My sister, Angel, or Lucille as she had been baptized, passed away 16 years ago today. Officially, I think she went into diabetic ketoacidosis, and passed away. She was 42 years old. But unofficially, she had been struggling with health issues for several years, starting with a diagnosis of breast cancer in her early 30's, and then other health issues related to her treatment for the cancer, combined with her being a juvenile diabetic since she was 6. In 1964, I don't know how good diabetes treatments were. She suffered throughout her life with diabetes-type issues.
I was telling my children about Angel today, and I was struck that her daughter, my niece, Caitlin, was about 6 weeks away from being 10 when Angel died. And that my brother, Charlie, was about 6 weeks away from being 10 when his mother, also my mother, died. And that my daughter, Lily, is about 6 weeks (okay, maybe a few extra weeks...) away from being 10 right now. What is most striking about that is that in our family, Lily is treated as a treasured child (I am trying really hard not to describe her as a baby...but that is how we treat her.) And so, I am struck by how tragic it is when a child that age loses his, or her mother.
My niece, Caitlin, has done great. She seems to have a great head on her shoulder, is kind, thoughtful, and I am so happy at how she has become such a lovely young woman. She will do very well in life.
My brother Charlie has also been a "give you the shirt off his back" kind of guy, almost to a fault.
And Lily...well we all think that Lily is going to rule the world some day. And I hope that I am around to see her rule the world.
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