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Best Friends Are Like Family

joann414

Entry posted by joann414

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I try not to post sad things, but this is weighing so heavily on my heart. Many of you that keep up with my status, chat with me, etc., know that I travel a lot with my best friend, and go to her house a lot to spend the weekend, and vice versa. She lives about forty miles away.

 

Her son has been a problem child since he was 15 or so. He's now 19. got his GED, and started Junior College yesterday. She was so proud, and so hoped that he was getting on the right track with his life. He has acute asthma, and it's been acting up severely for the last few weeks. She made him go to the doctor last week, so he'd be healthy to start school. The doctor called him yesterday morning and said his chest x-rays were back, and that he needed a CT scan of his lungs. They'd found a nodule on one of his lungs. She picked him up from school yesterday to go for the the scan. Around 9 o'clock this morning she called me in tears, devastated. Her baby boy has lung cancer. They set up a meeting with a surgeon this afternoon. They advised her to withdraw him from school because he's facing surgery and chemo no matter what. She's scared to death of what she's going to hear this afternoon.

 

This beautiful lady has been my best friend for the last 15 years. She went through all the woes with me when I was raising my daughter,(who is 30 now), and I've tried to keep her strong when things got rough with her son. They're our only children. Needless to say, I feel positively helpless. When I heard her anguish this morning, it was like a family member reaching out to me. My heart broke for her. She's been married four times, three of them failing because they didn't want to put up with her child. They were jealous of him. So, she has more or less raised him alone. Her family was no help, even when she asked them to help with him when he was young. She always told me she wished her family was like mine. She doesn't realize it, but she's my family. My oldest brother treats her like a sister, and my grandson loves her more than his aunts. But none of us replace her only child that's fixing to fight the battle of his life.

 

So, I gues what I'm saying is I hope I have the strength to say and do the right things for her at the right time. She's always been such a strong person, but now her resolve has weakened with this horrible sickness attacking her baby.

 

Hugs all, and though we may all not be wealthy financially, if you're healthy, it's worth much more.

Keep my friend, Diane, and her son Daniel, in you thoughts and prayers, please. She's a good person, and I love her very much.

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Slytherin

Slytherin 24,194

Posted

:,( That is awful Jo Ann ! 19 years old with lungcancer !

Of course I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers ! I hope they found it early and can treat it/cure it/operate it or something

 

:hug: :hug: :hug:

  • Like 1
asamvav111

asamvav111 1,617

Posted

I was just reading an article about lung cancer and how it is affecting american population especially teenagers.

 

I hope he recuperates soon and gets back to normal life. Unless they get the biopsy results back, it is hard to say anything; but, I hope, since he is so young and the disease seems early in its track, he may just make a full recovery. Lets pray for that.

 

And JoAnn, you can never replace anyone. You just learn to live with the loss.

 

Hugs MamaCroc.

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Palantir

Palantir 10,616

Posted

You'll have the strength to say and do the right things - that goes without saying.

The human spirit is strong and, after the fear and shock of the initial diagnosis, builds ways of coping.

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Cia

Cia 59,363

Posted

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I had lunch with my best friend for the last 26 years (we met in the first grade) today. Someone mentioned to me that I'm just happier after I've been with her. She makes things better, no matter what. She's my family, my comfort, and even though I'm married, she will always be the person I'm the most 'me' with.

 

Through all the rough times we've tried to be there for each other. It hasn't always worked but what matters is that we made the effort. Be her shoulder, take her small pick me ups of a coffee, offer to pick up or drop off or whatever needs to be done and you'll be just what she needs. Sometimes just knowing that you have that person behind you, ready to pick up some of your slack, is enough.

 

:hug: I'm really sorry that your family is facing this. Cancer is a horrible thing to have diagnosed, and to face it in your children is terrifying. I truly hope that the doctors can help him.

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CassieQ

CassieQ 21,011

Posted

Oh no!  Poor Diane!  I was hoping that the situation with her son wasn't serious.  :(  Tell Diane I am thinking of her. I will light a candle for her son.  

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Breeze

Breeze 220

Posted

Best friends are precious and priceless. My best friend has seen me through the worst of my life in the last 3 years. When my husband passed, she there, just there, looking out for me, keeping me occupied when I needed,just loving me. My prayers are for your best friend and her son. And for you and the continued strength you will find for her.

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joann414

joann414 4,131

Posted

They go back for more test guys.  Friday, I think.  She was so upset when she talked this evening.  Her son is still in denial.  After the tests Friday, identifying the type of cancer, stage, etc, they will be referred to an oncologist.  Needless to say, Diane is emotionally exhausted, and the son is scared to death.  Thanks for all the prayers and kind words all.  I'm sure I'll keep you updated. GA is my family!

Toast

Toast 1,951

Posted

One thing I know, JoAnn, you are a wonderful person and have added so much to GA. I know you will stand by and with your friend.

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Myk

Myk 172

Posted

Who said cancer? I clearly don't have all the details but a single pulmonary nodule with no biopsy has a very long list of possibilities. In a 19 year old, lung cancer is pretty rare. I'd say not to worry till they actually know what it is, but it's clearly too late for that.

 

if it does turn out to be cancer, he might be very lucky he was having asthma issues that lead to an early diagnosis.

 

and the thing about having the strength to support your friends and or family....is usually just being there for them.

 

Hope all goes well and even more so home the biopsy brings relieving news!

 

hugs!

g

  • Like 1
joann414

joann414 4,131

Posted

They know it's cancer, but are doing a mediastinoscomy tomorrow to determine the type of cancer.  (hope I spelled that right)  We're trying to stay positive, and Daniel seems to be handling it pretty well.  Tomorrow will tell us much more.  Diane is still very overwhelmed and emotional, but she's trying to be strong in front of him.  I admire her so much!

comicfan

comicfan 13,381

Posted

I am so sorry to read about this Jo. I will keep both in my prayers.

Kitt

Kitt 46,144

Posted

Myk is right - until a biopsy is done and pathology comes back a nodule could be nothing more than scaring due to the asthma.  The doc that already is talking about chemo before any further testing is done is alarmist that could be winding everyone up over what is basically nothing.

 

Having gone through all this as the patient I know just how scary this is for the boy, and can certainly understand his moms fears.  Just be there to let her rant and rave at and hold her when she needs to cry.  Might not feel like much to you but it will mean the world to her.

  • Like 1

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