My Mom
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
By: Jan Bennetts

"It's breast cancer," the doctor calmly and decidedly declared to my mom and I as we sat in the doctor's sterile, cold office. It is amazing how three simple words can crush a soul.

Those frightening, show-stopping words haunt me to this day. In that moment, my mom's fate was sealed and my life was forever changed. My mom put up a valiant fight before breast cancer took her life.

As soon as the doctor announced the diagnosis, I promised my mom (and myself) that I would not leave her side as she fought for her life. I promised I would be strong for her and I would fight for her even when she did not have the strength to fight for herself.

Five years later, I clung to her and whispered "I love you," in her ear as she quietly slipped away from me. I thanked God that I had been able to keep my promise. After such a tortuous journey, she was spent and weak with little fight left. Thankfully, she suffered no more. I felt cold with a hole in my heart that has yet to close, even slightly.

I take some small comfort in knowing that my "cheerleading," as my mom called it, did have a positive impact on her. I didn't know it at the time, but my aunt shared with me later that shortly before my mom died, she told my aunt that I had just given her one of my "pep talks" and that it had helped her. Sadly, I was robbed of more precious time with an inspirational woman who I was fortunate enough to call "mom" and my best friend. Now, as I reflect upon the most difficult experience I have ever had to go through, I hope that my small contribution to Marathon for the Cure will prevent even one person from suffering as my mom did and that it might keep others from having to endure immeasurable pain as they watch a loved one die from breast cancer.