Tonight I was waiting for my daughter to finish swim practice.  I was visiting with one of the mothers who has breast cancer and is going through Chemo.  Her husband is in the military and was in Iraq when she found the lump.  He was hit with an IED and survived, but with major injuries.  The family had to relocate to be close to her husband's rehab hospital.  No family anywhere close.  She delayed going to the doctor so she could get her husband and family settled.  Typical wife and mom...putting her needs last.  By the time she found a doctor, she found out the her type of cancer is very aggressive and it had spread.  She is Stage 4.  Right now she is trying to take care of her 7 and 15 year old and support her husband's recovery.  She gets very sick after her treatments and usually winds up in the hospital for a couple of days, yet she is at every event, parent conference, and practice.  Every time I see her, she is weaker.  The parents of the team have teamed up to help her get to treatments, get grocerys, and so forth.  It just seem like we can do enough.  I guess we want to take the cancer away and can't.  Sometimes I don't know what to say.  She wants to talk about her health; I think it helps her.  This is a lady who always picks a couple of names off the Christmas angel tree and is currently knitting hats for other cancer victims.  Heart of gold.  It is so unfair.  I know finances are very stretched.  Her older daughter comes to practice, but doesn't swim.  She says her grades will suffer, but I know they can't afford it.  We would offer to scholarship her, but she says money isn't the issue.  I know it is.  For a family who has given so much to others, it doesn't make sense to me why this is happening to them.  Is there any help out there for a military family in this situation?

After being around her, I usually come home and have a good cry.  For her, her kids, her husband, and I guess  for myself.  I always come to the conclusion that my problems are insignificant in light of what this family faces everyday.  I don't have any problems afterall....