Renee from Florida

My mom and I are both caregivers. First, mom was my caregiver, as I have generalized dystonia. There are days when I cannot walk. Those days my mom has helped me by putting ice packs all over me. Then, when I finally break free from my dystonic storm, she will take all the ice off & make sure I have something to drink or something to eat. These episodes are long and painful, so she is a blessing to me.

You see, mom is 91 years old. This past May, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Type B. In the past few months, mom has been hospitalized 4 times. She has also lost 20 pounds, her hair and her energy. Now she is fighting back with chemo.

I help mom everyday. I help her take a shower, watching to make sure she does not fall. I also help her with her medication. I make sure she is taking the correct medication at the proper time. I am the person who shops for groceries, and I am the main cook. She is a very independent lady; after all she raised six children. It is tough for mom to admit, she needs help. She is feisty, and always tries to do her best. The chemo makes her feel exhausted. she is on oxygen and must lay down from time to time. None the less, her zeal for life keeps us both going.

We love each other dearly, we are very close. We can read each other's faces, Mom knows when I am exhausted just as I know when she gets tired. I hope for the best, without chemo mom's prognosis does not look good. But she takes it in stride, and we both pray a lot.

This is my way of telling my mom I love her, and I will always stand by her, just as she has stood by me for over 25 years.

Life is worth living; With a cancer diagnosis we can recognize mom's life may be cut short. So we try to say I love you every day. After all life is precious, and a bond between a mother and a daughter is a special one. We care for one another, and more important we cherish each moment.