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Andrea Barnett Budin · 08-18-2007, 12:25 PM

Dear Chelee,

My arms are around you. I know how painful the loss of a parent is. I am glad to read that you were so blessed to have such a strong and wonderful person as your mother. And that your relationship was so very special. May you come to realize what a true blessing that is. For now, it is understandable that you are focusing on the loss of your dear best friend and mom. That is natural. But if you can, step back and see how remarkable that relationship was and appreciate that you had it for so long. It is always too soon to lose someone we love, even if they are ninety nine years old. I surely wish you and your mother could have been together for decades to come. But I do know that she is at peace now, that she is watching over you and that you will meet again. Death is not the end of our story. The Soul survives.

In time, and I pray it is a long, long time for you here in the physical plane -- you will be with your mom again. In the meantime, though she cannot talk, you can hear her. Though you cannot see her, you can sense her presence. As Life goes on, as it must, you will hear your mother's words in your head, responding to little things. Your actions will come spontaneously, but suddenly you will realize that they stem from your mother's example. Your memories and engraved in your heart and it is my prayer that they will serve to comfort you. And may the knowledge that so very many people truly care and grieve with you also help to soothe your sorrow. I wish you peace with what is. Your mom is full of love for you still, just as your love for her endures. Love is indestructible. Eternal. And full of miraculous wonders. With much love and my sincerest condolences, sweet Chelee...
Andi

08-18-2007, 12:25 PM	#49
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	My Dear Chelee Dear Chelee, My arms are around you. I know how painful the loss of a parent is. I am glad to read that you were so blessed to have such a strong and wonderful person as your mother. And that your relationship was so very special. May you come to realize what a true blessing that is. For now, it is understandable that you are focusing on the loss of your dear best friend and mom. That is natural. But if you can, step back and see how remarkable that relationship was and appreciate that you had it for so long. It is always too soon to lose someone we love, even if they are ninety nine years old. I surely wish you and your mother could have been together for decades to come. But I do know that she is at peace now, that she is watching over you and that you will meet again. Death is not the end of our story. The Soul survives. In time, and I pray it is a long, long time for you here in the physical plane -- you will be with your mom again. In the meantime, though she cannot talk, you can hear her. Though you cannot see her, you can sense her presence. As Life goes on, as it must, you will hear your mother's words in your head, responding to little things. Your actions will come spontaneously, but suddenly you will realize that they stem from your mother's example. Your memories and engraved in your heart and it is my prayer that they will serve to comfort you. And may the knowledge that so very many people truly care and grieve with you also help to soothe your sorrow. I wish you peace with what is. Your mom is full of love for you still, just as your love for her endures. Love is indestructible. Eternal. And full of miraculous wonders. With much love and my sincerest condolences, sweet Chelee... Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...