My good friend, MaeLynn, was diagnosed with terminal neuroendrocrine cancer in June 2009. They gave her a year to live. In her specific case, treatment was not the best answer. It would only slightly prolong her life and come with not too pleasant side effects and added medical expenses. So MaeLynn has endured a year with terminal cancer. I first met MaeLynn back in our college years. I was roommates with her sister, Jamie. MaeLynn and I (along with several other college buddies) stayed in the valley after graduation. We got married and started having children. We were in the same Family Home Evening group for a couple of years until it started to become too complicated to manage with our families growing in numbers. We've always stayed in touch. I have to admit that MaeLynn was much better about calling and getting together than I was. She loves people. That is one of her gifts. Whenever we were out and about, she would always run into old friends. Everyone loved her.
Mae's condition has rapidly deteriorated in the last few days. I spoke with her on the phone a little over a week ago and she was her normal, happy self. I went to visit her yesterday, however, and the old Mae was gone, and the dying MaeLynn was in her place. She was skeletal. Her eyes wandered and she didn't make much sense when she was talking. She recognized me when I walked in, but she had a hard time communicating otherwise.
On Sunday MaeLynn's oldest daughter, Kendall, will be getting baptized. MaeLynn really wanted to be there for that special occasion. I'm praying that she'll be there. Only God knows if she'll be there in person, or if she'll be there in spirit.
Death doesn't scare me. It will happen to all of us someday. The separation is what saddens me. I'll ache for her laugh, her visits, her funny sneezes, and her compassion. I'll mourn for Mae's children who will grow up without their momma. Andy is going to be a single daddy, raising these young children on his own.
MaeLynn is 30 years old and has a great husband and 5 beautiful children. I just wanted to tell her how much I love her and what a great friend she's been these past 10 years.
I was able to hold it together during our brief visit yesterday until it came time to say goodbye. I was saying goodbye to my friend until we meet again in heaven. But that's the good news, I guess... it's not a permanent goodbye. We'll see each other again. MaeLynn I love you so much! Goodbye for now. Until we meet again, my friend.
