A tough few months...

When my Mum was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in August 2012, little did I realise what would take place over the next few months. Whilst I suspected it would be a difficult journey for Mum and a tough battle - and she proved once again what a determined person she could be - I had no idea that I would move back to Victoria to help Mum & Dad or what that would mean for me.
In the ensuing months I drove from Queensland to Victoria 4 times to spend time with both Mum & Dad to help out where ever I could.
Mum chose to undergo Chemo therapy and to fight her disease, a brave and courageous path. This probably increased her life span by about 3 months, and helped our family share Christmas 2012 with her, which we would not have been able to do otherwise. It's something I am very grateful for.
But SCLC is a difficult disease to beat. They don't give survival statistics. Only 3% of patients survive more than 5 years, and those are the young patients mostly. Diagnosis is generally for 6 months life span and this is roughly how long Mum survived after her diagnosis.
Mum put up a brave fight. She spent as long at home with Dad as she could, not showing the pain that was spreading through her body as the cancer advanced relentlessly. Mum was always a fighter, digging in when the going got tough. It is one lesson I can learn from her.
Mum passed away at 5.25pm on Monday 11th February, 2013. I wish I had been there to hold her hand and comfort her during her last moments.
I still can't believe she's gone but it is time to be moving on and making the best of the rest of my life, just as she would have wanted. Her memory remains, as strong as ever... It always will.

Sub note: Our lives are "all about the dash". Mum gave her dash a real rip, even though we all feel hers was a life cut short at the end. Iris Gwenda Barton, born Iris Gwenda Wild, married to Bill, mother of Ross, Keith & Andrew. 13/5/1941 - 11/2/2013.
A life well lived, touching & influencing the lives of many along her journey...