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Thinking of Briana
October 19, 2008 |
For the past few days I’ve been quite unwell - fever, sore throat, a blocked nose and runny eyes. Plus, Jai’s away. I can’t leave the house ‘cos I feel too unwell to drive. I feel self-pity until I think of Briana.
Bri would trade anything to be in my shoes right now. All of you locked hands to build her a little comfort zone as she fought to stop the aggressive spread of cancer through her body.
We visited her last month and posted an update.
Her mother-in-law Cynthe’s latest e-mail arrived after they celebrated an early Thanksgiving last weekend. Bri’s always brimming with ideas, and this was one of them - an impromptu gathering of friends and family to count their blessings and express gratitude to and for each other. A few phone calls and e-mails later, they had a houseful of people coming together to spread some love, laughs, and enjoy a memorable meal.
As for Bri’s health, Cynthe says:
Bri is coping with her cancer journey as best as she can, with lots of loving help from family, friends and kindly medical personnel. Bri’s now on a management program of weekly taps to clear up the excessive pleural fluids in her lungs. The two compression fractures in her neck have not been responding to treatment, however the cervical collar has kept her pain free - an incredible miracle in itself. She remains cheerful, positive, sweet, and grateful.
Her family has signed her up for hospice care. Please keep her in your thoughts.
Somehow, I’d forced myself to think I’d never have to hear it. Our sweet, precious Briana - all of 30 years of age - is going into hospice care.
I sent her a letter a few days ago. I didn’t plan what I would say. Just sat down with pen and paper and wrote and wrote until I ran out of words. Then I read it for typos, ran out and mailed it. One is easily tempted to say “be brave, stay strong.” Thankfully, I didn’t. Who am I to tell her how she should respond?
What would you say to your friend going through the darkest moments in her life?
- b.
breast-cancer, Briana Brownlow, Defeat Cancer, MUSINGS, NaBloWriMo
Hope you’re feeling much better now. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with Bri, her family and friends.
Paz
Sending healing vibes to Bri and keeping her and you in my thoughts and prayers.
I once read “If you are jealous of what some one else has and you don’t, the misery is never ending, but when you can be grateful for what you do have your happiness can be endless”
My heart goes out to Bri, and she is an inspiration for courage and hope.
Hope you are feeling better, Bee. I suppose all you can say is “I am here for you,” love and prayers to Bri.
my sous chef has just been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
there’s pretty much nothing we could say or do to erase the worries in a cancer patient’s mind, as he/she waits for doctor’s diagnosis
what helps? watching FRIENDS
call it a distraction therapy or even a denial…but nothing beats seeing a smile on sous chef’s face or hearing him giggle again
[...] will not forget all the posts they have made to help late Briana and collect money for her [...]