I’m finally writing!!  It has been an incredible 5 years and throughout many folks suggested that I write down and document my journey. And guess what, I didn’t do it, does that sound familiar?

So hear I am, at a point where I want to offer you glimpses into my journey, not to solicit sympathy but to help you cope and share your stories.  I am in the process of writing a book , titled Unwavering Srength, about my journey and I would like you to come along with me during the next chapter of my life.

When I reflect back over the past 5 years of my life there are many aspects that I wouldn’t give up for the world, wow, but there are others that I wouldn’t wish on another human being.

Let’s start with a beautiful beach in Makena Cove, Hawaii where Gerry and I got married surrounded by our amazing family.  We had decided to do a cruise around the Hawaiian islands and make a stop in Maui and get married!  That was the most beautiful day of my life.

Shortly after returning home  our lives would change .  Within months my Mom was the first of 5 who would be diagnosed with terminal cancer.  Gerry and two of his sisters have since passed away, from cancer.  Amy (my daughter) best friend, at the age of 32, also succumbed to cancer, leaving behind two small children and a husband.  And I can’t forget our beloved dog Snickers who also died, and yes, from cancer.   And in the middle of all this I had been released from a job I had for 15 years.  Enough already!

To ask the question “did I ever think that this could happen to me, never” and when I look back I would never, ever have wanted to know what was in store.  Remember we left Maui married (try saying that fives times fast J) and we thought we had an amazing future in front of us.  We planned that on our 5^th year anniversary we would take another big trip, perhaps Europe.  Boy were we wrong,  little did we know that the day would come and I would be here alone, wow this is hard to write down!

Most of the past five years were spent in and out of hospitals.  We held the hand of a relative or consoled a family member as we continued to get barraged by bad news.

As we approach the one year anniversary of Gerry’s passing (April 10^th) I decided that the best medicine was to talk about my journey, and my deepest and purest hope is that by asking you to share your journey we will help so very many others.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve, there are healthy ways to cope with the pain that, in time, can renew you and permit you to move on.

So let’s move forward together and help each other and most importantly help others who are going through tough times. 

We are here for you