Day 1289: Comforting Kate

Brain tumors suck.  There's no getting around it, no easy way to deal, no escape from the devastating prognosis.  My friend's mom was just diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.  She is dazed, terrified and overwhelmed.  Although her mom is 80+, she's been physically very active, playing tennis regularly and living on her own.  It's so hard to lose a parent, no matter how old they are.

I know just how she feels.  I remember those early days nineteen years ago when I heard the same words for my dad.  It was July 26 and I was out to lunch with a former student teacher at Ellicott Brew.  Evan was due to arrive home from Germany the next day.  The bartender was a former student and he brought me the phone.  It was Steve and he said, "You have to go up to your folks house right  now."   When I walked in, my parents were sitting at the dining room table, in their usual places.   "Your father has a brain tumor."  I stopped sleeping that day and didn't sleep again until April.

Then came the crazed rush of appointments, tests, consultations, specialists, neurologists.  But, it all came down to, "There's nothing we can do but make him comfortable."  Ten weeks later, he was gone.

So, what can I do for Kate?  Listen patiently, supply tissues and orange juice and perhaps provide a little break from the onslaught of horrors that await.

Siloam shocker

The Penelope discussion was quite amazing today, but I will leave that for another day.  This afternoon, I did 270 lengths for a total of  37.5 miles.