June 8th, 2022

If you’ll allow me to deviate from the stated purpose of this blog briefly, I have been dealing with another life issue which has complicated the process of grieving Cassidy’s passing.

Shortly before Cassidy died, we were informed that my mother had cancer. A few days after Cassidy passed we learned it was stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and that it was incurable. At that point the doctors gave her a few months to live and started chemotherapy to try to prolong her life briefly.

After one treatment of chemotherapy, it was discovered that the cancer had spread far more than they anticipated, and a tumor was blocking her bowels. She opted to stop treatment and start hospice care. My mother was too ill to attend Cassidy’s funeral, but was able to watch the live stream.

On Memorial Day, just two days after Cassidy’s funeral, my daughters and I drove to Utah to be with my mother. We were able to stay until June 4th. While we were there she went from being awake and alert to be out most of the day. I am grateful we were able to spend time with her when she was still alert.

My mother passed away on the evening of June 6th, 2022. So in the course of just over a month I lost my wife and my mother. My father passed away from pancreatic cancer 11 years ago. My mother’s funeral is this week. Next week, I will try to start back into ‘normal’, whatever that means. I just hope I get a break from burying loved ones. Fair winds and following seas, Mother. Godspeed.