Today I Post With A Heavy Heart

I normally don't bare my soul on my blog. I prefer that it remain upbeat, with a few occasional gripes here and there. But today, I am filled with anger and sadness.
My beautiful sister Linda called me on Friday crying her eyes out and with mixed emotions of anger and fear.
She was diagnosed with Lung Cancer (not just for smokers anymore), last year on Mothers Day weekend. She told me on the phone that she would fight it with every ounce of power that she had.
She held true to her word, she endured many chemo treatments from May until August of last year. Never once complaining of nausea, fear, the lack of hair or the question of "why me"?
The rest of the family was left asking that question, "why her"? She's a loving wife, mother and grandmother, she works for a living, doesn't purposely hurt other human beings..."why her"?
I felt totally helpless. I did as much research on the subject that a person without knowing a thing about cancer could do. I was there for her when she had doubts and questions. I told her to keep eating, fighting the good fight. She did, and very well.
She only had one more chemo treatment to go the week after her 56th birthday, so we had a surprise Birthday party for her. She had mentioned to my mother that she would love to start riding a bike again after her treatments were over. My mothers gift to her was a brand new bicycle.











She made sure she went for each and every appointment with her oncologist after the treatments were done. We all prayed every three months when she had to have numerous tests to see how she was doing. For nine months, she was free of the cancer demon, until this last test.
When she called me crying this past Friday, it was to tell me that the cancer is back, only this time in her left lung. My heart sunk to the floor, and we cried together. I'm very selfish and asked her if she would consider coming here (2-1/2 hours away from home) to have her treatments and stay with Mr. R and myself. I just want to take her in my arms and protect her from everything that I know she must endure.
Linda herself knows what battles lie ahead of her. She is the strongest, bravest and most beautiful woman I know.
All I ask from anyone is, please please lift her in your thoughts when we thank the the millions of soldiers from past, present and future, that are protecting our country, so that we may live a free life.