Good luck to you, your son and your mother; you are a special person, because you have learned the greatest lesson that there is to learn in life. May your actions show the rest of the world what lies in your heart... Very nice writing.

I do not know where the strength and courage comes to get up every single day and face this horrific monster. Certainly, no one asks for this type of trial and wants it gone forever. But the fact is that with cancer you don't really have much of a choice but to face it head on and deal with it. You just do what needs to be done and deal with the good and bad. Frankly, if you need to deal with such horror every day and you have no choice in this matter than it is far better to deal with it rationally and positively. Take time to smile and enjoy even the small moments of time with the patient. But, of course, I totally understand the emotional suffering, almost agony that we all deal with during these times. And, in those times you certainly do not feel like smiling or laughing. So, what has always worked for us is to compartmentalize . . do not study the big picture but concentrate on the moment only . . or the day, whatever your situation is.

My son has a very rare sarcoma that presents as multiple masses inside the abdominal cavity. He has never been angry that he has cancer. He has remarkable inner strength and his social worker has often commented that he just knows how to deal with the situation. I have never once heard him complain about chemotherapy or his surgeries. He is always peaceful even in the most dire circumstances and a positive force. He makes it far too easy for me.