Sometimes I read the obituaries, scanning them for unusual causes of death or people who led interesting lives but were never recognized in the newspaper until their deaths.
Today my eye caught a headline about an 18-year-old girl named Jenna Lynn, who died of sarcoma cancer. She died at the same hospital where I'd spend the past week, on Monday, the day I went home. We were probably on the same oncology floor. I might have walked past her room on my way to the lounge. The nurses who checked my vitals might have been with her at the moment she died. I am sad and sobered at the thought that on the day I went home, another young soul was going to her ultimate home.
It's Thanksgiving, and I'm more thankful than ever that I am here with my family, and that we have such wonderful support from our friends, family and strangers who feel like friends. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
about me
I'm Emilie, a writer and mother to two young boys, married to my best friend and living in St. Paul, Minnesota. I was diagnosed with a soft-tissue sarcoma in August 2007, while pregnant with our youngest son. Cancer sucks. But we are trying to live life to the fullest in spite of it.
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9 comments:
How sad...
Wow, what an amazing family. To have lost 2 daughters and still be so strong and optomistic--really puts things in perspective!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Emilie. I hope it is the most special one yet.
Jenna sounded like an amazing girl with a wonderful family. She lived life to the fullest. I also read through the obituaries and take notice particularly to people who had sarcoma. It seems it is always young, amazing people...in the prime of life. In a strage way...there is some kind of bond with these people and their families...even though we never met. Thank you for sharing Jenna's notice with us.
Emilie - Thanks for sharing this beautiful story with us. It's an inspirational journey for us to all learn from, regardless of our state of health. All my best.
Thanks for sharing that news, Emilie. What an incredible young woman and family.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Stephen, Daniel and Ben. I hope you have a wonderful day today with your family.
I'm so glad you are home for the holiday! I just loved that snippit about Daniel calling to Sue so she could see you, too.
It's so sad to read that Jenna's parents lost two children, but what amazing spirit they have in the midst of losing her. I just love that they are going to get the butterfly tattoo for her before they bury her.
I hope you have a very peaceful holiday weekend.
Happy Thanksgiving, Emilie!
Yes sobering - I remember deaths on the oncology floor, how sad it was - though no one as young as Jenna.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING Em, I hope that you have many, many, many more to celebrate.
You are amazing to be thinking of her as you navigate your own fight. It shows what a special person you are.
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