"cancer is just a word, not a sentence"

Last week, my mother notice some blood in her urine and decided to go to the doctor. He sent her to another specialist, who took some tests and did some scans and came back with the results that she had 2 tumors in her bladder. They performed a biopsy on Monday, and results came yesterday.

Cancer. Stage 4.

We had a feeling it was cancer. But we were hoping for stage 1....or 2. Not 4.

Apparently it is too far into her muscle, and they must now test to make sure it has not spread anywhere.

My mother is going to spend a week at the beach with my sister and her family, so when she gets back, she will have scans and more blood tests and surgery and chemo awaiting her.

Our prayer right now is that it has not spread anywhere else. If you are a praying person, please join us in prayer right now. We most certainly could use some good news.

It is easy for people who choose to do harmful things to themselves to say, "I'm not hurting anyone else; I'm only hurting myself. Let me choose for myself. It is my body; not yours."

Well, yes. It IS your body. But for those around you who love you, when you get news like this, it breaks us. My heart is BROKEN.

All it took was cigarette smoke and a weakened immune system. Flu. If she didn't have the flu or a cold last fall, we wouldn't be here.

Before you light up or pop the top or whatever, think. Is this something that can harm me to the point of death? Is this something that can take me away from those who love me? Is this something that can make me suffer in my last days?

Then think: is it worth it to those I love for me to quit?