"It's been over a year now since my mom passed away, and yet even as I write those words, it still feels so unreal. When someone who played such a central, vital part of your everyday life suddenly vanishes into thin air, their absence leaves an indescribable sadness you simply can't prepare for, even if you knew it was coming."
"In the summer of 2024, my husband and I traveled with our son across the country for our annual trip to New York, where my parents live. He always had the best time staying at his Grandma and Grandpa's house - swimming in their pool, going to the beach, and just getting completely lavished with the kind of love only grandparents can provide. We all looked forward to the trip every year."
"But as soon as we arrived, it felt different. The house was so much quieter. Mom was barely able to get out of bed, and when she did, it wasn't for very long. To see a woman who was always such a bubbly, social butterfly - sunshine personified - to be bedridden and exhausted all the time, unable to come out and enjoy the fun, broke my heart."
Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and fought for two years with chemotherapy, radiation, and a clinical trial. The family knew her time was limited, which allowed focused moments together but also cast a constant, dark cloud over daily life. In summer 2024 a family trip to New York revealed how much she had declined: she was often bedridden, exhausted, and unable to enjoy the activities she once loved. The decline felt surreal and heartbreaking as a once-bubbly, social presence became weak and withdrawn. The family clung to hope for recovery while confronting the limits of her body and mounting loss.
Read at Scary Mommy
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