Demon

Demon                                                                                                                                 

           It seems that every day I hear about another diagnosis.

           Sometimes its a death sentence, and sometimes its not.

           Cancer it seems is a modern demon.

           Going after the rich and poor, the young and old.  No one is spared.

           How fair is it though, who it chooses to take.  As if no one cared?

A toddler before she had a chance to live? A thirtyish father of two who was an inspiration to so many?  A fifty-six-year-old mother? My seventy-three-year-old grandmother?

We prayed for that toddler, that father, that mother, and my grandmother but they all lost the fight.  

We gathered, raised money, cooked food, and cried but in the end that hollow is still left inside.

If cancer does not discriminate, then who is next?  You? Me? The next person you text?

You live life dreading finding that lump.  Worry when you are so tired. Dread that next doctor’s visit or test.  Hoping everything comes out for the best.

For all the prevention in the world, something could be missed and throw you at death’s door, suddenly and without warning.  It happened to my Gram, she was gone two weeks after her diagnosis.  Crushed my soul and I was only sixteen years old……

No system is spared.  Even your own blood can betray you.

And so, we live on……

Watching for that next Facebook post and following her story, wondering about her condition…. 

Putting on a gown and mask outside of her hospital room knowing that any germs could kill her..

Shivering in your uniform in the cold of January, waiting to salute his casket one last time…..

Reading her blog and hoping to hear some good news…..

Over and over it seems, praying for no relapses, for good test results, for continued life.

There are no guarantees in this world, that much I know.  We must press on and live each day to the fullest.  Deal with whatever comes next and hope.

For all those out there fighting the fight, I want nothing but good things for you.

For all those who have lost the fight, we will take care of your families and friends.

Because no one should lose a baby.

No one should watch a loved one’s light be extinguished before their time due to this demon.

This demon we call cancer.

C 2018

Signing Off 11:36