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I just made it in time for Mary's funeral, it had been raining
heavily all day but the sun came out through the clouds.
And as I watched her coffin being lowered into the ground,
I was filled with emotions pouring out of my soul.

I recall that typical day four years ago that my co-worker
and friend told me she had discovered a lump in her breast.
No pain, she said, probably nothing at all but we all told her
to go have it checked.

The pathology report came quickly, Stage IV, invasive
massive cancer tumors; in lymph nodes, in her breast,
metastasized. I recall thinking how is this possible? Mary
was hopeful, saying, I will beat this. She joined groups, 
did walks with others with breast cancer. And she wore
pink.  At work we all wore pink ribbons. 

Both breasts were removed within weeks and the nodes,
and maybe more; then she started chemotherapy treatment,
and radiation and hormone therapy.  I think sometimes, why
did she go through all that when the end was obvious to all.
Cancer victims must have exceptional inner courage.

Mary called me to say she was losing her hair, next she
lost her eyebrows and eyelashes, her finger nails and her
toenails were frail and discolored.  We painted them pink.
She lost so much weight, oh she was so thin.  When I visited
I had to hold back tears, only after leaving did I cry.

When I saw her, Mary wore a pink turban or hat and put
on makeup and big earrings.  Actually she looked quite
beautiful to me.  But she showed me her horrible scars and
would weep.  She talked about breast cancer awareness
and the need for research. So much inner strength.

There was a hospital bed in her living room.  Husband slept
on the couch, cat in her bed.  How she loved that cat, they 
had put a pink ribbon around its neck.  Family and friends
came, in hushed tones they kissed her goodbye.  She just
smiled and one evening alone with her husband and her
cat, she died.  He said it was peaceful.

Please support cancer research and awareness always and,
remember, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 
so wear PINK!

______________________
September 8, 2015

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