The Journey is Over...Or Just Beginning

I wasn't sure if I actually wanted to post about this or not, but a few of you have sent me emails and left me comments over the last month inquiring about my sister's health. You may have noticed that there hasn't been much activity on my blog over the last week, and that is because Brenda passed away last Wednesday morning. So we actually left home last weekend to drive out to Colorado to go to her memorial service.

It's been a very sad time, but I am so grateful for the time that I got to spend with her earlier this month. Our time together really was like a special gift from God, because when they requested that I go out there at the end of March, we thought she was only going to have about a week to live. When I arrived and saw the condition that she was in I couldn't disagree with that. The doctor put her on a drug that actually stopped her vomiting and her condition really improved at that point, so she started eating everything and anything that sparked her fancy. From the mini Cadbury eggs to Doritos, we were having a fiesta in her room almost every evening! So after the first week I was there I decided to stay another week, because I just wanted to spend as much time with her as I could. During this time her condition was not declining in any way, and her doctor was actually amazed by her.

One thing that is very interesting is that when I arrived at the hospital last month, the doctor told Brenda that they were no longer able to treat her problem. She asked Brenda how long she thought she would have left, and Brenda told her 25 days. Her doctor proceeded to tell her that she hoped she was right, but realistically she would only have about a week left. Well Brenda showed her because she was pretty close to that 25 days, she was off by maybe a day or two at the most.

I was and still am very proud of how Brenda dealt with things towards the end. I know her heart was in such turmoil, mostly about knowing she was leaving her children behind, as any mother in her shoes would be. I think it was especially hard on Brenda since she was nine years old when our mom died, and her daughter had just turned nine years old herself in the beginning of April. I don't know what I would have done in her shoes, but just watching her with her kids sharing special moments together was amazing.

You have all been wonderful through this. I have received comments and emails that have been so supportive and uplifting I just don't even know how to thank you all for these! I've even received some blog awards over the past few weeks that have meant so much to me, that I will definitely try to get posted this weekend.

Brenda's journey on this earth is over, but her eternal journey has just begun. I know that I have a wonderful family and I am thankful for that, but it is also sad that I have to complete the rest of my journey without my sister. But at the same time I am grateful for the times that we have had together.

Thanks again everyone!