Mom's cancer diagnosis came
out of the blue~
no family history of breast cancer
or bad habits to blame.
It hit like a ton of bricks~
biopsy, mastectomy,
radiation, recovery.
Five years cancer free,
then suddenly~
metastasis.
Rib, spine, femur,
more radiation.
Surgery to place a rod to strengthen
weakened, broken femur.
She'll be up and around in six weeks~
but she isn't.
Walker to wheelchair,
strength draining.
Home Nursing takes shifts to bathe and medicate~
Dad handles the rest.
We kids take turns to sit with her
and spell him.
She speaks less, sleeps more,
dozes in the recliner~
less aware of life
going on around her.
We sit one evening, just Mom and me,
watching a favorite Disney movie.
Summer Magic on the screen,
soft snores in the silken light.
When I gaze at her resting face,
slack and worn,
I see skeleton skull draped in
thin skin.
How much she has changed!
My denial slips away and
I wonder . . .
does she even know I'm here?
Burl Ives serenades,
Hayley Mills croons summer love~
Mom's quiet voice says clearly,
"They always use the same actors in these Disney movies."
I turn to look at her~
my heart lifting,
my eyes filling,
my voice answering,
"Yes, yes they do."
She's here with me after all
and we share this sweet moment~
for the last time . . .
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