Hope

I was in bed asleep and woke up..for whatever reason. I couldn’t go back to sleep because I was thinking about Hope. I figured the only way I’m getting back to sleep is to get it off my chest.

Hope is a friend of a friend. Now, since she’s not actually my friend – more of an acquaintance I’ve come to know through pictures from this friend and her blog – I will not say too much about the details of her personal life.

I “met” Hope a few years ago after her battle with breast cancer. I believe it was after…my mind is foggy these days. I read Hope’s story when our mutual friend shared “Hope for the Ta-Tas” – Hope’s fund raising drive for breast cancer. I was glad to donate and Hope donated to my cause later that year. The only correspondence I’ve ever had with Hope were the two “thank you” letters/e-mails exchanged during those donation periods. Still, reading about Hope and her story inspired me then and still does. She has been through so much for someone her age – Hope just turned 36.

I found out recently that the cancer has returned. They did surgery. Hope is no longer able to speak. She has gone through so much and is done fighting. They can’t do anything else for her except make her comfortable and she’s going home to be with her family. Her family is her amazing husband and her 2 little boys. Hope is going home Monday to live the rest of her life.

Her husband, Jake, posted a tribute to Hope on her blog….while she’s still here to read it. I made the mistake of reading it today at work. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so hard for someone I’ve never met. Tonight, I remembered I had. I was a Chemo Angel to a little boy, via mail, a few years ago. He passed away and I lost it. I cried as if he were my own. I cried the same way for Hope today. I know there will be plenty of time to cry later and I’m sure we (even those who don’t know her) should be rejoicing in the fact that she’s still with us, she’s still able to share her love and courage with those around her. But I cried because it’s so sad…it’s so sad that Hope is only 36, it’s so sad that the love of her life has to watch her go through this, it’s so sad that she has 2 beautiful little boys who may never understand what is happening. It’s so sad that something like this has happened to someone I’ve come to know as kind, warm, funny, compassionate, and stronger than most of us put together.

I’m praying for Hope. And hope.