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Inspiration is all around you #3

By
Commercial Real Estate Agent with Markor Mortgage, Inc.

COURAGE - Courage comes from a reserve of mind more powerful than outside circumstances. 

The word courage is something that needs to exist in all of us during this difficult market time. We need to dig deep and summon courage in an effort to survive. 

Case in point... my Mother. 

Mom was first diagnosed with cancer in 1994. It was a nasty cancer of the bile duct. This form of cancer is usually fatal. She tells a story of how 18 months after surgery, she was on an elevator, going to an appointment with her oncologist and her surgeon happened to be on the same elevator. He had to lean into the wall of the elevator and nearly fainted. He could not believe she was still alive. 

In 2001, Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. She and Dad had been smokers and Dad had died of lung cancer in 1998. She had surgery for that cancer and then was diagnosed in 2004 with her 2nd lung cancer. Another surgery and more promises from the surgeon that "We got it all and she'll be fine." In September of 2006, the lung cancer returned and that is the cancer she is currently doing battle with. 

Throughout her battles with cancer, she has shown a tremendous amount of courage and continually beat the odds. How many people have had cancer 4 times? Throughout her 14 year battle with this dreaded disease, she has had a tremendous amount of chemo treatments, radiation and anti-cancer prescription drugs. 

Two days ago, everything changed... 

My Mom, who has had the great privilege over the last 10 years to have traveled to (among many others) France (twice,) Belgium, Bahamas, Hawaii and countless States on the mainland and was a volunteer at the Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska for the past 3 years was hospitalized in the final stages of the cancer. She is so weakened by the disease that she can't walk on her own. 

There is no option of surgery or cure at this point. God is telling her it is time to come home. Our hopes are that the team of medical professionals working on her can give her enough strength over the next couple of days so that she can be moved to my sister's house to receive hospice care. 

Thursday she went to the hospital in very poor condition. She knew she was dying and admitted she was scared. Yesterday, she had been given some fresh blood, some drugs to make her comfortable and was eating fairly well. She looked and felt better and is showing the courage to accept her fate. She said "yesterday I was afraid of dying and today I'm in acceptance of it. I feel O.K. with it and am happy that my family is around me." 

We don't know exactly how long she will be with us, but we do know that she has shown incredible courage. She is my beacon of courage and an inspiration to keep fighting. 

This market has taken out many in our industry and before it hits the bottom it will take out many more. Do you have the courage to survive?

Comments (2)

Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Jeffrey - my thoughts and prayers are with you and your Mom. God Bless.

Oct 11, 2008 03:52 AM
Jeffrey Markell
Markor Mortgage, Inc. - Newport Beach, CA

Thank you Sharon. My whole family appreciates the sentiment.

Oct 11, 2008 03:19 PM