Jonett C.

About Jonett C.

I am writing this story for my mother, who is currently taking care of my father on home hospice after battling prostate cancer for the past 8 years.

I am actually sitting here waiting for the call of his passing to come any day now, if not tonight (and saw Kristin’s post on Insta by chance) … and my mother, who has been there for him every single day since his diagnosis is still the primary care giver and will not allow anyone else to take care of him. I guess that’s what 50 years of marriage does to someone 😉 For the past year and a half, she has barely been able to leave the house other than trips to the grocery store (mostly to buy his favorite food of the week) but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

I should mention that before his prostate cancer diagnosis, my father was the picture of health – in his 60’s and a personal trainer. His energy and smile lit up a room – there is no one who didn’t know him and no one that knew him who didn’t love him. He was loving, vibrant and full of laughter and positivity. An amazing husband, father and grandfather – the kind that would build houses out of cardboard boxes and show his grandkids how to skip rocks. This disease didn’t take him quickly, but it did take almost everything out of him after years of radiation, chemo, immunotherapy and now just pain management. I say almost because he is still filled with selfless love and faith up until these last days.

Cancer is horrible in so many different ways, but one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from watching them go through all of this, is that it’s almost harder for the caregiver. I will sum it up by sharing this text my mother shared with me tonight after I told her to stay strong … “I know I can but it is so so hard. I just sit here and look at him and feel so thankful for our life together. I feel so blessed, honestly.”

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