It was a warm fall day, and I was staying in a hotel in Ann Arbor with my sister-in-law Tremell. Let's go to the mall, she said. I was a little reluctant, but why not? It should be fun!
We parked at the one end and went in and browsed and shopped for a while, I bought a little blouse. We looked at the pretty dresses. Tremell's daughter was a senior this year, and one of her friends really wanted to go the dance, but her dad couldn't afford a dress. We found one or two that may have worked, but decided to leave them at the store. We went out to the car and I drove to the other end of the mall. We parked and went back in and shopped some more. She tried on a "Mothers" ring, and I tried on pretty perfume! Eventually, we were over it and decided to head back to the hotel.
She had been diagnosed with cancer in the late summer of 2004. T-Cell Lymphoma / Micosis Fungoids. Finally, in 2006, she was receiving treatments as out-patient. Since she lived so far away, and was in such bad health and pain, they could not make the trip on a daily basis and had to stay the week in hotels and motels. It was very difficult for him to try to run a business and work in one town and be in Ann Arbor with his wife to receive the treatments.
As a real estate agent, one of the nicest benefits is flexibility with schedule. To give my brother a much needed break, I was able to go down and stay with her so he could go home and tend to business and family. I only went a few times, but it was very much appreciated by them both. At this time, she could still walk short distances and could bathe and dress herself, but she could not drive, or be left alone for days. So my only job was to make sure she was at the hospital for her treatment at the scheduled time each day and to try and get her to eat each day.
She was so excited about this shopping trip, she told everyone about it! She was a great story teller, and could make a pretty great story out of just about nothing!
In remembrance:
The loss of our beloved Tremell Guernsey left a void never to be filled. It's been two years since you left us. We miss your bright cheerful smile, your captivating stories, and your wonderful sense of style. I'm so glad you are free of the pain, and the sores and scars are left behind. You won the battle with cancer, it will never hurt you again. Your daughter graduated from high school, married Markie and is taking great care of her neice, your grandchild, Secret. A broken heart may never mend, our memory and love for you will not ever end.
RIP February 19, 2007
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