Stephanie B.

About Stephanie B.

Today February 8th 2022 marks exactly 5 years from when my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. When she was diagnosed the cancer had already spread from her colon to her liver and brain. She had 12 tumors in her brain. She needed immediate brain surgery to remove one tumor that was life threatening. They gave her 3 months to live. I was in college at the time going to be a surgical technician. But soon after her diagnosis I dropped out to be her full time caregiver. She had brain radiation and rounds and rounds of chemo. I took her to every Dr appointment, chemo(we would play rummy every time), physical therapy, and we made sure to make it to the movies every week or so! It was her favorite thing to do but I’m convinced it was for the popcorn! We spent all day every day together. Making breakfast lunch and dinner and when things got hard helping her with a positive mind set. Unfortunately 16 months later she passed away at home. Watching your mom go through every stage of dying was absolutely the hardest thing I ever had to do. People ask me what care giving was like & I always say it was a really hard 16 months But I also never laughed so much with my mom. I learned more about her than I ever knew. She told me secrets. We really became best friends. I obviously wish she never got sick but I was blessed with those 16 months with her and I would do it over and over again for her.. I will forever miss her and long to hold her again. Fast forward to last year I had my first baby and the day he turned one month old my husband was diagnosed with leukemia. He was in the hospital for 4 months for treatment, away from me and our newborn. I helped him through his chemo and tough days as much as I could as a new mom over the phone, no visitors due to Covid. Thank god today he is in remission. I am very grateful and I am a proud caregiver