopsy and I went to sit and wait at the hospital. I just couldn't stay away. The doctors said it was looking all clear but he was wrong. She has breast cancer. Those last four words feel huge, like I should be screaming them instead of calmly typing away.

So many feelings have come to me since her diagnosis. Fear for her, fear for me, anger, sorrow.... I cannot imagine what she feels. We have laughed and cried together. I almost got in the car yesterday and drove to Temple just because I wanted to look at her again. Buy her dinner or something to make her feel better or maybe to make me feel better.

My parents have responded so badly to this, so selfishly that I wonder what planet they came from. We laughed the other day that we are alien spawn. She is facing a double mastectomy and all they seem to care about is how it might mess up their vacation, a month long cruise. Honestly they should just go and let the rest of the family help. But I think they will stay and whine about the sacrifices they make. And then I may remove their heads.

The good news is that she caught it early and she will not have to do radiation or chemo. She has a 99% chance of survival. Still I am having a hard time thinking and doing normal things like laundry and cleaning toilets right now. It is so hard trying to be normal when my sister has cancer.