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Has It Really Been Three Years Already?

Has It Really Been Three Years Already?

I lost my mother to breast cancer three years ago on March 6, 2008. Ironically she passed away on the exact day I was having my annual physical and discussion with my primary doctor about my own breast cancer risk. At that time I was still cancer free, although I now wonder if there were already cancer cells lurking around in my body somewhere; my diagnosis came only about two years later.

Cancer seems to have a really bad habit of intrusively messing with my life at unexpected moments, like making its initial grand entrance into my family’s life on my birthday as the “uninvited guest.”  Then it decided to “take” my mother on the one day I wasn’t around to be with her during those final moments. I certainly would have rescheduled that appointment had I known it was to be the day I would lose her. I would have been there. I had left the night before in order to go to my appointment. That’s what she wanted me to do.  

Despite the fact I spent countless hours with my mother at the end and nothing was left unsaid between us, I still feel a little guilty about not being there for her final breath. Actually, it’s not even guilt; it’s more a feeling that I missed out on such a profound moment in time. It’s something I missed, not my mother; she wasn’t entirely coherent at the very end and probably didn’t fully realize who was there, but I do and not being there is a component of my loss.

During the past three years I have learned to accept my loss and my not being there. I have read a lot about the various stages of grief and how one is “expected” to grieve in our society. Often I am given the impression I should be well over this loss by now and most of the time I am. These days I do mostly remember the good memories and I have a lot of them, so I’m grateful for that. I don’t dwell on the more painful, still vividly clear memories of those final weeks, days and hours. I have successfully “moved on,” most of the time.

The generally agreed upon four stages of grief are deemed to be denial, anger, sadness, and finally acceptance. Thankfully, it’s also now widely accepted that these stages are not necessarily linear. Grief doesn’t follow a precise road map or sequence. Sometimes it zig zags around and even goes in reverse. Sometimes you find yourself back at what feels like “square one.” Grief never totally ends. You just get better at reacting to people, things and events that trigger your grief. You get better at creating meaning from your losses and hopefully grow yourself as a result.

You get better at coping, surviving and living your “new normal.” Ah, don’t those words sound all too familiar?

After my own cancer diagnosis I was somewhat surprised to find myself feeling anger again, reverting back to stage two in the grief process. I was angry my mother had died at a time when I needed her most. I was angry she was not around to do for me “what mothers do” at a time like that. I was angry I got cancer at a much younger age than she did. I was angry, even at my age, to be motherless. I was angry at cancer for striking my family again so quickly. We weren’t ready, not yet. Not again. I was angry for the unfairness of it all. I was angry about a lot of things. I was angry with myself for feeling angry.

Cancer remolded my mother’s life. I never fully understood that until I developed cancer myself. Her cancer diagnosis changed her, just as mine has changed me. That’s the one thing I do regret, that I could not fully understand or empathize with her when she perhaps needed me the most. I understand now. I also know it wasn’t possible for to understand then. I can accept that too now.

I guess I have reached the milestone acceptance stage of grief, but I will always remember. I will not forget and I do understand more fully now. I find  comfort in that.

Breast cancer continues to take too many women (and men) too soon. That is a fact I do not accept and never will.

Do you have a particular loss that transformed you?

What is your opinion on the four generally agreed upon stages of grief?

Have you lost a parent?

 

Kat

Wednesday 5th of December 2018

I wish I could move past this present cancer dx. I am depressed every day.

Jan

Wednesday 9th of March 2011

Nancy, I think the loss that transformed me the most was my father's death. He was the last of his generation of closest relatives, outliving my mother by three years. We were very close.

I believe generally in the four stages of grief, but I know they are not linear. Sometimes I think I have come to acceptance only to realize that I haven't actually "mastered" that stage.

Your post has made me focus more on what it means to grieve. I can't imagine going to a doctor's appointment on the day of a parent's death. As you said, your mother wanted you to stay there the night before; she was fully behind what you did. I pray that you find comfort in the good memories you have.

Nancy

Wednesday 9th of March 2011

Jan, Thanks for your kind words. I'm not sure the acceptance stage is ever completely "mastered." And acutally, I think that's a good thing.

Lisa

Tuesday 8th of March 2011

Oh Nancy, I'm sorry your mother was not physically there for you. Your mom was with you in spirit, in your heart, and that is what matters.

Nancy

Tuesday 8th of March 2011

Lisa, You are so right. Thanks much!

Katie

Tuesday 8th of March 2011

Wow Nancy. I just came back to this. What an impact this post has made. (Oh, and HI LAURA!!)

Katie

Nancy

Tuesday 8th of March 2011

Katie, Thanks! So, you know Laura??

Beth L. Gainer

Tuesday 8th of March 2011

Nancy,

I'm so sorry for your loss and pain. The death of your mother and a cancer diagnosis for you are two major stressors in life. My thoughts are with you at this very tender time in your life.

Cancer has made me grieve losses....

Loss of my fertility, loss of my breasts (even though the fake ones look good), loss of ever feeling invincible, loss of bone mass; the list goes on and on, but I am grateful that I've gained as much as I've lost: a renewed appreciation for life.

Nancy

Tuesday 8th of March 2011

Beth, Thanks for commenting. Yes, the last few years have been quite stressful, as you said. I am moving beyond, but these experiences have been very life-changing. You've had your share of losses, but yet remain optimistic and appreciative. I admire you for that, you're a great role model!