2009 isn't shaping up very well

[sundial]

It's been a trying year already. Mother was diagnosed with cancer before Christmas and had surgery Tuesday. She is recovering and will begin radiation in about a month. We'll travel 100+ miles daily for 5-7 weeks and it will be hard on her since she has a lot of back pain. Then yesterday I found out my favorite foster boy, Luke, died. I emptied out the Kleenex box yesterday. It's been a difficult time for me.

I took Niki, my gsd, on a long trot yesterday and we headed for the pasture where the beautiful horses are. They both came up to me and were nuzzling me gently, as if they knew what I needed. I am so thankful for these special moments.

If you would, please remember me and my family in your thoughts and prayers.

[jobob]

Will do. Hang in there.

[maillotpois]

Sorry Sundial. Take care - it will get better.

[Tokie]

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Hoping that your mother feels stronger and less pain with every passing day. Perhaps you can find some small ritual in the commute to radiation to make it meaningful for one or both of you - something you check every day on your drive(tree, flowers, a house along the way?). Ice cream on the last radiation of the week? Comforting music or favorite podcasts for the drive? A tough start for both of you this year - hang in there. Tokie

[redrhodie]

{{{sundial}}} My thoughts are with you and your mother.

[Tuckervill]

Oh, I'm sorry, Sundial. Are you having to drive to Little Rock? I'm sending some vibes that you feel blessed beyond measure even in the midst of hard times.

Karen

[salsabike]

Ah, Sundial. Keep smooching your animals--they're such a big help in tough times. You will get through this.

[roadie gal]

Big hugs to you and lots of good thoughts for your mother.

[badger]

I'm sorry to hear things are going very well for you. I hope that you'll take care of yourself to stay strong for your mom. Animals sense so much, they know and will hopefully help you in this difficult journey.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm sorry you are going through such a rough time. I hope your mother's situation improves. Life can seem so unfair sometimes.

[OakLeaf]

((((((((Sundial & family))))))))

Sending prayers for healing and serenity.

[Fujichants]

Lots of hugs and sunshine for you and your family!

[NoNo]

Wishing you and your mom the strength to get through this rough time *hug*

[bmccasland]

((((((((((Sundial & family))))))))))

Hopefully it'll only be a rough start, and the rest of the year will be just dandy!

Good juju coming your way from the Big Easy

[sundial]

I'm weeping all over again while reading your kind words. :o

My heart just hurts.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Your heart really can physically hurt through emotionally painful events.

Crying is good medicine- crying is nature's way of flushing the pain out, one teardrop at a time.
I once read that tears of joy and laughter are actually chemically different from tears of anguish. Could our body chemistry be trying to help us during times of crisis?

You'll get through this. Be extra good to yourself right now.

[spokewench]

Sundial - I hope that the rest of 2009 goes much better even if you have to endure some tough times for a while. I am praying that your Mom gets well and kicks that ugly disease. There is nothing I can really say to make you feel better, but I do know what you are going through and I feel for you more than you can know. My 2008 was not a good one so I am hoping for a much better 2009 too.

spoke.

[ClockworkOrange]

(((((Sundial & all your family)))))

Am sending special thoughts and good wishes your way.

Hugs.

Clock

[crazycanuck]

Sundial,

I'm sorry all this is happening to you :(. Cry as much as you need to :)

[solobiker]

Hang in there. You and your family are in my thoughts. Please try to find sometime for youself too. Take care and I am sending positive energy your way.

[sbctwin]

I will keep you and your mom in my prayers. It seems, we get beaten down by multiple trials at one time. I do believe that our furkids know when we need their special touch and are willing to give their all for us when we are down.

[Aggie_Ama]

(((Sundial))) I think the hardest thing many of us will go through is an ill parent. Remember to take just a few moments for yourself. If you need to be frustrated then do it. Have real expectations for how much you can handle and remember you are superwoman even when you feel like bawling your eyes out. Take care of yourself and your mom.

[Flybye]

Sundial, I wish that I had some words that could bring you comfort, but sometimes life is just rotten.
My mother had breast cancer and I have been there through the season of life where she was fighting and was exhausted from radiation. I know how difficult it is to be strong for a parent on the outside when on the inside we are so much like children used to relying on our parents for strength. I know the helpless feelings that go with finding words to comfort a mother with cancer. I am the type of person that is extremely out of my element when it comes to anything medical related - I have anxiety about hospitals and medical related issues. Compound that with any movie that I had ever seen about someone with cancer leaving an impression about how horrible of an experience it is and I was one extremely scared individual.
I hope that as you travel she will have the strength and that you will have time to talk about the important things in life.
I will keep you both in prayer, I know of your confident faith and your heart. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do.

[gingerale]

I'm sending you many prayers tonight for all you are going through, and especially for your mother. I'm just so very sorry.

[jesvetmed]

Sundial: My thoughts are with you and your mother. May you all have the strength to get through this. Try to take care of yourself -- it is so difficult when others need you so much. Lean on anyone you can, and talk to anyone who will listen. And cry .... it all will help some.

[smurfalicious]

I took Niki, my gsd, on a long trot yesterday and we headed for the pasture where the beautiful horses are. They both came up to me and were nuzzling me gently, as if they knew what I needed. I am so thankful for these special moments.


They know. More than you can imagine. Thus why I plan to spend tomorrow night with my big yellow boy. If you can, get a copy of the Tao of Equus. Amazing stuff, whether you're a horse person or not.

Can you volunteer at a local therapeutic horse center? Might be good for them and you. I don't know how people function without a horse. I saved my first horse, and later he did the same for me during a rough teenage career.

Dogs are great, but horses have a different brand of wisdom.

[rocknrollgirl]

I am really sorry, and I will keep you and your family in my thoughts. My Mom had cancer and I know how tough it can be on the whole family. Hang in there.

[Mr. Bloom]

(((sun))) I'm so sorry. May you have an abundance of travel and healing graces. May the doctors have wisdom in plying their trade. May your family have peace.

Are you going to Little Rock? Memphis? St. Louis?

[indigoiis]

Sending bright and warm thoughts your way.

[Ninabike]

{{{{Sundial and family}}}} Thoughts and prayers going your way. Been through that with my mom too. Take care.

[jaydee]

Prayers and best wishes for you from Down Under - I do hope that all goes well for your mum.

[derailed]

My sympathies and best wishes for you.
Remember to eat, to take care of your body, through these hard times.

All my best

[Running Mommy]

Oh Sun... I am so sorry to hear this!! Cancer just SUCKS! But I'm sure your mom doesnt want it to suck the life out of you. So please take care of yourself. Take some time to go outside and breathe some fresh air. Just BREATHE....
And I will be praying for you. Praying lots, and praying often.
hugs!
denise :(

[sundial]

Hi all, I am feeling better and mother is in good spirits as well. I spent some time with the dogs and may have to go visit my horsey neighbors when I'm feeling better (I'm nursing a cold). They always make me smile. :) I don't have access to a horse therapy program to volunteer, but I do volunteer my affection to the ones I meet. :)

I'm working through my grief for my foster boy. I knew he would someday be gone, yet I think of him as living forever. I'm glad I could give him a warm, safe home, a soft bed, and a full tummy.

Thank you for your heartfelt words of support and I will remember them in my quiet moments.

[sundial]

I just got off the phone with mother and she will need more surgery and the doctor wants to start her on chemo as well. Next week we'll learn more pending the results of this surgery.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It has helped me during this time. :)

[wackyjacky1]

Thoughts, prayers, and telepathic hugs are on their way to you and your family.

[GLC1968]

I'm so sorry, Sundial. My husband and I will be thinking of you. Hang in there!

[OakLeaf]

Take care Sundial. I'm keeping you and your mom in my thoughts.

[shootingstar]

Hope the treatment for your mother helps her, sundial. Scary times.
Hoping the best for her and your family.

[DebTX]

Oh Cancer just SUCKS!:(

+ 1
Sun, you're going through a lot and so is your mom. There are many cancer support organizations that can help - answering questions, providing advice, or just a listening ear from those who've been there.

Feel free to PM me if you'd like help accessing support. My thoughts are with you both.

{{{HUGS}}}

[bikerchic]

Sundial I'll keep you and your Mother in my thoughts. I'm sorry you're going through such a trying time, hang in there I've often found I learned some of my best lessons in life when struggling and also how strong I really can be. I'm sure you and your Mother will learn some huge insights from this whole ordeal. It's wonderful that you have each other to lean on too.

[sgtiger]

((((((Sundial))))))
You and your family are in my thoughts and I hope for the best outcome from your mom's treatment.

Luke looks so content in the pic from the pets thread. I'm sure he was a sweety. Thank-you so much for fostering him and giving him a great life. I'm sure he appreciated that too.

[Shiraz]

Sundial,
I am so sorry for that you are going through such hard times. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I pray that you and your mom will experiance some extra special times doing this very trying season and that some of the smallest Blessing will be found. I pray that the nurses, lab techs, MD's and radiology staff will have an special connection with your mom and you.

I am a pediatric nurse and have fallen extra special in love with cancer kids and their parents. Some continue to be friends forever.

Bless you for being a foster mom. I am so sorry for the loss!

[sundial]

I am a pediatric nurse and have fallen extra special in love with cancer kids and their parents. Some continue to be friends forever.

Well, what a blessing you are! :) You must touch so many lives through your compassion. A special hug goes out to you.

Mother had surgery #2 this week and she's recovering well. I think she'll start chemo in about a month or so and maybe radiation too. She's in good spirits as we plug along in this tired, old world. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Dad is having some heart issues as well and it may be due to him trying to clear all the fallen trees and limbs from the ice storm we had.

When it rains, it pours eh? ;)

[mmouwse]

Hugs and positive thoughts for you and your family, Sundial.

[Wahine]

Thinking about you and your family. I've been through the cancer thing a few times now with family members and I truly understand how difficult it is. Take care and do what you need to do for yourself. ((((((HUGS)))))).

[derailed]

Wishing you strength, it's one of those shared experiences I don't wish on anyone.

[Aggie_Ama]

(((Sundial))) Tell your Dad to slow down. Take care of yourself and mom, sending positive vibes your way.

[sundial]

Thank you everyone. I truly feel your prayers at work. Sending a big hug back to you. :) :)

[Tuckervill]

Yep, tell him those limbs will still be there in next week!

Still sending you positive energy your way.

Karen

[Zen]

And remember, you have that token...
I'm sure it's good for more than one ;)

[NbyNW]

Sending prayers your way . . . remember to take some time out for yourself, while you're so busy taking care of others.

Hope your mother's treatments go well.

[ClockworkOrange]

(((Sundial)))

Oh sweetie, yes, you must take care of 'you', make sure you see your close friends, even if only to shed a tear or two.

I so feel for you, have been through similar. I think the hardest thing is appearing strong in front of your Mum but am sure you will.

Am truly sending you as much karma across the globe as I can.

Hugs

Clock

[OakLeaf]

(((((Sundial)))))

Keeping the thoughts and prayers coming. Hang in there.