One day, two battles, no justice

On two sides of the Atlantic two amazing events take place today, and two amazing people fight there own horrendous battles against the injustices that this life can throw at them. I'm not sure which one my heart goes to most, or which I will be routing for hardest. When I first learned that April's surgery would take place today I knew I couldn't forget the date, as on this very same day my mother will be celebrating her 92nd birthday in England.

April, to those who do not know her, is fighting an amazing battle against breast cancer. She has shown a strength and courage way beyond her 31 years

Nellie (April's mom) & April at the yard sale fund raiser in June

She has spent the last nine months undergoing debilitating chemotherapy, picked herself up, got back on her feet, and then gone back and done it again and again. All so she can reach this day where the tumour is small enough to allow the surgeon to perform his magic and remove hopefully every last trace of the cancer, as he removes both of her breasts. I know she will come through this ordeal with the same amazing resilience that she has shown in this battle thus far. That she is having to face this battle is one of life's many injustices, that she has shown such strength and dignity is one of life's rewards. The battle wont be over, there is most likely radiation treatment to follow, but with every fibre of my being for such a lovely young woman I do hope that after tomorrow there is a light at the end of this long dark tunnel and cancer will slowly become a memory and something she once had, not an every waking moment curse and all consuming darkness. Good Luck April may all you deserve be yours soonest.

On the other side of the Atlantic, in a care home now, my mother will be celebrating her 92nd birthday. I wish her the happiest of birthdays but know that in her own way she is fighting a bigger battle and there is no victory to be had. The diagnosis of dementia since this photograph was taken has been a hard truth to face.

Mothers Day 2010

Dementia is an evil diagnosis, it takes away the core of a persons being, it takes away dignity, it takes away life itself, until as the sufferer tries desperately to locate their place in time those around try equally to hold onto all they know to be true of their loved one. Having worked many years ago in a old peoples home it holds few surprises for me, but to watch such a strong, independent, formidable woman be taken from us one brain cell at a time is hard. I wish I could be there to spend what may just be the last time mother may be able to celebrate her birthday with family she recognizes, it isn't possible. My sister will be there, flying in on a day trip from Italy! Hopefully it will be a day where when I talk to her on the phone she will hear and recognize me, those are the small blessings. I'm not certain what I wish for her in the coming year, knowing there will be no recovery the best one can hope is a happier acceptance as the disease ravages her mind, may it find peace with her soul.

As I go to bed tonight I am so aware that since moving to America my faith has been challenged so I find it harder to offer up prayers for both April and Mother in their different and yet similar fights in the days ahead. The Christianity I have found here is not the charitable, compassionate, forgiving Christianity that I grew up with and looking at both April and Mother I challenge where the loving God I know is that he allows either illness to ravage either one of them. It is through the strength inside each of them that I know they will both face tomorrow in their own inimitable way, my thoughts and love are with them both neither deserve what lays ahead.