appreciation

Hello everyone after a long break. Vacation was just too short this year. I looked forward to spending the days at the public pool and relaxing in the sun. Sometimes you get thrown a curve ball.

My father was having some lung issues over the last few months, and we suspected that it could be more serious. My sister was taking him to several doctors getting his lungs and back checked out, because he was having severe pain in those areas as well as massive coughing for months. Here in Germany, we made arrangements for my husband to take care of the kids during summer vacation so I could fly to the US to be with my dad. On the day I arrived, my sister, who is the only relative of my dad other than myself, picked me up from the airport. She informed me of the tragic news: Stage 4 Lung Cancer that has already progressed to the brain, lymph nodes, bones, and other organs in the body - radiation to his brain would follow the next day.

Cancer is terrible! It destroys the entire body, mind and soul. It hurts all of the family members around you. There is no easy way to deal with this subject except with a little bit of humor when you mind isn't turning your body inside out.

My heart goes out to everyone who has had to deal with lung cancer - survivors, family members, medical support staff and professionals, hospice volunteers and staff, friends, religious and social workers and groups. I would like to thank all of you for helping those of us in need and making this disease more comfortable and bearable.

If you are a smoker, please quit now! Don't make excuses anymore. The little bit of satisfaction you get from your cigarette is not worth this pain that you bring to yourself, your family and the friends around you. The risk of getting lung cancer is drastically reduced the longer you stay free of smoke. If you are a long-term smoker, please talk to your doctor about your smoking and about getting your entire body checked out. Lung Cancer is usually only detected in the last stage, because that smoker's cough becomes just a part of your daily life instead of a sign that something more serious is going on.